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Queensland Mental Health Week

Who we are

CheckUP works with partner organisations and health providers to create healthier communities and reduce health inequities through a range of initiatives.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee

Quality – ISO 9001:2015 certification

What we do

CheckUP works with partner organisations and health providers to create healthier communities and reduce health inequities through a range of initiatives.

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Industry and workforce development

Partner with us

There are so many ways you can support the work of CheckUP and our vision of better health for the people and communities that need it most.

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News & publications

Read the latest news and publications from CheckUP.

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Our Board and management

Meet the passionate team behind CheckUP!

Governed by a highly skilled Board of Directors, elected by our esteemed organisational members, we adhere to a best practice governance framework. Our Directors bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, spanning diverse sectors such as health, disability, community services, and the private sector. This ensures that our leadership remains focused on driving improvements and promoting excellence in all that we do.

At the heart of our collective efforts stands our exceptional CheckUP team (pictured below), comprised of dedicated professionals who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Additionally, CheckUP is supported by a dynamic Senior Management Team, who provide strategic guidance and ensure the successful implementation of our initiatives.

Together, we are united in our commitment to creating healthier communities and reducing health inequities.

We don’t have the space here to introduce all our staff, but we’d like you to meet our Board and Senior Leadership Team. They are the driving force behind our organisation’s strategic direction.

Our Board

Merrilyn Strohfeldt

Chair

Merrilyn Strohfeldt works in health consulting following her retirement as the CEO of Darling Downs West Moreton PHN in early 2022.

She has had direct and indirect involvement with primary health throughout her career with extensive experience in the delivery of disability services, health and rehabilitation services across Australian and State Government jurisdictions, the not-for-profit sector and private industry.

She holds an Executive Masters in Public Administration from Griffith University and the Australian New Zealand School of Government, and a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from the University of Queensland. Before taking up the PHN CEO role, Merrilyn was the Deputy Director General for the Queensland Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. After joining the Department, Merrilyn worked in service delivery leadership roles and had direct responsibility for service delivery within her department for universal, prevention and early intervention services for youth mental health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing, and commissioning domestic violence support services, as well as the safety and wellbeing of children impacted by domestic violence. Merrilyn also led significant reforms in domestic violence prevention and oversaw the operations of the Office for Women.

Merrilyn Strohfeldt

Chair

Merrilyn Strohfeldt works in health consulting following her retirement as the CEO of Darling Downs West Moreton PHN in early 2022.

Dr David Rowlands

Chair, Finance and Risk Management (FARM) Committee

OAM

Dr David Rowlands has been a general practitioner on the Gold Coast for over 30 years. He is a Queensland graduate, who served as a medical officer in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corp, and worked in accident and emergency in the United Kingdom, prior to deciding on a career in general practice. David is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, with over 20 years’ experience as a Company Director.

David served for four years as Chair of the Gold Coast PHN Board, as well as serving as Chair of the Gold Coast Medicare Local and of the Gold Coast Division of General Practice. In June 2021, David was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to Medicine, in General Practice.

Dr David Rowlands

Chair, Finance and Risk Management (FARM) Committee

OAM

Ms Jennifer Pouwer

Director

Tertiary qualified in allied health (occupational therapy) and with post graduate qualifications, memberships and experience in corporate governance (Australian Institute of Company Directors, Governance Institute of Australia and Women on Boards) Jennifer Pouwer presently consults into the community and social service sector whilst progressing study in clinical governance and quality management systems. Jennifer has held Executive roles within the Commonwealth, State and non-government sectors encompassing mental health, child protection, aged and community care, disability services, employment services and vocational rehabilitation.

Her role scope spanned service delivery and regulatory, accreditation, commissioning, policy and planning functions. She gained her interest and diverse networks in the non-government sector through the community services funding and contract management function in the state department of health.

This interest followed through to Jennifer’s contributions into the health and community services sector through a portfolio of Board roles. Separate from her role with CheckUP, Jennifer presently is a Board member of Your Best Life Health and Disability Services and Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia.

Ms Jennifer Pouwer

Director

Mr Colin Duff

Director

MBA, B Comm

Currently the Managing Director of one of Australia’s fastest growing professional consultancy firms, Colin Duff also sits on several Boards with a range of roles including Chairman, ED and NED providing strategic growth guidance and corporate governance.

He has over 30 years of business experience as a Board and Management Executive across many different industries, specialising in business growth at both strategic and operational levels.

Well-equipped in the areas of corporate advisory and governance, strategic growth in particular mergers and acquisitions, change management and integration, performance management and operations optimisation, Colin enjoys working with others motivated to growing their businesses and passionate about their mission and realising their vision.

He holds a Master of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Colin Duff

Director

MBA, B Comm

He has over 30 years of business experience as a Board and Management Executive across many different industries, specialising in business growth at both strategic and operational levels.

He holds a Master of Commerce and Bachelor of Commerce and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Jane Williams

Director

Jane Williams is currently a practicing wellness nurse at Barcaldine Medical Centre, caring for people with mental illness and chronic disease.

She has 30 years’ experience as a registered nurse and midwife working across rural and remote communities in Western Queensland. Working as a registered nurse and living as part of a rural and remote community has provided Jane with unique insights into the issues of working in rural Queensland and the challenges that go hand in hand with this.

Jane is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds several key Board appointments, including Chair of the Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS) Board since May 2016. She has been a Board Member of Central West Hospital and Health Service since its inception in 2012 and is currently Chair of Central West Rural Wellness Network.

Ms Jane Williams

Director

Jane Williams is currently a practicing wellness nurse at Barcaldine Medical Centre, caring for people with mental illness and chronic disease.

Mr Kieran Chilcott

Director

Kieran Chilcott is the CEO of Kalwun Development Corporation Ltd, a large Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation on the Gold Coast delivering comprehensive primary healthcare, human services and community care interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities over eight separate locations.

He holds a Bachelor of Education majoring in behaviour management, and a range of other tertiary qualifications in leadership, governance, training, project management and mental health.

Kieran is an active member of the community and has chaired and been a member of several Boards. Notable appointments include Founding Director, current Chairperson, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, Board Director, Gold Coast Primary Health Network, Board Director, Central West Hospital and Health Service and Former Chairperson of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.

Mr Kieran Chilcott

Director

He holds a Bachelor of Education majoring in behaviour management, and a range of other tertiary qualifications in leadership, governance, training, project management and mental health.

Dr Tina Janamian

Director

PhD, MBA, MMedSc, GAICD, GCELead, BSc

Adjunct Associate Professor Tina Janamian is the Group Chief Executive Officer at the Australian General Practice Accreditation Ltd (AGPAL) Group of companies
including Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP), Quality Innovation Performance Consulting Pty Ltd (QIP Consulting), Quality Innovation Performance International Pty Ltd (QIP International), Client Focused Evaluation (CFEP) Surveys and Care Opinion Australia.

Tina has a diverse background and extensive experience across academia, healthcare transformation, workforce development and health services research. In the past twenty years, she has led and successfully delivered on large complex primary care innovation programs and educational initiatives across different sectors and multi-disciplinary teams. Tina is a member on the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) Accreditation Council and ISQua’s Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care – contributing to health services quality improvement and patient safety on a national and international level. Tina is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Director on two not-for-profit Boards, a Member of two International Editorial Boards, a reviewer for several reputable journals, and has considerable experience in business development and commercialisation across a range of industries.

Dr Tina Janamian

Director

PhD, MBA, MMedSc, GAICD, GCELead, BSc

Ms Amanda Boland

Company Secretary

Amanda Boland is the Managing Director of Business Governance Solutions, an independent advisory firm based in Brisbane and supporting clients all over Queensland. She has extensive C-suite and governance experience, and has provided corporate governance and strategic business advisory services to charities and for-profit organisations in health, aged and disability care, youth and community services, finance, technology, higher education and the arts.

Ms Amanda Boland

Company Secretary

CheckUP Senior Management Team

Ms Ann Maree Liddy

Chief Executive Officer

Ann Maree is an accomplished health executive with over 20 years of experience as Chief Executive Officer. Ann Maree’s expertise includes governance, strategic and operational planning, stakeholder engagement, and leadership across the health sector, particularly primary health care. Her special interests include health systems improvement, organisational development and performance, governance and leadership, and the not-for-profit sector.

Ann Maree is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives. She has served as a member of the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) Queensland Branch Committee since 2016.

Ms Ann Maree Liddy

Chief Executive Officer

Mr Russell Johnston

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Corporate Services

Russell is a transformational leader with a robust foundation as a Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary and Corporate Services Executive. He has 30 years’ experience across three continents, with a proven track record in the private and public sectors, including external and internal audit and over 10 years in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, particularly disability, aged care and health.

Russell’s expertise includes sound business acumen, highly developed analytical skills, finance, ICT and risk management, governance, strategy, HR and WHS, quality and compliance, M&A (mergers & acquisitions) and contract management. His special interests include mentorship, leveraging ICT enablers, cyber security, negotiation, and sustainability in the NFP/social enterprise sector.

Russell is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Global Chartered Management Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Postgraduate Honours Degree. He has been a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2006.

Mr Russell Johnston

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Corporate Services

Ms Elise Gorman

General Manager – Health Services

Elise is responsible for the design and delivery of CheckUP’s health service initiatives. She oversees and leads teams in the innovation, planning, development, implementation and evaluation of new and existing CheckUP service delivery initiatives.

Elise holds a Bachelor Health Science (Public Health and Health Services Management).

Ms Elise Gorman

General Manager – Health Services

Elise holds a Bachelor Health Science (Public Health and Health Services Management).

Mr David Millichap

General Manager – Engagement and Business Development

David Millichap leads the Engagement and Business Development teams at CheckUP. He oversees the coordination of CheckUP’s training programs, membership and networks, events, business development, and marketing and communication activities.

David is an experienced manager and holds a Masters in Health Science from the Queensland University of Technology.

Mr David Millichap

General Manager – Engagement and Business Development

David is an experienced manager and holds a Masters in Health Science from the Queensland University of Technology.

Ms Vicky Meyer

General Manager – Workforce

Vicky Meyer is a highly experienced and accomplished workforce policy and planning professional with over 15 years of service in the not-for-profit and state government sectors.

Her considerable knowledge of the health industry and the Vocational Education and Training sector, coupled with her expertise in policy development, project coordination and management, has enabled her to successfully deliver a wide range of regional, sector-wide, and organisational workforce projects. With a strong track record of building long-lasting relationships and engaging key industry stakeholders across government, not-for-profit and community-based organisations,

Vicky has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of workforce planning for the health industry. She has worked at CheckUP since May 2020, engaging extensively with stakeholders to identify training and skills priorities and inform investment settings for the health industry.

Ms Vicky Meyer

General Manager – Workforce

Vicky Meyer is a highly experienced and accomplished workforce policy and planning professional with over 15 years of service in the not-for-profit and state government sectors.