WH Internet - Organisational Structure

CEO, Kathryn Cook RGON, Cert Health Ed, Postgrad Dip Public Health

Ms Kathryn Cook commenced as CEO of Western Health in June 2007.

Kathryn is a nurse by background and has held a range of clinical, policy and management roles in Australia and New Zealand. Kathryn held the senior role of Director, Access and Metropolitan Performance, Victorian Department of Human Services, for 4.5 years before joining Western Health.

Executive Director Finance and Corporate Services, Mr Tim Hogan BBus (Acc), CPA, FCIS

Prior to joining Western Health as Executive Director Finance in December 2004, Tim held the position of Deputy Director of Finance at Southern Health. His previous positions include General Manager Finance and Administration/Company Secretary for Stadium Operations Limited (Colonial Stadium); Financial Controller and Southern Region (Victoria, SA and WA) Area Finance Manager for the Southern Pacific Hotel Group (Parkroyal and Centra Hotels); Financial Controller for the Sydney Airport Parkroyal; and Financial Controller for the Bryson Hotel and Area Financial Controller for Rydges Hotels Ltd.

He has also held accounting positions at various public and chartered accounting firms, Placer Exploration Mining Company and Bridge Oil Ltd.

Executive Director Medical Serivces, Dr Arlene Wake MBBS, MHA, FRACMA

Arlene Wake graduated in 1979 and worked at St. Vincent's and Western Hospitals until 1989. During the next two years, Arlene worked as a clinical assistant on an applied epidemiology project with Dr Muir Gray in Oxford.

Arlene held medical administration roles at the North West Hospital and Alfred Hospital prior to commencing at Western Health in 2003. Since 1996, Arlene has been a member of the State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. She has also been a surveyor for the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards since 1999.

Corporate Secretary/Executive Officer, Dr Linda Mellors BA, BSc (Hons), PhD (Med), Grad Cert (Health Serv Mgt), GAICD

Linda Mellors is the Corporate Secretary and Executive Officer of Western Health. Through these roles, Linda provides support and advice to the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer.

Linda has worked in the tertiary education, government and public health sectors. Prior to her appointment to Western Health in 2006, Linda was the Company Secretary and Executive Officer for the companies comprising St. Vincent's Health. Linda has previously held positions at Women's and Children's Health and the Department of Human Services.

Executive Director Allied Health and Community Integration, Mr Silvio Pontonio BA (Hons), MSW, AFACHSE

Prior to his appointment at Western Health, Silvio worked at St. Vincent's Health for over ten years; much of this time was focused on his special interest in the field of drug and alcohol addiction. After developing and managing a number of strategic projects, Silvio held operational portfolios at St Vincent's across a range of acute and community hospital demand management programs.

In 2002, Silvio moved to the UK where he worked as the Assistant Director of Operations, Allied Health and Clinical Support Services, Ealing Hospital Trust (EHT), London. This role involved the establishment of a new model of care for cancer services for EHT, the development of a substitute model of care for older patients, and improvement initiatives within Allied Health, Radiology, Pharmacy and Pathology.

Silvio also sits on the Board of Governance for Uniting Care Community Options.

Executive Director Nursing, Ms Lydia Dennett RN, Int Care Cert, MBus (Mgt), AFAIM, MRCNA, AFACHSE

Lydia Dennett was appointed to the role of Executive Director of Nursing for Western Health in December 2007.

Lydia trained as an intensive care nurse before immigrating to Australia from London. She continued to work in intensive care in Victoria for the next seven years before undertaking a Masters of Business in Management. Following a three-year period working in a management capacity at the Royal Children's Hospital, Lydia was appointed the Director of Nursing for Melbourne Private Hospital in 2002.

In 2004, Lydia was appointed as the Director of Nursing/Campus Manager of Western Hospital, and Divisional Director of Cardiology and Intensive Care Services for Western Health. Lydia is a current member of the Victorian Medications Advisory Committee and the DHS HealthSMART Medications Management Advisory Group. Lydia is also an Australian Council on Healthcare Standards surveyor.

Executive Director Strategy, Planning and Performance, Mr Jason Whakaari

Jason Whakkaari joins us from the Ministry of Health, New Zealand where he has held a number of senior positions over the last ten years. His most recent role was as Group Manager - New Zealand Health Information Service, prior to this Jason was the National Manager District Health Boards Performance, District Health Boards Funding and Performance Directorate and Locality Manager Midland Region Office, Health Funding Authority.

Jason holds a Master of Management Studies and most recently obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Executive Director Operations, Dr Max Alexander

Dr Max Alexander started with Western Health in November 2007. He was formerly at Barwon Health where he was the Executive Medical Director and Area Medical Director. Immediately prior to this, Max held the position of Deputy Chief Executive, ACT Health where he had operational responsibility for all public health services within the territory, including The Canberra Hospital, Calvary Hospital, mental health and community health services.

Before his time in teh ACT, Max held a number of senior management positions at Bayside Health. Originally a general practioner, he moved into the acute sector in 1998 as the Manager of Clinical Planning and Corporate Strategy for the Alfred. Max has augmented his extensive clinical experience through completion of a Masters of Business Adminsitration.