Our Governance

Our Legislation

Health and Wellbeing Queensland was established on 1 July 2019, as an independent statutory body within the portfolio of the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services to improve the health and wellbeing of the Queensland population.

The Health and Wellbeing Act 2019 is the governing legislation for Health and Wellbeing Queensland and identifies the main functions to be:

  • to facilitate and commission activities to prevent illness and promote health and wellbeing;
  • to develop partnerships and collaborate with other entities to further its objective or carry out its functions under the act;
  • to give grants for activities to further its objective or carry out its functions under the act;
  • to monitor and evaluate activities to prevent illness and promote health and wellbeing;
  • to develop policy and advise the Minister and government entities about preventing illness and promoting health and wellbeing;
  • to coordinate the exchange of information about activities to prevent illness and promote health and wellbeing.

Our Board

Health and Wellbeing Queensland is governed by a board appointed by the Governor in Council.

The board is appointed under the Health and Wellbeing Act 2019, which requires a member to have qualifications and experience in areas including law, business, public health, academia, community service organisations or the not-for-profit sector or other areas the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services considers relevant.   The Act also requires that at least one board member must be an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander.

Mr Stephen Ryan is a professional board member, senior executive and educator with over forty years’ experience in strategic leadership, governance and service delivery.

Mr Ryan has extensive exposure across the public, union, superannuation and not-for-profit sectors in his various roles as a secondary school teacher, a Trustee of the QSuper Board, and a director of QInvest. Mr Ryan is currently a Director of the Residential Tenancies Authority Qld and chair of its Risk and Audit Committee. He is also a Director of GROW, a national not-for-profit community-based organisation helping Australians recover from mental illness through programs of mutual support and personal development. Mr Ryan was an executive member and President of the Queensland Teachers’ Union.

In September 2022, Andrew took on the role of Acting Director-General, Tourism Innovation and Sport (DTIS) and is leading the government’s key objectives to grow and strengthen the state’s visitor economy, innovation agenda and participation in sport and recreation.

Andrew joined DTIS in late 2021 as the Deputy Director-General, Tourism Recovery, Olympic Engagement and Legacy, with the focus of championing Queensland’s visitor economy, bringing the Tourism Industry Reference Panel’s Action Plan for Tourism Recovery to life and working in lockstep with Tourism and Events Queensland as well as industry.

Prior to taking up this role with DTIS, Andrew has spent over 6 years in executive roles in the Northern Territory, most recently as the Deputy CEO in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, leading the teams at Tourism NT (inc. StudyNT), Screen Territory and Liquor and Gaming and Racing.

With an extensive background leading high performing teams in the tourism, major events, entertainment, sport and cultural industries in Australia and internationally, Andrew has led teams to deliver an increase in visitation, industry investment, successful major events, and projects. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Andrew is well versed in working with stakeholders to find new ways of working together while overcoming roadblocks along the way.

Ms Clare O’Connor is the Director-General of the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts.

Ms O’Connor has over six years’ experience in Director-General positions, having served in two other departments, including most recently leading the delivery of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to Queensland.

She has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Public Sector Leadership and extensive experience in community and disability services, as well as progressing other transformational social service reforms.

Acting Director-General, Queensland Health

Michael is the Acting Director-General, Queensland Health and was previously in this position from July 2015 to September 2019. Most recently, Michael was Chair of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and Chair of the Western Australia Health, Health Support Service. Michael was the Administrator, North West Hospital and Health Service from June 2021 to April 2022.

Michael was Chair of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) providing advice to the COAG Health Council from 2016 to 2018. From 2019 to 2020, Michael was the inaugural Chair of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health and has previously been on Board of the Australian Digital Health Agency. From 2019 to 2022 Michael was Chair of the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre.

Michael holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Human Movement, and Bachelor of Education.

Michael has a passion for organisational excellence and leading value-based teams achieving outcomes that improve the lives of all Australians.

Highly-experienced, widely-published and highly awarded expert on urban development, sustainability, environmental science and public health. One of Australia’s most respected environmental scientists, Professor Ian Lowe is an emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University, where he was previously Head of the School of Science, and an adjunct professor at Flinders University and the University of the Sunshine Coast. He holds earned degrees from the University of NSW and the University of York, as well as honorary doctorates from Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast. His principal research interests are in the broad area of policy decisions influencing use of science and technology, especially in the fields of energy and environment.

Ms Stella Taylor-Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of Kambu Health Service and has more than 40 years working within the health sector. Ms Taylor-Johnson is committed to building a better tomorrow for her community and believes in a holistic way of healthcare.

Ms Taylor-Johnson has been the Chair of Queensland Trachoma and Eye Health for 10 years and was the Chair of the Murri School for many years when it was established at Doorknock Terrace in West End.

Dr Spierings is a Gaangulu man and brings his expertise in Indigenous health, community health access, health research, academia and the not-for-profit sector.

Dr Spierings is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at the University of Queensland, investigating COVID-19 health messaging in Indigenous communities, patient centred models of care, health governance, and Aboriginal men’s health.

He is also a non-Executive Director for the Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network. In 2015 Dr Spierings was appointed by the Australian Government to serve as the Australian Youth Delegate to the United Nations (UN). He has previously worked in various policy and community development roles and the construction industry.

Ms Anna Voloschenko is a Health Professional with over 30 years’ experience encompassing public health, health promotion, health protection and population health. Presently she is an independent Consumer Advisor and strategic planner on matters related to the health of populations and communities who live in Queensland. Throughout her career, Ms Voloschenko has been involved in the development of major public health and health promotion campaigns which included community education and associated workforce both nationally and at a State level. For many years Ms Voloschenko has championed health issues including health literacy and challenges facing culturally and linguistically diverse Queenslanders. She also advocates for equity and inclusion for all. As a result of her efforts she was awarded an Outstanding Individual Achiever Award by Multicultural Queensland in 2019.

Ms Jane Williams is an experienced registered nurse and holds qualifications in management, community service coordination and rural and remote health. Since 1992, Ms Williams has worked in rural and remote areas of Western Queensland and continues to practice as a wellness nurse at the Barcaldine Medical Centre and cares for people with chronic disease and mental illness. Living and working as part of a rural and remote community has provided Ms Williams with valuable insights to the issues and challenges facing these communities.

Ms Williams also holds a number of key board appointments with Central West Hospital and Health Board, Queensland Music Festival, CheckUP, Royal Flying Doctors Service (Queensland) Foundation, Queensland Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council and Central West Rural Wellness Network.

Our Chief Executive Officer

As leader of the state’s first dedicated prevention agency, Dr Littlewood believes every Queenslander has the right to better health and works relentlessly to achieve this.
An experienced leader, researcher, clinician, academic and educator, Dr Littlewood is an advocate for strong public health policy with more than 25 years’ experience working across paediatric obesity prevention, nutrition and dietetics.

Dr Littlewood holds a raft of formal qualifications in dietetics, business, research and executive leadership, including a PhD, GAICD and 2 Masters degrees including Medical Science and Business Administration.

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Last updated 9 August 2023