Our Executive

Health Service Chief Executive

Kieran Keyes

Kieran is a proud alumnus of James Cook University, holding a Bachelor of Nursing Science and a Masters of Business Administration.

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Kieran joined the Townsville Hospital and Health Service in 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer before taking up the substantive position of Health Service Chief Executive in June 2018. Kieran has held the positions of the interim Chief Executive at both the Townsville Hospital and Health Service and at the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service; with the latter he managed its transition to Board governance. Kieran has held senior executive roles with Townsville, Wide Bay and Metro North Hospital and Health Services and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

In addition, he has held leadership roles in the corporate areas of Queensland Health. Kieran began his professional career as a registered nurse, working in coronary care at the Townsville General Hospital. Kieran is an Adjunct Professor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University and he is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. When not working, Kieran is happiest when with family, fishing and coaching or refereeing rugby.

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Chief Operating Officer

Stephen Eaton

Stephen joined the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) in June 2016 as the Service Group Director for the Medical Service Group before moving into the permanent role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) in November 2018.

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The COO role provides effective leadership for the delivery of day-to-day patient-centered operational services across the THHS. Stephen has a Masters degree in Public Health, specialising in Health Service Management. He has also undertaken a number of senior management roles across public, private and non-government organisation sectors, while based in Europe and South East Asia.

Stephen and his family made the move from the United Kingdom to Australia in 2016, although he remains a passionate Manchester United supporter.

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Chief Medical Officer

Dr Niall Small

Niall is from Edinburgh and after medical school and training in General Practice, moved to Queensland. He is a specialist Emergency Physician and has worked in Townsville since 1997 as the Director of Emergency Medicine and as the Medical Director of the Medical Service Group.

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He is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Co-Chair of the Queensland Emergency Clinical Network and has roles working with the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He is a strong advocate of the ongoing development of clinical services and clinical training across North Queensland and has a particular interest in improving patient experience and flow through our complex health system.

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Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery

Judy Morton

As the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery for Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Judy is responsible for the delivery of nursing and midwifery clinical services within the largest tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Australia.

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Judy has 25 years’ experience encompassing rural, regional and tertiary heath service delivery. Her roles have been diverse including executive clinical and operational roles in Australia, Europe and UK. Judy is a passionate advocate for the delivery of Person-Centred care focussing not only on patients being at the centre of all heath care delivery but also actively partnering with their family and friends to deliver efficient, effective, consistent high standards of care delivery.

Judy has special interests in professional development and clinical education for the nursing and midwifery workforce and to growing the contemporary workforce of the future.

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Executive Director Allied Health

Danielle Hornsby

Danielle is a seasoned health service executive who has a passion for driving innovation to improve health services in regional centres.

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She currently leads the practice of some 700 allied health clinicians across the broader Townsville region, with a reputation and achievement record which has influenced rural health policy and practice nationally for over two decades. She is a speech pathologist by background, holds a Master in Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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Chief Finance Officer

Matthew Rooney

Matthew joined the Townsville Hospital and Health Service in July 2019 as the Chief Finance Officer from Adelaide, South Australia.

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Matthew has Bachelor of Economics with an Accounting major and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with CPA Australia. Matthew has significant health and financial management experience across both operational, transactional and project environments. His significant previous roles included, Finance Director for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital project, and Deputy Chief Finance Officer, Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

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Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Wendy Ah Chin

Originally from Mt. Isa, and a descendant from the Wannyi people in North West Queensland. Wendy relocated from Canberra in August 2021 after working with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). Prior to this Wendy also worked with the Department of Health and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

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Having grown up most of her life in the Northern Territory, Wendy has spent over 25 years in Darwin, where she worked for several years as the Executive Director, Office of Aboriginal Health Policy for the Northern Territory Department of Health. Wendy has also worked as the Chief Executive of Yothu Yindi Foundation and the Deputy CEO for the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (now Lowitja Institute).

Wendy has a Health Science degree and an Executive Master of Public Administration through the Australian & New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). Wendy has worked in Indigenous affairs across the health, employment, and education portfolios for more than 30 years across the State and Commonwealth Government and the community sector.

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Executive Director Corporate and Strategic Governance

Sharon Kelly

Sharon joins the Executive with broad experience in health care delivery and executive management across acute, rural, and community settings in both Queensland and South Australia.

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She has significant experience in policy, corporate and strategic governance and risk management. Her previous roles have included General Manager, Community and Scientific Support, Health Support Queensland, and Executive Director, Mental Health and Specialised Services, West Moreton Hospital and Health Service. She has also held the interim position of Health Service Chief Executive in the West Moreton Hospital and Health Service.

Sharon has a Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Health Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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Executive Director Digital Health and Knowledge

Louise Hayes

Louise Hayes is the Executive Director Digital Health and Knowledge Management at Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

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Louise is an experienced digital health enthusiast and health informatician working across the health sector for more than 20 years, in areas of strategy development, eHealth foundation design and implementation of electronic medical record solutions.

Qualifying as a CHIA (Certified Health Informatician Australasia) in 2014 as one of Australia’s inaugural certified practitioners has confirmed her passion and growth into the digital health profession and this is demonstrated through her many commitments of mentoring, lecturing, presenting at conferences and workshops and writing articles, and as the Chair of Health Informatics Society of Australia, Queensland Branch.

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Executive Director of Clinical Governance

Marina Daly

Marina joined the Executive team in November 2019 and is responsible for ensuring safety and quality of care for our patients.

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In the role of A/Executive Director of Clinical Governance, Marina spearheads clinical assurance and improvement activities across the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

The role includes maintaining standards set by health and aged care accreditation bodies which is crucial for our community to have confidence in the safety and quality of the care we provide.

Marina also leads, promotes and supports the Townsville HHS’s strategic focus on research and innovation.

Previously, Marina began her healthcare career as a nurse in Ireland and has a degree in health sciences in nursing from James Cook University and a Master’s degree in nursing leadership.

Marina lives in Townsville with her husband and three children and are proud Cowboys supporters and members of the Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club. The family also cheer for the Wallabies in the rugby union but Marina maintains her allegiance to Irish rugby.

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