Ambulance Tasmania boss Jordan Emery announces resignation, third CEO to quit in five years
The head of Ambulance Tasmania has announced his resignation after accepting a new role interstate, making him the third CEO to depart the organisation since 2020.
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Ambulance Tasmania boss Jordan Emery has resigned, becoming the third CEO to quit the post in the last five years.
Mr Emery emailed staff on Wednesday night to inform them that he had been appointed as the new chief executive of Ambulance Victoria.
In the email, seen by the Mercury, Mr Emery described the decision as “incredibly difficult”.
“It’s a difficult decision because deep in my heart I think this is a wonderful organisation made up of incredibly decent, caring and hardworking people,” he said.
“Being your leader has been one of the most rewarding privileges I could have hoped for and I thank you so much for that opportunity.
“My heartfelt thanks to you for all the incredible impact you’ve had on me, the organisation and most importantly, the people of Tasmania.”
Mr Emery was appointed to head up Ambulance Tasmania in June 2023, after 12 months serving as the director of operations.
Before that, he spent 14 years as a paramedic in NSW.
He is the third CEO to resign from Ambulance Tasmania since 2021.
Mr Emery told staff that executive director of operations Michelle Baxter would serve as the interim CEO once he departed on May 30.
The Health Department has been contacted for comment.
Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma confirmed Mr Emery’s resignation and described him as “a passionate leader who has continued to push cultural transformation throughout Ambulance Tasmania”.
“During Mr Emery’s 3.5 years with Ambulance Tasmania, he has overseen the service to provide high-quality health care to Tasmanians,” she said.
“Mr Emery has also overseen the implementation of the government’s transfer of care procedure, which has been instrumental in getting our paramedics out of the hospital quicker, and back into the community helping people where they belong.”
Ms Petrusma said there would be an “extensive recruitment process” to find a replacement CEO.
Tasmania’s ambulance wait times are the worst in the nation, with patients waiting an average of 14.9 minutes for paramedics to arrive in 2023-24, according to data published by the Productivity Commission earlier this year.
Mr Emery’s appointment by Ambulance Victoria comes after the organisation’s former CEO Jane Miller resigned in August last year after losing a no-confidence vote.
Victorian Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas met with Mr Emery on Wednesday and said he would commence in the role in July.
“Mr Emery was chosen after an extensive search by the board of Ambulance Victoria - I’m very confident in their selection,” she said.
“We know that ambulance services are under incredible strain, but here in Victoria, we’ve put in place a number of additional pathways to reduce demand on our ambulance service.”
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Originally published as Ambulance Tasmania boss Jordan Emery announces resignation, third CEO to quit in five years
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