Chief executive farewells health service after eight years

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes has resigned after eight years at the helm of the region’s biggest healthcare provider. 

Board Chair Tony Mooney said he had accepted Mr Keyes’ resignation ‘with regret’. 

“While I’m sorry to see him leave, I’m supportive of his decision to change professional tack and pursue other opportunities,” he said. 

“For many in the health service, Kieran is the only chief executive they’ve ever known. 

“His steady presence, calm demeanour, and innate ability to connect with people from every level, across every discipline, has built a strong sense of connectedness and shared purpose.” 

Mr Keyes said the past eight years had been among the most rewarding of his professional life. 

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to work with the extraordinary people in this health service; they are talented, dedicated, and compassionate,” he said. 

“Our largest hospital, Townsville University Hospital, runs the gamut of care from the smallest, sickest babies to the most complex brain, spine, and transplant surgery, and emergency, paediatric, obstetric, trauma, and cancer care,” he said. 

“Our rural services are a lifeline for their communities, recently stepping it up to offer surgical services locally while training the next generation of rural generalists. 

“These individuals and teams are the very best.” 

Mr Keyes said nominating what he was most proud of was like asking which child he loved the most. 

“I’m proud of the many, many achievements of the past eight years, but I’m most proud of having worked with so many people in different roles that have been united in caring for their communities,” he said. 

“At its very core, healthcare is about people. 

“My thanks to our medical, surgical, nursing, allied health, administration, professional, and support services teams for making our health service one of renown. 

“I would also like to thank the Board for its support and my sincerest thanks to our communities for the privilege of caring for them.” 

Mr Mooney said Mr Keyes had been a reassuring presence and the public face of critical messaging during the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters including the devastating floods of 2019 and 2025. 

“Kieran faced every imaginable situation with candour and empathy and was a trusted voice in our community,” he said. 

“During his time as chief executive, he has also presided over significant expansions to paediatric care, including a new paediatric ward at Townsville University Hospital, cancer care, mental health, and surgical services with the Da Vinci robot, in partnership with the Mater, changing patients’ lives in our region,” he said. 

“We are the only regional hospital in Australia performing kidney transplants. 

“Kieran has also been at the forefront of the transformative infrastructure build currently underway, which will bring more beds and services to our community.” 

Mr Keyes said he had been contemplating the future since earlier in the year. 

“I’ve been thinking for some time about the next steps in my personal and professional life,” he said. 

“Like most of us, we know when the time is right and, for me, that time is now.” 

Mr Mooney said Mr Keyes left ‘large shoes to fill’. 

“He leaves us with our sincerest thanks and very best wishes for a successful, fulfilling, and happy next chapter,” he said. 

The role of chief executive will be filled in the interim by Deputy Director-General System, Policy, and Planning Peta Bryant while the health service undertakes a national and international recruitment campaign for a permanent replacement. 

Ms Bryant will begin in the role on July 20.