Governance and oversight
Effective governance establishes clearly defined roles and responsibilities. It also ensures accountability is maintained, decision-making is transparent and ethical, resources are managed effectively, and relevant laws and policies are complied with.
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.
Our governance is guided by the Health and Wellbeing Queensland Act 2019, Public Sector Ethics Act 1994, the Financial Accountability Act 2009, and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Board
Health and Wellbeing Queensland are governed by a board appointed by the Governor in Council, which is responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing the management and performance of the agency.
Mr Steve Ryan
Board Chairperson
Mr Ryan is a professional board member, senior executive and educator with more than 40 years’ experience in strategic leadership, governance and service delivery across the public, union, superannuation and not-for-profit sectors. 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 Andrew Hopper
Board Deputy Chairperson
As Director-General, Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games since September 2022, Mr Hopper is leading the Government’s objectives to: drive grassroots sports participation across the State; strengthen integrity and viability while maintaining high animal welfare standards in the racing industry; and ensure every part of Queensland benefits from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mr Hopper has extensive experience in sport, entertainment and tourism administration, operations, governance, venue management in the public and private sector.
Dr David Rosengren
Director-General
Dr Rosengren commenced as Director-General, Queensland Health on 1 November 2024. He is a Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine with more than 20 years’ clinical and leadership experience in both public and private hospital sectors.
Ms Natalie Wilde
Director-General
Ms Wilde commenced as the Director-General, Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism on 22 April 2025. Ms Wilde is a distinguished leader with a career spanning over 23 years in the Queensland public sector. Her extensive experience includes developing and implementing policy reforms, particularly in areas related to economic and regional development, local government, infrastructure, property, and land use planning.
Ian Lowe
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor Lowe is a very experienced, widely published and highly awarded expert on urban development, sustainability, environmental science and public health. One of Australia’s most respected environmental scientists, he is an emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University where he was previously Head of the School of Science.
Jane Williams
Board chair and director
Ms Williams is an experienced board chair and director with a strong commitment to improving health equity and outcomes for rural, remote and First Nations communities. Based in Barcaldine, Jane brings lived experience and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing Queenslanders outside metropolitan areas. She currently serves as Chair of the Central West Hospital and Health Service, and is a director on the boards of The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section).
Mrs Stella Taylor-Johnson
Kamilaroi woman
Mrs Taylor-Johnson is a proud Kamilaroi woman with more than 40 years’ experience working in the health sector and studying in the fields of behavioural science and social welfare. Mrs Taylor-Johnson was instrumental in the development of the first Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Policy and previously held a range of senior advisory positions in government and the not-for-profit sector, and numerous board directorships including with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.
Ms Anna Voloschenko
Health professional
Ms Voloschenko is a health professional with more than 40 years’ experience encompassing public health, health promotion, disease prevention, health protection, health literacy and population health. Ms Voloschenko is an independent consumer advisor and strategic planner on matters relating to the health of populations and communities including those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds in Queensland. Throughout her career, Ms Voloschenko has been involved in major public health and health promotion campaigns, which have included community education and associated training for workforce, both nationally and at a state level.
Finance, Audit and Risk Management Sub-Committee
The Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Sub-Committee functions under the authority of the Board. The role of the Sub-Committee is to provide independent advice, assurance and assistance to the Board in the areas of financial statements, risk management, internal control, internal audit, external audit, performance management and compliance frameworks.
Michael Dillon
FARM Chair
Mr Michael Dillon is a Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) with over 30 years of experience in finance, audit, risk management, and governance across leading financial institutions in Australia and internationally. He has extensive expertise in financial governance, risk and control frameworks, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial reporting, with a strong track record of enhancing governance practices and financial accountability. Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Applied Finance from Kaplan Professional.
Our Executive Team
Robyn Littlewood
Chief Executive Officer – Adjunct Professor
Dr Robyn Littlewood is Chief Executive Officer of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the state’s prevention agency driving better health outcomes and a stronger health system, and is relentless about creating a health legacy for the future.
With more than 30 years’ experience across clinical care, research and education, she is recognised as a national leader in paediatric healthcare, prevention and health reform.
Ms Gemma Hodgetts
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ms Hodgetts joined Health and Wellbeing Queensland in February 2020, prior to which she held senior leadership, policy and governance roles within the Departments of Health, State Development and Community Safety. Through these roles, she has led the provision of strategic advice and service delivery options for government. Her contributions centre on reforming engagement practices and system leadership in the delivery of policy and strategic advice.
Ms Hodgetts holds qualifications in Policy Analysis and a Master of Business Administration, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Gemma is also an Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Queensland Division Council Member.
Dr Simone Nalatu
Acting Senior Director, Prevention and Digital Health
As the Acting Senior Director, Prevention and Digital Health, Dr Nalatu provides statewide strategic system leadership and recognised subject matter expertise in health promotion and chronic disease prevention, contributing to strengthening prevention capability within HWQld and supporting the broader Queensland prevention ecosystem. The Senior Director plays a key role in shaping and advancing the prevention agenda, ensuring it aligns with HWQld’s strategic priorities, including scaling digital channels and tools to make prevention programs accessible when and where they are needed, and to deliver evidence-backed integrated preventive care with Hospital and Health Services to keep people out of hospital.
Research Advisory Committee
The Health and Wellbeing Queensland Research Advisory Committee (RAC) was formed in 2022 to provide independent research-related advice and recommendations to the HWQld Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on health and wellbeing research priorities and opportunities to inform policy and practice, as well as research partnerships and partnership support activities. This includes:
- Advice on Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s research agenda
- Broad oversight of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s research activities
- Reviews, assessments and recommendations on research project grants and scholarship applications suitable for funding
- Identification of opportunities to leverage research activities and research funding for Health and Wellbeing Queensland consideration.
To find out more, email RAC@hw.qld.gov.au.
Ms Helen Darch OAM
Chair
Ms Darch has extensive organisational strategy experience gained through consulting work with diverse organisations ranging from universities to government departments, philanthropic organisations, and professional associations.
She is currently on the Metro South Hospital and Health Service Board, the Crime and Corruption Commission, and the PA Research Foundation.
Laureate Professor Clare Collins AO
Laureate Professor Clare Collins AO is an NHMRC Leadership Research Fellow (L3) and is Director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute Research Program in Food and Nutrition. Her research focuses on personalised nutrition technologies and programs evaluating impact on diet related health in chronic disease and across life stages. L/Prof Collins is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, Fellow of the Nutrition Society of Australia and Fellow of Dietitians Australia (DA).
Professor Sharon Goldfield AM
Professor Sharon Goldfeld is a paediatrician and Director at the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Centre for Community Child Health and Theme Director for Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research institute. Her unique career has seamlessly straddled research, policy and practice with her cross-sectoral approach ensuring her research is robust and of high policy and practice utility for greater translation success.
Ray Kelly
Gomeroi man
Ray Kelly is a proud Gomeroi man and one of Australia’s leading health professionals, with over 33 years’ experience in the health and sports industries. He currently leads a program of research with a focus on factors contributing to successful reversal of type 2 diabetes mellitus through lifestyle change by Indigenous people in Australia. His work bridges communities, research, and policy, embodying a rare combination of expertise, compassion, and unwavering determination.
Dr Sandra Pavey
Director
Dr Sandra Pavey has more than 28 years’ experience across academia, research management, non-profit and government health sectors. As Director, Research and Impact at Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Dr Pavey provides strategic research leadership and leads academic partnerships that support evidence-informed prevention. Her work focuses on embedding research evidence through partnerships to inform policy, practice and programs, improve population health outcomes, and reduce health inequities across Queensland.
Our Patron
Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland.
In August 2005, the Governor was appointed to the role of Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies. In January 2020, when the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the Governor became the State Health Incident Controller.
During her medical career, Dr Young had specialist qualifications as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and as a Fellow by Distinction of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. She was also appointed Fellow of numerous other eminent education and research institutions, has received honorary doctorates from two Queensland Universities, and has received an Australia Day Achievement Medallion, as well as a Public Service Medal.
Her Excellency was sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021.
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