Dale Fraser – Chief Executive Officer

MBA FCPA BBus FHSM.

Ben Kelly – Chief Operating Officer Hospitals

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.”

Craig Wilding – Chief Operating Officer Community and Aged Care

MBA BAppSc (Medical Radiation), GradDipBusMgt.

Craig was born and raised in Ararat, and his career in healthcare spans 23 years, during which he has been an active advocate for progress within healthcare.

Craig initially trained as a radiographer in 1991, and over the years has held a number of senior management roles, including a secondment to Rural North West Health in Warracknabeal as interim CEO.

In his most recent role as Executive Director Primary and Community Care with Ballarat Health Services (BHS), he was instrumental in leading and supporting a number of essential teams and organisations including: the Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) staff through the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; the Ballarat Health Services Aboriginal Health Liaison Team; and the Grampians Public Health Unit.
Craig is recognised for his approachable, thoughtful and professional manner, and his empathetic nature and significant expertise in both executive management and clinical settings make him an excellent fit for the Community and Aged Care portfolio.

The Mental Health and Residential Aged Care Royal Commissions offer significant opportunities for reform and change in the way Grampians Health will do things, notably providing the required support to our teams to meet these changes and the increasing demands of today and into the future.

“I have great memories of growing up in Ararat – and still have strong connections there, with many great friends and relatives living in the Grampians region. My local upbringing and life in Ballarat generated countless opportunities in both my personal and professional life, and I’m very grateful for that. I look forward to working with my new colleagues across the region, and investing in our people by offering supportive environments for training, participating in research, and career advancement. Although there will be many challenges and much work to be undertaken to assure success of our amalgamation, I am enthusiastic about our direction and the provision of greater resources for teams, clients, patients and residents, closer to home.”

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-Tosco – 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.”

Rod Hansen – Chief Corporate Services Officer

MBA, BBus, CPA.

Rod grew up in regional Queensland, and his career commenced in financial agribusiness before travelling the world, and eventually settling in Victoria. Living on a few acres with his family on the outskirts of Ballarat, Rod has called this part of the world ‘home’ for more than 20 years now, and has extensive experience across both public and private health systems.

Rod consistently demonstrates his passion for the delivery of sustainable health services, collaborating with others in an articulate and considered way. He is known for his genuine, open approach, and his willingness to engage – he takes the time to understand the needs of others at all levels.

The financial strength of the organisation, and what that means for the broader community is always front of mind, and Rod aims to proactively enable all staff to develop their strengths, thereby building strong and positive teams, excellent work practices, and improved patient outcomes.

“I am an advocate for transparent decision making and resource improvement, so I’m excited by the opportunity to create improved systems which will enable our communities to have a positive experience when receiving health care – we all need healthcare at some point, and being able to contribute in a significant way to delivering that is a great source of pride and accomplishment.

“The environmental impacts of improved health services can’t be understated either. Health and environmental sustainability are not two things that people always put together, but when you live in a region that spans close to 300 kms, and people are able to reduce their travel, or if we can introduce systems that reduce landfill and paper waste, then these have significant environmental benefits.”