Central West Hospital and Health Board welcomes new members
Summary
An eight-person board with experience in health and leadership has been appointed to help shape the future of healthcare in the Central West Queensland region.
An eight-person board with experience in health and leadership has been appointed to help shape the future of healthcare in the Central West Queensland region.
The newly appointed board will be led by returning Chair Jane Williams.
Ms Williams is an experienced Chair and Board Director with experience leading partnerships across health, infrastructure, community wellbeing and regional development. She has been a Central West board member since 2012 and chair since 2016.
Ms Williams began her career working in clinical and midwifery roles before moving into her current leadership roles as Chair of Central West Hospital and Health Service Board and Director of CheckUp Australia, Health and Wellbeing Queensland and Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland.
Ms Williams said she was proud and very pleased to be able to continue representing Central West communities and helping ensure they had access to quality services.
“It’s wonderful to see three new faces joining the board this year,” she said.
“Among the new faces is Dr Christopher Symmons, who is a Senior Medical Officer at Longreach Hospital.
“Dr Symmons brings significant expertise in rural hospital settings to the HHS Board, including the fields of anaesthetics, inpatient and emergency practice.
“His local knowledge will also be a great asset to the HHS Board.”
Dr Symmons is joined by two other new board members, Deputy Chair Boyd Johnstone and Morgan Gronold.
Ms Williams said Mr Johnstone was a solicitor and a councillor with the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council.
“Mr Gronold also is well known in the region as the Chief Executive Officer of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD),’’ she said.
“I’d also like to thank departing board members Dr Clare Walker, David Arnold and Bill Ringrose, for their dedication and commitment during their terms,’’ she said.
“Their work will continue to benefit our Central West communities for many years to come.
“I and my board are looking forward to working with our communities to ensure we continue to deliver the best health services possible into the future.’’
The Central West HHS joins all other Queensland hospital and health services in continuing to include a local frontline practitioner on its board.
Changes to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 were announced last year, requiring all 16 of Queensland’s Hospital and Health Service Boards to include at least one APHRA registered health practitioner currently working for its local HHS.
These changes come into effect for the first time on 1 April 2026.
The board is responsible for the performance of their HHS and the delivery of local public health services under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.
For more information, visit: Board | Central West Hospital and Health Service.
The Central West Hospital and Health Board’s members are:
Ms Jane Williams (Chair)
Mr Boyd Johnstone (Deputy)
Dr Christopher Symmons
Mr Morgan Gronold
Ms Elizabeth Fraser
Ms Leisa Fraser
Mr Brett Walsh
Mr Kieran Chilcott