Executive Staff
Grampians Health is led by Chief Executive Officer Dale Fraser. The Executive team reports to the CEO.
Dale Fraser – Chief Executive Officer
MBA FCPA BBus FHSM.
Dale has worked exclusively with regional health services for the past 26 years, including time within the Hume, Barwon and Grampians region. Dale holds a number of external directorships associated with education, research, community engagement, and health workforce, and is an active contributor to the development of State health policy. Bringing world-class public health care to the most needy in our community, regardless of their social status or capacity to pay, is at the cornerstone of Dale’s belief system.
Outside of work, Dale is a keen collector of Australian art and he is an avid traveller, with a goal to visit all seven continents.
Ben Kelly – Chief Operating Officer
GradDipBus Leadership, Bachelor Psych Nursing.
Ben enjoys the many benefits regional living provides. Having grown up in the Goulburn Valley, a life with his family in a regional environment was always a priority following many years of working in metropolitan-based health networks.
Since moving to Ballarat in 2005, Ben hasn’t looked back. Ben’s career commenced in mental health, and subsequently progressed to acute and sub-acute public health. His experience as a registered nurse (mental health) in clinical settings has made him a much-respected leader of the clinical teams. He understands first-hand many of the challenges staff face each day – and if he doesn’t know, he takes time to learn by listening to those at the coalface.
Ben’s personal leadership philosophy centers around harnessing his skills and the abilities of those around him, to ensure service delivery excellence continually grows and improves. He is known for fostering a work environment of respect, pride, nurturing, and professional development for all staff, to the benefit of the broader community.
“Grampians Health is a fantastic evolution in regional public health services. Together, with shared vision and goals Grampians Health has a unique opportunity to enhance the availability of appropriate and effective services closer to home.”
Claire Woods – Chief People Officer
BAppSc (AppChem), LLB GDipEd.
Those who know Claire will attest to her passion for – and dedication to – fostering an engaged and safe workplace, where communication is encouraged and the desire to learn is supported.
With more than 15 years of leadership experience in human resources, Claire has worked in both public and private healthcare, and has a particular interest in linking strategic organisational objectives with the necessary day-to-day work practices. She loves the challenge that comes with working in healthcare, and the wonderful diversity of the people she works with – she finds the growing of a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion as rewarding as it is necessary.“
Development of a large workforce (Grampians Health currently sits at more than 6000), requires a strategic long-term vision. There is no healthcare without the healthcare workforce. Individual personalities and skill sets are woven together to form an organisation, and how we foster relationships, enable education, and support change management determines how we move forward together.
“As a child I grew up visiting my Grandparents in Miram (near Kaniva) during the Christmas holidays. In recent visits, I’ve realised I’m quite sentimental about that time and that part of the world, and I feel very strongly about nurturing and growing the local workforce in the regions.
“As Grampians Health, we will collectively look at how we can work together, to grow and improve. That’s the unique thing about healthcare – people want to deliver the best possible outcomes at an individual, team and organisation level.
“The formation of Grampians Health is exciting, we have enormous opportunity and I look forward to continuing to build relationships with my colleagues across the Grampians region.”
Leanne Shea – Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
RN Dip PMAN, AdvDip BUS MGT.
As Board Director for the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program, Leanne is passionate about the health and wellbeing of nurses and midwives, and the need for ongoing investment in this space. Her advocacy makes her a role model and mentor to junior and senior teams, who respect her down-to-earth and caring nature, and her understanding of the significant challenges faced by those who care for the community.
Leanne grew up on a dairy farm at Bacchus Marsh, and spent significant time with family and ‘hanging out’ with cousins in Minyip and Manangatang during the school holidays before commencing training in 1984 at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Country born and city trained, Leanne recognised early on the unique differences between regional and metropolitan healthcare.
While she was able to specialise in paediatric and adolescent medicine, the breadth of clinical skill required by regional nurses and midwives was – and is – quite extraordinary. She is excited to continue development of health care in the Grampians region, and believes health funding discussions need regional representation at the table.
Leanne has continued her professional development through the Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance, and the Governance Institute of Australia, and has more than 20 years’ experience in managing and coaching public health sector teams.
Those who know her, describe Leanne as a great listener who empowers teams to focus and get on with the job at hand; she brings out the best in others, and recognises that all people carry degrees of complexity in both their professional and personal lives.
“In working closely with our nurses and midwives across the region, we can ensure patients, residents, and staff experience the exceptional, contemporary care expected by those who come to us. I strongly believe in empowering teams, and nurturing local talent to pursue careers in health so communities can thrive well into the future. I still live where I was born – on the family farm – but it is the community all around me that makes it ‘home’.”
Matthew Hadfield – Chief Medical Officer
MB ChB (Hons), FRCS (England), FRACS (Vascular), AFRACMA Adjunct Professor, Deakin University.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Matthew attended medical school at St Andrews in Manchester and completed training as a vascular surgeon through the North of England Training scheme. He was appointed as consultant vascular surgeon at Pennine Acute NHS Trust in Oldham (his home town) and later, Clinical Director of General Surgery before relocating to Australia.
Matthew and his family moved to Ballarat in 2012, to take up the position of vascular surgeon and Clinical Director at Ballarat Health Services, and covered management of all aspects of surgery, anesthetics and perioperative services.
His interest in training and medical administration started early on in his career, and he has been actively involved in health service development across a number of projects, including the complex merger of four separate hospitals into a large multi-campus service in the northwest of England; an area that was identified as being most in need of improved health outcomes, which that project ultimately delivered.
Alongside his clinical work, Matthew has been actively involved with: the Victorian Clinical Council (as the inaugural deputy chair), the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council; and is the current chair of the Victorian State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
The step into the role of Chief Medical Officer is a natural one for Matthew, and will harness the many years of accumulated experience he has to offer.
“My first 10 years working as a consultant in my hometown, amongst friends and family, gave me the unique view of healthcare as part of the community, and that what we provide is far more than an impersonal service.
“I can feel the same sense of community and trust here, ever since moving to Australia and to this region, and the chance to give back to a community that has welcomed me and my family is really exciting.”
“My experience in England, helping to guide the merger of four hospitals was a huge experience. The opportunity to use that knowledge to help guide a similar amalgamation was not something I ever thought would happen – but it is really exciting – and I have seen firsthand how such changes can benefit the whole community. I have no doubt we can achieve just as much success here in Grampians Health.
“I think we have the opportunity to build a health service that can provide the health care that our communities truly deserve.”
Veronica Furnier – Chief Redevelopment Officer and Infrastructure Officer
Veronica enjoys living on a few acres in regional Victoria, having grown up in the Western suburbs of Melbourne after emigrating from Argentina as a child. She enjoys camping with her two children and spending time in our wonderful parks within Victoria.
Veronica’s career commenced as a site engineer with Baulderstone Hornibrook delivering major Melbourne infrastructure projects such as CityLink, Marvel Stadium and Docklands Marina. Her career then focused on the Victorian Public Service with extensive experience in Local and State Government agencies. Her roles at Melbourne City Council, Court Services Victoria and Parks Victoria involved developing and leading capital project delivery teams that successfully completed the organisation’s largest and most critical assets.
Veronica’s passion is in creating a learning environment where people are encouraged to develop and maximise their potential while achieving positive outcomes for people and Victorian communities. She develops inclusive, professional, innovative and results focussed teams through a culture built on trust and collaboration. Veronica is deeply committed to championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and for the Victorian community.
“I am thrilled to join Grampians Health and to support a team of passionate health industry professionals delivering much needed services to regional Victoria. I am excited to be able to share my experience in infrastructure delivery with the team and continue the journey with them.”
Dr Rob Grenfell – Chief Strategy and Regions Officer
MBBS, MPH, FAFPHM.
Rob has lived in the Grampians region for most of his life, having grown up in Horsham and returning to Natimuk where he practiced as a rural General Practitioner in the early days of his career.
Rob’s career has focused on public health with extensive experience in government, not-for-profit and private sectors. After a stint in Melbourne – where he held roles at CSIRO as Director of Health and Biosecurity, National Director of Cardiovascular Health at the Heart Foundation, and Senior Medical Advisor at the Department of Health Victoria – he returned to Natimuk in 2020 and shortly after commenced as Public Health Physician Specialist in the Grampians Public Health Unit.
Rob has specialist expertise in health system analysis, strategic planning, governance, health risk management, and equity-focused care. He is passionate about access to healthcare in rural communities and bringing innovative systems to improve equity in regional settings.
“Grampians Health will enable much needed service delivery, locally. Equity of health care, regardless of where you live should be top of the agenda across Australia; I am thrilled to be part of the team who will be working to make that a reality across the Grampians.
“Planning for and managing the complex requirements to successfully achieve our strategic goals will be challenging, and I couldn’t be more ready.”
Eric Kochskamper – Chief Financial Officer
Dip. Bus (Accounting), Bach. Comm (Acc/Law), CPA.
Eric, who comes from Ballarat and attended local schools and university, has always treasured Grampians Health, both for himself and his family. In his current role, Eric is excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference, within the organisation and for our communities.
Eric’s career began in payroll, and he appreciates his progressing in positions that have inspired him to grow in the Finance and Information Technology streams.
Recently, in his capacity as the Director, Finance and Corporate Services at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Eric led the development and implementation of a new finance business partnering model. He successfully implemented multiple ERP projects and introduced a new financial reporting and metrics to support strategic decision making.
Throughout his 16-year tenure in finance, management, and governance within the Victorian Government sector, Eric has been a driving force in implementing innovative financial strategies, leading systems transformation, and refining finance and business processes.
Eric’s leadership offers a transparent and collaborative approach, fostering open lines of communication to facilitate the achievement of tangible outcomes for the team and our region.
Recognised for his loyalty, outgoing nature, perpetual curiosity, and being a trusted partner in business, Eric wanted to reconnect with his beginnings in Ballarat and help contribute to delivering a health care service that comprehensively understands the community’s needs and tailors the clinical services accordingly.