Our People
Heathcote Health is a leading small rural health service located 90 minutes north of Melbourne via the Northern Highway, and 40 minutes south-east of Bendigo via the McIvor Highway. We are a 9-bed public facility which provides public and private acute care, 24 hour urgent care, district nursing, and a broad range of community and home-based services. Heathcote Health also has a 42-bed residential aged care facility.
Our catchment provides services to the Heathcote community and its surroundings. Heathcote Health is one of the largest employer in Heathcote with over 200 staff caring for our community.
Board of Directors
The Board of Heathcote Health is appointed by the Governor-in-Council, upon the recommendation of the State Minister for Health.
The functions of the Board as determined by the Health Services Act of 1988 are:
- To oversee and manage the health service and
- To ensure the services provided by the health service comply with the requirements of the Act and the aims of the organisation.
The Board is responsible for implementing governance policy and developing and approving strategies to better manage the organisation. The Board is accountable to the community that it serves for ensuring the provision of agreed services within the resources with which they are provided. The Board must therefore be responsive to its staff and the community and have the capacity to address a wide range of policy and governance issues.
To fulfill its role, the Board has directors with a range of appropriate expertise and experience. The Board adheres to a code of conduct that outlines the role of governance and the conduct of its directors.
To fulfill its role, the Board has directors with a range of appropriate expertise and experience. The Board adheres to a code of conduct that outlines the role of governance and the conduct of its directors.
The Board meets on the last Wednesday of the month, in addition to attending other nominated sub-committee meetings, community meetings and training, development and business activities.
Elissa Watson
Elissa is our Board Chair and is invited to attend all committee meetings as ex-officio. Since her initial appointment in July 2019, Elissa has also been an active contributor to the Consumer Advisory Group, Finance Audit and Risk Committee, Board Appointments and Tender Evaluation Panels.
A keen advocate for place based healthcare, Elissa has developed strong relationships across the Loddon Mallee Health Network and government to ensure our service footprint is maintained, so that we can continue to meet the current and future primary health needs of Heathcote and our local community. As a strategic leader and highly skilled executive in a career spanning nearly 25 years, Elissa cultivates industry excellence through innovative policy design and best practice program implementation. She has expertise in public administration, risk management and compliance, and is passionate about the role of governance in facilitating accountability and transparency in organisations. Elissa builds high performing teams that are committed to quality service and improved consumer outcomes.
Elissa is the current Director, Integrity Assurance, Policy and Legal and works closely with the Racing Integrity Commissioner and Victorian racing industry. Her extensive corporate background includes senior roles at Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and WorkSafe, and she has previously been a director of the Law Institute of Victoria and Justice Connect.
Ben Yuen
Ben is the Deputy Chair of the Board. He has been a Heathcote Health Board Director since January 2020, the Chair of the Board Risk Working Group, member of: the Board Clinical Governance Committee, Board Finance and Risk Committee and Board Community Advisory Committee.
He has lived in the region in Bendigo since 2016 (from Melbourne) and enjoys engaging with the local community through volunteering, his children’s school, and sport. He is on local boards – The National Chinese Museum of Australia (in Bendigo) and Amicus Community Services Limited (regional NDIS and disability support services). He was also part of The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in Bendigo, providing risk and compliance oversight for key customer-facing and corporate functions. He is a senior manager in Australia’s largest banks, working nationally and across Asia in audit, risk and compliance, business strategy, digital banking, human resources, and project management.
He is currently a PhD Candidate (Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning in Banking) via The Federal Government Science and Innovation Research Grant. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He holds a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Melbourne, and a Masters of Business in Human Resource Management/ Industrial Relations from RMIT University.
Andrew Roma
Andrew joined the Board in July 2022 and is a member of the Board Clinical Governance Committee. Andrew has over 20 years of experience working in the health sector, including time spent in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
He began his career as a Physiotherapist, before moving into management consulting in the health sector with KPMG. Andrew now works for Medibank, where he is responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to improve the delivery of private health care across Australia. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia, and a Masters in Applied Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Andrew is looking forward to working with Heathcote Health to continue to deliver high quality health services to the local community. Having always enjoyed visiting this part of Victoria from Melbourne, Andrew is relishing the opportunity to be more involved in the Heathcote region through his role on the Board. In his spare time, Andrew is an avid follower of Test Cricket and Soccer, is attempting to learn the drums, and has two young children which keep him very busy at all other times!
Callum Wright
Callum joined the Board of Directors in August 2022, after serving on the Corporate Governance Board Sub-committee for 18 months. Callum has significant experience in Primary and Community Health Service management in the Greater Bendigo region and is currently General Manager / Executive Officer of Bendigo Primary Care Centre (the region’s local GP Superclinic).
In his spare time, Callum pursues his community focused passion as a Board Director with Lifely (a local NDIS service provider) and chairs their Quality, Safety and Compliance Sub-committee. He is also actively involved in Golden Square Junior Football and Cricket clubs (as a coach and committee member). He has previous experience in community engagement, philanthropy, banking, finance and strategic project roles in the corporate sector. Callum is passionate about building stronger communities, the power and role of locally governed organisations and ensuring that everyone can connect with their community in a meaningful way and live a fulfilling life.
In previous roles he has worked with the Heathcote & District Community Bank, supporting local grants programs and strategic local initiatives. Callum is a regular visitor to Heathcote and can often be overtaken as he rides rather slowly along the O’Keefe Rail Trail. Callum holds a Masters in Business Administration from La Trobe University (Bendigo) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership from Oxford University. He is a, Associate Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM), Member of the Australian Association of Practice Management (MAAPM) and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD). In line for his passion for actively participating in a stronger Central Victoria, Callum is also a graduate of the LEAD Loddon Murray Community.
Vimi Desai
Vimi joined the Heathcote Health Board in July 2022. She has spent the last 25 + years across three different continents, growing up in South Africa, studying in Canada and working in Australia which is now home. Vimi is enjoying serving on the Heathcote Health Services Board, understanding the challenges and opportunities for the Heathcote community, and contributing toward effective governance and strategy.
She has an elderly mom and has become intimately aware of the challenges and opportunities in caring for her mom. She is looking forward to using her experiences to contribute in creating better services for the Heathcote community. Vimi’s day job involves working for the CSIRO, Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Previous to CSIRO, Vimi worked at DEECA, the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Working within the public sector has allowed Vimi to get a better understanding of how Government can maximise the connections between the environment, community, industry and economy.
She has a passion for listening to her stakeholders to understand where value can best be added, setting up engaged teams, and delivering on strategic initiatives. Her industry experience includes the Victorian State Government, Technology, Research, Pharmaceuticals and Professional services. Vimi is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and obtained an Honours degree in Business Administration from the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.
Rebecca de Jager
Rebecca (Bec) joined the Board of Directors in August 2023 and brings over 15 years of experience working in the Public Health Sector as a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife.
In her role as Director of Education, Training and Research, Bec aspires to ensure that First Nations and non-Indigenous people living in rural Victoria have access to evidence-based healthcare, delivered by a skilled multidisciplinary team. Bec was previously the clinical lead for a large-scale roll out of automated medication dispensing cabinets in an acute public hospital, which strengthened her skills in project management and influencing positive change with clinicians. Technology in healthcare over the next decade will significantly impact clinicians and their way of working and Bec is motivated to bring together clinicians and technical people to achieve practical solutions that are fit for purpose in the Australian healthcare setting.
Bec holds a Master of Clinical Nursing (Leadership in Practice) from the University of Tasmania and is currently studying a Senior Executive Master of Business Administration.
Bec grew up in Melbourne, relocated to rural NSW in 2009 and lived in rural or regional settings since. She enjoys engaging with the local community through her children’s school, community events and cheering loudly on the sidelines at local sport in Bendigo.
Rob Stephenson
Rob joined the Board in July 2024 and is enjoying contributing to the continuing strengthening of Heathcote Health as a vital part of the Heathcote community. He is currently Chair of the Capital Works Project Control Group, and a Member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Consumer Advisory Group.
As a life-long resident and promoter of life in regional Victoria, Rob appreciates that a strong local health service is an essential factor in attracting and retaining people in a community, and in contributing to its wellbeing and general prosperity.
In a range of professional capacities, Rob has worked extensively to develop pathway opportunities for local people to acquire the skills that are needed to support current and future health and care workforce needs and ensuring that they are able to realise their professional and economic potential.
Rob is a qualified accountant, with broad experience during more than thirty-five years employed in professional roles in Bendigo. Those roles have included public accounting, non-bank finance and member-service sectors, including as Head of La Trobe University’s Bendigo Campus, and more recently, as Interim CEO and Advocacy Lead of Be.Bendigo.
Rob is an Independent Member of the City of Greater Bendigo Audit and Risk Committee, Member of Bendigo Senior Secondary College Council and Chair of the Bendigo Education Plan Industry and Business Steering Group.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, CPA Australia and Institute of Managers & Leaders, and Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and International Leadership Association.
Christina Campbell
Christina joined the Heathcote Health Board of Directors in July 2024 and brings over 25 years of experience working in the Public Health Sector. Christina is highly motivated and successful strategist driven to ‘make a difference’ in accessible healthcare.
Extensive clinical health sector experience in roles across clinical nursing and strategic leadership in complex environments and a track record of transformed healthcare programs and workforces. Strong governance, finance and business experience and known to be highly collaborative and collegiate in her many committee roles. Understands health policy and its effects on health care systems and their communities.
Born in Melbourne, grew up in central Victoria and currently living at the farm in Pyalong producing fine merino wool and working at Northern Health. Christina brings an understanding of both metro and rural health care needs and is an advocate for ensuring provision of timely care, developing partnerships and improving services, to ensure excellent care for our community.
Christina holds a Masters of Business, is a member of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Women on Boards (WOB), and the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA). Possessing a passion for Heathcote’s history, surrounds, wine regions, Christina is a proud supporter of ‘Heathcote on Show’, where you will certainly find her with family from Bendigo and surrounds.
Cam Haskett
Cam joined the Board of Directors in July 2024, and has a long history working in finance roles locally and overseas. He has been an Independent Member of the Heathcote Health Finance, Audit and Risk subcommittee, Chair of the Project Control Group, and member of the Tender Evaluation Panel during his tenure as Independent Member. Cam holds a Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting and is a Member of the Institute of Public Accountants.
Cam moved to the Heathcote region over 7 years, and is an active member and Treasurer of Heathcote Tennis Club. He owns and runs two local businesses with his partner and two dogs.
Danielle Couch
Danielle joined the Board in July 2025. Danielle is an experienced health sector leader with more than two decades of experience across public health, primary care, research, and community services. She currently serves as General Manager of the Victorian and Tasmanian Primary Health Network Alliance, where she leads jurisdictional strategy, governance, and sector policy and reform initiatives.
Danielle brings a strong rural and regional focus to her work, with prior executive and advisory roles in the Loddon Mallee region in Aboriginal community-controlled health, PHNs, primary care, and health research. She has led major health planning, service development, and policy advocacy efforts, with a strong focus on equity.
She holds a PhD in public health and health sociology and a Master of Public Health and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Public Health Association of Australia, Australasian College of Health Service Management and the Australian Sociological Association. Danielle has also held editorial positions with the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry and the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Danielle lives locally on Dja Dja Wurrung Country and is passionate about supporting strong, accessible, connected health services that support rural communities.
Senior Staff
Executive team
Chief Executive Officer
Dan Douglass
Dan was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Heathcote Health in September 2012. Prior to his appointment, Dan held senior management roles at Bendigo Health, Victorian Department of Human Services, North Central Catchment Management Authority and the Victorian Law Department.
Dan has a PhD in Accounting and has also completed a Master of Accountancy (Finance) and Degrees in Accountancy and Public Administration. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management and a Certified Practising Accountant with CPA Australia.
Dan was appointed by the Board of Heathcote Health to assume responsibility for operational management of the organisation.
Director of Clinical Care
Angie Dredge
In my role as Director of Clinical Care I am responsible for the effective strategic and operational management of client care services and programs including urgent, acute and sub-acute care, aged residential and community services, educational and training development, and quality programmes, and primary care services. I have a special interest in Palliative Care and am a Board Director for Palliative Care Victoria.
A large proportion of my experience has been in clinical, managerial and strategic levels in the UK New Zealand and Australia.
I have a Masters in Nursing and a passion for ensuring the delivery of quality, evidence based, personal, effective, connected ,care to every person every time, in their place of choice.
Director of Medical Services
Craig Winter
Craig commenced as the Director of Medical Services at Heathcote Health in early 2013.
He holds similar roles for a number of other smaller rural health services around Victoria, including Kyabram & District Health Service, Upper Murray Health & Community Services, Gippsland Southern Health Service, South Gippsland Hospital, Yarram & District Health Service and Orbost Regional Health.
For many years the rural Director of Medical Services role has been poorly defined and has been filled by a wide variety of medical and non-medical people with varying abilities and interests. In many health services there has been no Director of Medical Services, with their function being undertaken by the CEO or their delegate.
In recent times there has been an increased focus on medical management, clinical risk management, clinical review processes and administrative oversight of medical staff. This is Craig’s role now as the Director of Medical Services at Heathcote Health.
Craig also currently works as an Emergency Physician at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and La Trobe Regional Hospital in Traralgon.
He has previously held positions as the Director of Emergency Medicine at St Vincent’s Hospital, the Northern Hospital, La Trobe Regional Hospital and the Masonic Hospital in Sydney.
Leadership and Management
Corporate Service Manager
Andrew Walker
Andrew Walker is the Corporate Services Manager, he has worked at Heathcote Health since October 2024.
Andrew previously worked at The Salvation Army for 24 years, leading a broad range of community service programs in the Central Victorian region. Most recently he was the Area Manager for the Northern Victoria Area, overseeing 17 centres from Wodonga to Broadford to Mildura.
Quality Manager
Emma Millard
Emma was appointed as Quality Manager when she joined Heathcote Health in September 2024. The Quality Manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all quality systems, including accreditation, legislative compliance, policies and procedures, feedback management, incident management, and supporting clinical safety and continuous improvement.
Emma has a clinical background as a podiatrist, and over 14 years’ experience working in regional and rural health and community settings. Emma’s qualifications include Bachelor of Podiatry, Specialist Cert in Rural Paediatric Practice, Grad Cert in Health Services Management, Cert in Governance and Risk Management, AICD – Foundations of Directorship Course.
Emma has previously held leadership roles across allied health, children’s health, and risk, quality and compliance.
Emma has a strong interest in health service governance and is currently a Board Director with Rochester and Elmore District Health Service.
Nurse Unit Manager, Acute & Urgent Care
Jade Runnalls
Jade was appointed Acute Nurse Unit Manager in November 2021, she has worked at Heathcote Health since 2004, starting her nursing career as a graduate nurse.
Jade has a wide range of nursing skills and experience, including Rural & Isolated Practice (Riprn) registration. In her spare time, Jade is an AFL sports trainer for her local football netball club and is a very keen supporter and volunteer for her 3 children’s sporting activities.
Nurse Unit Manager, Residential Aged Care
Samantha Harvey
Sam started at Heathcote 10 years ago as a Graduate RN. She was appointed the Residential Aged Care Nurse Unit Manager in 2020 and is passionate about Aged Care and the vital service we provide by ensuring all residents live their best life.
Nurse Unit Manager, Community Services
Gerry Canny
Gerry became the Community Services Nurse Unit Manager in March 2023 and has been employed at Heathcote Health since 2010.
Prior to undertaking this role Gerry was the Acute Nurse Unit Manager and Director of Clinical Care.
He is a Registered Nurse and holds a Certificate IV TAA, as well as an Advanced Diploma of Management. Gerry is a graduate of the Better Care Victoria Executive Leadership for Innovation Program.
In his spare time, Gerry enjoys spending time with family and friends, coaching his kids soccer teams, mountain bike riding, tennis, golf and is an avid watcher of all sports.
Infection Control Manager
Tracie Oates
Facilities Manager
Will Garnsey
Will Garnsey has worked at Heathcote since 2020 and was appointed Facilities Manager in January 2024.
Will has over 15 years’ experience working in the manufacturing sector. He has worked with products as diverse as pharmaceuticals to chocolate, holding positions from Production Manager to Operations Manager. He moved into the health sector during the height of the pandemic and has not looked back.
Will’s professional interests and qualifications include but are not limited to the following:
- Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours)
- Cert IV in Procurement and Contracting
- Cert IV in Goods Manufacturing Practices
Support Services Supervisor
Judy Polson
Catering Supervisor/ Chef
Jenny Casey
Jenny has worked at Heathcote Health since 2014 and was appointed Catering Supervisor in 2019.
Jenny has over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality industry oversees the daily operations of a catering service, ensuring smooth food preparation, service, and overall customer satisfaction.
She is passionate about creating delicious and nutritious meals for our residents and health care consumers.
Jenny’s professional interests and qualifications include but are not limited to the following:
- Certificate III Commercial Cookery
- Food and Safety Supervisor
- Maggie Beer Program
Learning & Development Coordinator
Glenys Bailey
Glenys was appointed Learning and Development Coordinator in August 2023.
Glenys is a dedicated Registered Nurse with over 20 year experience in clinical, administrative, leadership and educational role, with extensive tertiary qualifications to support the same.
Glenys has previous held roles as Peri-operative educator and Senior Nursing Teacher at pervious Health Services both public and private.
Glenys enjoys working to cultivate strong interpersonal relationships in diverse settings, and proficiently applies her extensive nursing knowledge to facilitate learning, attend to administrative matters and achieve organisational targets.
Executive Assistant/ Governance Officer
Michelle Chapman
Michelle has worked at Heathcote Health since 2014. She is a family orientated person, moving to Heathcote in 2000 and working in local businesses & organisations where she built good community connections.
In her role as Executive Assistant / Governance Officer she provides high level administrative support to the HH Board Chair, Board Directors, Board Sub-Committees and the Executive Team to assist in the delivery of executive and corporate level programs as well as project support.
Michelle’s supports the Heathcote Health Vision of good health and wellbeing for our Heathcote & District Community and actively engages and participates with local organisations within and outside her role.
Clinical Care Coordinator
Phil Goggin
Phil was appointed the Community Clinical Care Coordinator in October 2023; he has worked at Heathcote since 2017.
Phil has been a Division 1, Registered Nurse, for over 30 years. He has had over 23 years’ experience in Community Nursing, working as a District Nurse for over 2o years. He has also worked in the role as a Home Care Package Manager at Heathcote Health.
Phil held the roles of TCP Co-ordinator and Aged Care Liaison Officer at a previous Health Service.
Phil enjoys working in small rural settings as he gets to know the local community members, have the opportunity to work in a team that relies on staff flexibility and adaptability to meet Client needs, and the opportunity to continue to learn new skills.
