Alison Verhoeven
Chief Executive
Alison Verhoeven is Chief Executive of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, the independent peak membership body and advocate for the Australian healthcare system and a national voice for universally accessible, high quality healthcare in Australia. Ms Verhoeven holds an MBA with a specialisation in International Business, a Master of Letters, a Graduate Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts. Her professional affiliations include membership of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management. She has broad experience in health, education, corporate governance and communications, and has worked in both the private and public sectors in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, and Europe. Contact
Krister Partel
Advocacy Director
Krister Partel is the Advocacy Director for the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, the independent peak membership body and advocate for Australia’s public healthcare system and a national voice for universally accessible, high quality healthcare in Australia. With 14 years’ experience in both the public and non-government sectors, Krister has extensive knowledge and practical skills in policy development and analysis, advocacy, strategic communications planning, crisis communications, media relations and social media. Previously, Krister worked for Canada’s federal health portfolio, including two years as a Parliamentary Assistant to Canada’s federal Minister for Public Health followed by six years at Health Canada, Canada’s federal health department, working in both Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs and then in Strategic Communications. Krister has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Australian National University. Contact
Lisa Robey
Engagement and Business Director
Lisa Robey is a highly experienced marketing and communications professional. A specialist in the not-for-profit and advocacy sectors, Lisa has developed numerous successful communications campaigns. With a background in the ICT sector, Lisa brings strong skills in social media and digital marketing that she applies along with more traditional media and communications skills. A key strength is Lisa’s ability to shape a communication objective to fit within the prevailing media landscape, giving it greater opportunity for media pick-up. Lisa also lends her skills to a variety of charitable causes. In 2013 she was appointed as an ambassador to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation for whom she acts as the Canberra based event and media spokesperson. Contact
Chris Bourke
Strategic Programs Director
Chris was Australia’s first Indigenous dentist, and from 2011 to 2016, was a Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, where he held ministerial roles across several portfolios including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Children and Young People, Disability, Corrections, and Education and Training. Chris has held clinical positions in the private and public sector including his own private dental practice, in Aboriginal Medical Services, in NT Health and in the Victorian School Dental Service. He is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Melbourne; and is a member of the Uluru Statement Working Group. Contact
Susan Killion
Senior Adviser
Susan Killion joined the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association in July 2015. Susan has enjoyed an extensive career in health for over thirty years, both in Australia and the United States. Her experience includes holding health leadership roles in policy and strategic planning, hospital and community health funding, clinical operations, university lecturing, research and publishing. Susan has strong links to the health sector across national, state, university and peak health organisations, developed through her work with ACT Health, ACT Chief Ministers Department, the University of Canberra, Southern NSW Local Health District and Calvary Healthcare. As head of the Health Group at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Susan was managing editor for the biennial Australia’s Health, and led the publication of over 30 reports per year on health priority diseases. She led collaborations with universities with specialist health statistical expertise and jointly published on perinatal and maternal indicators, immunisation surveillance and primary care. Susan holds a Masters degree in Nursing from the University of Canberra. Contact
Linc Thurecht
Senior Research Director and Acting Director, Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research
Murray Mansell
Chief Operating Officer
Kylie Woolcock
Policy Director
Kylie Woolcock started her career as a pharmacist, before moving her focus into health workforce development and service implementation. She has extensive experience bringing the diverse views of stakeholders together with the evidence base to influence and effect change. She has worked with a range of health professions and service providers; from the perspectives of education, accreditation, policy, professional practice, clinical service provision, and regulation; and from a local region, national and international focus. She has postgraduate qualifications in health economics, training and management. Contact
