Board and Governance

Board of Directors

Northern Queensland PHN (NQPHN) is overseen by a highly qualified Board of Directors who are experienced health professionals and business experts, and who have a wealth of knowledge working within our region.


The NQPHN Board is a skills-based Board, which has four key committees:

The below members served on the NQPHN Board during the 2023-24 financial year. View the Board and Committees attendance for the 2023-24 financial year at the link below.

  • Nomination and Remuneration

    This committee makes recommendations to the Members for Director appointments and re-elections, and assists the Board to fulfill its corporate governance responsibilities regarding performance, induction programs, and continuing professional development for directors and remuneration of Directors.

  • People and Performance

    This committee provides oversight of organisational culture and other aspects of human resources. The committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding Senior Executive succession planning, remuneration and performance evaluation, reviewing compliance with the Corporate Code of Ethical Conduct, and overseeing any investigation of improper conduct initiated under NQPHN’s Protective Disclosure (Whistle-blower) Program.

  • Finance, Audit, and Risk Management (FARM)

    This committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to exercise due care, diligence, and skill in relation to budget planning process and monitoring of performance. It also focuses on financial investment strategy, contracting arrangements, the integrity of NQPHN’s financial reports and statements, adequacy, and performance of NQPHN’s internal control framework, external and internal audit processes, and the framework established by management to identify, assess, and manage risk.

  • Clinical Governance

    This committee provides the Board with contemporary advice and recommendations on matters of clinical governance, commissioning (specifically, planning and design of services), stakeholder engagement, and continuing development and refinement of the Health Needs Assessment (HNA) and related strategic planning documents.  All committees have levels of delegated authority for core decision making.

    • Executive Team

    NQPHN’s Executive Team consists of one CEO and three Executive Directors. Together, they are responsible for leading the broader NQPHN team of over 90 staff to achieve the objectives outlined in our Strategic Plan. With a combined total of over 45 years of executive level leadership experience, NQPHN’s Executive Team is well-placed to guide our organisation to help northern Queenslanders live happier, healthier, longer lives.

    Clinical Council and Community Advisory Group

    Clinical Council

    The Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Clinical Council provides the NQPHN Clinical Governance sub-committee of the Board with contemporary advice on local health needs and priorities ensuring that there is an appropriate evidence base to regional commissioning, specifically, planning and design of services, stakeholder engagement, and continuing development and refinement of the Health Needs Assessment (HNA).


    The Clinical Council provides a critical overview of the NQPHN regions to ensure that overall investment is in line with the regional HNA.


    The council acts in an advisory capacity to the NQPHN Clinical Governance Committee which has the delegated responsibility of the NQPHN Board.

    

    Membership of the council is comprised of GPs, allied health professionals, mental health clinicians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, community/practice nurses, and public health/health promotion representatives. They meet at least twice per year.

    Community Advisory Group

    The NQPHN Community Advisory Group (the Group) covers the Cape and Torres, Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay regions.

    Group members are comprised of health service users, consumers, carers, and community members, and act as a critical friend to NQPHN by bringing community perspective to advise the planning of activities and priorities. The Group's advice is aligned with NQPHN’s Health Needs Assessment and local and Commonwealth priorities.


    The aim of the Group is to enable health system improvement and reform in local regions and for identified community groups. They ensure that community ideas drive improvements in person-centred care to deliver better health outcomes that are locally-relevant and aligned to local care experiences and expectations.

    

    The Group also guides and advises NQPHN to improve its social impact, cultural security, and patient safety of programs we commission throughout the region.


    As champions of change, members maximise and leverage their own community networks to improve health outcomes through coordinated care.


    The Group plays a key role in helping to guide NQPHN in ensuring activities are connected to and supported by the communities it serves.

    Helping northern Queenslanders live happier, healthier, longer lives

    Share by: