Where are they now? The SA Health executives flying out of the revolving door
There’s been a whirlwind of change through the top ranks of SA’s health department amid a spate of resignations in the past year. See who’s gone where.
SA News
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The revolving door at SA Health now means three of its most powerful executives, in charge of major metropolitan hospitals, workforces in the tens of thousands and budgets in the billions, all have only been appointed this year following a rash of resignations.
A fourth has just quit and will be replaced this year, making it a clean sweep of new CEOs for the four metropolitan Local Health Networks in 2024.
The changes come as the 2024-25 health budget hit $9bn as the government works to fulfil its election pledge to “fix” ramping.
SOUTHERN ADELAIDE LOCAL HEALTH NETWORK LEADERS
Professor Kerrie Freeman, chief executive of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) is the latest to resign, moving to take the plum role of CEO of Brisbane City Council in a move which took colleagues by surprise.
The job comes with a salary package of around $800,000 according to reports published in Brisbane.
Her eventually successor will have to make do with about one third of that package.
Dr Freeman will leave on December 15 by which time officials hope to have a replacement, or will have to appoint an interim chief.
SALHN employs 8000 staff and includes Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital and the Repat precinct, and unexpected departure of Prof Freeman comes during a time of record ramping, rising demand and hospital construction work.
Dr Freeman replaced former SALHN chief executive Professor Susan O’Neill who resigned abruptly in May 2021 and finished up the following month.
NORTHERN AREA LOCAL HEALTH NETWORK LEADERS
Maree Geraghty, chief executive of the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) which covers the Lyell McEwin Hospital and Modbury Hospital, resigned suddenly and finished up on January 12 this year.
“After spending Christmas in Queensland with her family including her granddaughter and with a second grandchild on the way, Maree has made the hard decision that now is the right time to embark on a new phase in her life,” NALHN board chair Professor Judy Searle said in a memo to staff by way of explanation.
NALHN’s chief operating officer Karen Puvogel was immediately appointed interim chief executive officer for the network with more than 6000 employees and in June was formally appointed to the position.
CENTRAL ADELAIDE HEALTH NETWORK LEADERS
Dr Emma McCahon started as chief executive of the huge Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) in January overseeing a staff of 17,500 and a budget of $2bn.
Her patch includes the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hampstead Rehabilitation Hospital, Glenside Health Services and statewide services including BreastScreen SA, SA Dental Services, SA Medical Imaging, SA Pathology, SA Pharmacy, SA Prison Health Service and DonateLife SA.
The pediatrician who grew up in Melbourne had previously worked in senior roles in Queensland and Sydney.
Prior to starting the job told The Advertiser she had “vague memories” of visiting Glenelg as a child and was looking forward to the learning curve of getting to know Adelaide.
She replaced Lesley Dwyer who held the job for five years, from 2018 to 2023 before her contract was not renewed by the CALHN governing board.
WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH NETWORK LEADERS
In February, Rebecca Graham was appointed chief executive of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network.
She had been ceo of the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, before being appointed interim boss of the WCHN in September 2023 following the sudden resignation of Lindsey Gough who gave just one week’s notice to staff, saying she would take a break before considering “what is next.”
AT THE TOP OF SA HEALTH
The woman at the very top of the tree in charge of 47,000 employees, chief executive of SA Health Dr Robyn Lawrence, has been in the job for just over two years after working in senior health roles in Western Australia.
She was appointed to the job in August 2022, and as of June 30, 2024 was on a salary package of $674,977 a year, replacing Dr Chris McGowan who was on $586,290 a year.
Dr Lawrence’s package includes employer superannuation of $66,890 and salary sacrifice to superannuation of $130,417.
This puts her behind only Department of the Premier and Cabinet chief executive Damien Walker’s $734,589 annual package among top bureaucrats.
Dr McGowan was axed in April 2022 despite being a key player in SA’s world-leading pandemic response, after a purge of top public servants by the incoming Labor government following the March 2022 election.
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