AMA VICDOC_Spring 2026_09.09.2026 - Flipbook - Page 12
What inspired you to apply for the
position of CEO at AMO Victoria?
because almost inevitably, you don't get
hired into a job like this to steer the boat
gently in the same direction, particularly if
it's taking in water.
I had been CEO of the Governance Institute
Devising and implementing change leads
of Australia and prior to that, a senior
to the third C, which is courage. You need
executive at the Australian Institute of
to be able to have the firmness of conviction
Company Directors. So, I'd been working
that what you're doing is correct. You
in the membership organisation space for
must have the courage to stand up to the
some time, after a long career in journalism.
inevitable resistance that there will be when
As a former economist, I like to think in
terms of demand and supply. My supply was
well-informed by the experience of working
in a similar membership-based organisation,
where the focus was on delivering value to
them. The demand side of things was that
at the time, AMA Victoria was experiencing
several challenges. There was a need for
financial stability and sustainability and an
organisational performance uplift.
I’ve always had great admiration for the
you're implementing change or taking an
organisation in a new or different direction,
and you must have the courage to make
hard decisions.
One of the things I've learned over the
years, including in my time in journalism,
is that when you're implementing change,
particularly big policy and directional
changes, that it’s not just about identifying
the problem and how you plan to fix it,
but you have to bring people with you on
that journey of change.
medical profession and the important role
it plays in the community. I was also aware
of the AMA’s reputation and achievements,
What do you think is going to be
and I felt I could contribute to that space.
important to get right in the future
And then, as I went through the interview
as we strive to deliver quality
and selection process, I discovered that
healthcare to all Australians?
the people I'd be working for and with were
outstanding individuals. We got on very well,
and I felt, even before my appointment,
that they were people I’d like to work with.
Well, it comes down to two things:
resourcing, and the appropriateness of the
regulatory and policy structures around
What’s your perspective on
leadership?
healthcare. Providing healthcare for the
community is not an inexpensive business
and we can always use more resources
and more money to do that better, but there
are obvious practical limits to that, and
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You’ve got to have the three Cs: clarity,
other competing priorities for government.
change and courage. You have clarity of
We need to take a realistic but firm
what you want to do: clarity of vision.
proposition to government that that
You must deal with and embrace change
resourcing needs to be improved.
