Executive team

Anthony West is a physiotherapist with over 35 years’ experience in the health sector, including seven years at Central West Hospital and Health Service where he has been Health Service Chief Executive since 2021. Anthony believes strongly in providing opportunities for people in remote communities to engage in healthy behaviours and manage ill-health, whatever their starting point.

This belief has driven Anthony to focus on improving the systems that enable delivery of healthcare close to home for people living in remote Queensland. In the Central West, Anthony has guided reform and improvements in vital programs such as mental health, maternity and child health, primary care, and general practice.

Anthony holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Queensland, a Master of Sports Physiotherapy from Griffith University, a Graduate Certificate in Business from Queensland University of Technology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David Walker is a rural generalist with a passion for rural medicine, in particular mental health, and an interest in the patient experience of their illness and their subsequent health care.

Dr Walker has lived within the Longreach Community for 14 years and previously worked for five years as Director of Medical Services in Longreach, before stepping up to the role of providing professional leadership for the medical workforce across the entire health service in 2020. He enjoys facing the challenges of delivering healthcare in remote settings and is committed to helping patients access high quality health care as close to home as possible.

David has completed bachelor’s degrees in Science, Medicine and Surgery. He completed a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health and has also received an associate fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. David has recently completed a Masters of Health Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

With over 20 years’ experience working in the hospital and health care industry in New South Wales and Queensland, Troy is a values-based leader who specialises in rural and remote settings.

He has spent more than a decade with the North West HHS based in Mount Isa, most recently serving as the Acting Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery.

Among the numerous roles that Troy performed during his time in the North West, his experience as the Executive COVID Lead, as well as Nurse Manager and Clinical Nurse in Mount Isa’s Emergency Department allowed him to demonstrate a high level of verbal, written and interpersonal communication and negotiation skills.

Troy’s strengths also include motivating and consolidating a positive values-based work environment, clinical leadership and governance, and quality improvement and innovation. He has health and business qualifications from the Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, and Avondale University in NSW.

Some of Troy’s career achievements include being awarded the National Emergency Medal for service performed during Cyclone Yasi, as well as being nominated for NWHHS Nurse/Midwife of the Year.

Karen McLellan is a Director of Nursing with over 35 years’ experience across nursing, midwifery, and project management roles. Karen began her nursing career at Longreach Hospital as a Registered Nurse in 1987 after completing her nursing training at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Karen expanded her clinical experience through timeat the Mater Mothers, Toowoomba, Warwick, Guyra and Armidale and Blackall hospitals before returning to Longreach Hospital in 1996. In February 2010, Karen was appointed to the Longreach Director of Nursing position and established a close relationship with staff and the wider hospital community.

A passion for project management saw Karen appointed to a new role with Central West HHS as the Director of Nursing – Transition and Commissioning in 2017.

To support her in this role, Karen completed a Diploma of Project Management (UNE) and she is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Healthcare with Professional Honours – clinical Redesign (UTAS).

Karen has led several design and construct projects in her time with Central West HHS, including works at the Longreach Hospital, Aramac PHC, Boulia PHC and Well-being Centre and Blackall Hospital Redevelopment. Karen is now the General Manager of Acute Health Services and was appointed to this role in 2022.

Karen is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer with Mt Isa Centre for Rural & Remote Health in recognition of her longstanding association with James Cook University.

Roshan Gunewardene has over 12 years’ experience in leadership roles in Government. He holds extensive experience in financial strategy, business management, systems implementation, Service Agreement negotiation and management, budgeting, performance planning and reporting across West Moreton HHS, Health Support Queensland, and the Department of Housing & Public Works. He also brings over 20 years’ experience in the private sector with organisations such as Ernst & Young, John Deere, and Grant Thornton.

Roshan is a Fellow member of CPA Australia, Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in the UK and holds a number of memberships in other professional accounting bodies.

He is focused on high-quality customer engagement, effective change management, and creating efficiencies in service delivery linked to strategic objectives.

Ms Lorelle Coombe has served as the Executive Director of Workforce Services for over nine years, spearheading the development and execution of organisational and human resource strategies within the health service. In this capacity, she has overseen crucial aspects such as consumer engagement and non-clinical learning and development initiatives.

With her tenure beginning in 2015 as the Director of People and Culture at Central West HHS, Lorelle has brought a wealth of experience from her roles in corporate services within the government sector.

Her professional journey includes significant contributions to organisations such as the Queensland Public Service, Central Queensland Institute TAFE, and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Lorelle is recognised for her aptitude in innovative thinking, offering strategic advice, and guiding change management processes. She has played a pivotal role in cultivating a culture-centric approach within Central West Health, emphasising the importance of its people.

Holding academic credentials including a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in human resource management, Lorelle brings a formidable blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to her role.

Nadish started his professional career as a Medical Officer in the Sri Lankan Department of Health. As the Medical Officer of Health Informatics, he spearheaded a pioneering Health Informatics project in Sri Lanka. Further, he successfully coordinated several interdepartmental and
inter-agency projects for the
Sri Lankan Department of Health.

Nadish joined Central West Hospital and Health Service as the Manager – Health Informatics in January 2017. He was appointed as the Director of Clinical Governance and Innovation in August 2019. During his tenure as the Director, he oversaw significant transformation and achievements in the Clinical Governance space, including leading the HHS to positive outcomes at the last two accreditation assessments.

Nadish also acted as the General Manager of Primary Health Services for a few months in 2022. Nadish was appointed to lead the Division of Governance, Planning and Improvement in December 2023.

Nadish holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery, a Master’s degree in Bio-Medical Informatics, and a Graduate Certificate in Research. Nadish is a Certified Health Informatician Australasia (CHIA), a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Digital Health (FAIDH), and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Nadish completed the Queensland Health NextGen Executive Leadership Programme in 2022.

Passionate about the value technology can bring to healthcare delivery, Helen has a 30-year track record in delivery. Commencing with her first project role implementing patient administration systems, Helen led the multi-award winning ‘The Viewer’ program and today delivers digital transformation in remote Queensland.

As one of the founding members of what is now the Australian Digital Health Agency, Helen was instrumental in establishing many of the key building blocks necessary for My Health Record and has held senior roles in private industry delivering some of Australia and New Zealand’s first nurse-led triage call centres after spending several years with NHS Scotland.

In recognition of her commitment to better healthcare through innovative technology she was the recipient of the 2011 Women in Technology Professional Award and in 2014 Women in Technology Outstanding ICT Achievement award and named as the Women in Technology ICT Ambassador for 2014. She has been a judge for the awards for over a decade supporting women in technology from across industry.

Originally from the Western Downs, Helen is a practising Registered Nurse with over 35 years of experience, having both hospital-based and tertiary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Nursing and a Graduate Certificate of Information Technology. Helen brings extensive experience as a Company Director serving on several not-for-profit Boards and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.