Health Service Board

The Health Services Bill 2016 was enacted on 1 July 2016 to establish Western Australia's Health Services as separate, board-governed statutory authorities.

This involved establishing the East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) as a separate statutory authority, governed by a Board that is legally responsible and accountable for the delivery of safe, high-quality, efficient and economical health services to its local community.

The EMHS Board is legally responsible and accountable for the oversight of EMHS hospitals and health services and is chaired by Ms Pia Turcinov.

The EMHS Board is comprised of highly capable and committed professionals with a diverse range of experience across the fields of medicine and health care, finance, law, and community and consumer engagement.

Board Members

Pia Turcinov AM Photograph of Pia Turcinov
EMHS Board Chair

With 30 years of commercial and corporate experience across multiple industries including technology, energy, resources and professional services, Pia Turcinov is a seasoned business leader and strategic advisor to innovators, industry, and policymakers. Ms Turcinov holds legal qualifications, is admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia and in the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Western Australia, and is a graduate and current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Ms Turcinov has significant experience in Australian law, innovation and technology, governance, and strategic leadership. Managing a portfolio career Ms Turcinov serves on a number of boards including FundWA, the Centre of Decommissioning of Australia, Edith Cowan University Council, and technology companies.

Ms Turcinov is a passionate DEI advocate and in recognition of her work was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the King's Birthday 2023 Honours List for her significant service to technology and innovation, and to women in STEM.

 

Denise GlennonPhotograph of Denise Glennon
EMHS Deputy Chair 

Dr Denise Glennon is a graduate of the University of Western Australia, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Consultant Geriatrician with extensive experience working as a clinician in Western Australian public hospitals.

 

Dr Glennon has spent the last decade embedding evidence based, best practice clinical care that has made Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Orthogeriatric Unit a leader in its field. Dr Glennon is passionate about continual quality improvement in health care and has been involved in many state and national quality improvement projects. 

 

Dr Glennon is committed to a ensuring a safe and equitable workplace through her membership on the AMA Sexual Harassment Taskforce and is actively involved in medical education at all levels, including being an examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

 

 
 
 

     

Peter ForbesPhotograph of Peter Forbes
EMHS Board Member

Peter Forbes is a chartered accountant and has held roles including CEO of specialist medical indemnity mutual MDA National, Managing Director of its wholly owned insurer, MDA National Insurance and was a founding partner and former Managing Director of the WA branch of chartered accountants HLB Mann Judd.

Mr Forbes was also a Director of LawCover (the NSW statutory insurer for NSW solicitors), Chairman of Victorian health fund provider Transport Health and is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of the Local Government Insurance Scheme WA.

In 2014 Mr Forbes was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Lions Eye Institute and was later elected Chair in early 2017. He is also an external member of the Law Society of WA Professional Indemnity Insurance Management Committee.

 
 

Vanessa ElliottPhoto  of Vanessa Elliott
EMHS Board Member

Ms Elliott is a Strategic Architect, Aboriginal Affairs and Regional Development negotiator and specialist with over 20 years’ experience in social and economic development and market inclusion. She has led and supported complex issues in First Nations development in Australia and abroad through a variety of government, business, project, committee and board level roles. She has been a self-employed Consultant since 2019 and formerly held executive roles in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, such as A/Director of the Aboriginal Policy Unit in 2018. Ms Elliott is a Jaru woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Current board roles include membership of the Indigenous Business Australia Board, Newmont Global First Nations Advisory Board, Desert Knowledge Australia Board, Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies Board, Centre for Social Responsibility and Mining Advisory Board University of Queensland.

Ms Elliott holds a Bachelor of Arts Communication and Cultural Studies, Curtin University and Graduate Certificate in Business, University of Western Australia. 

Ms Elliott was awarded the inaugural Member of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame, 2011 and 2004 Centenary Medal Citation for service to Australian society in business leadership.

 
 

 
 
 
 

     

Photograph of Ross KeesingRoss Keesing
EMHS Board Member

Ross Keesing has worked in the health industry for 40 years, initially as a health facility architect and project director, then in a number of directorships and as an Assistant Commissioner for WA Health.

Mr Keesing has experience managing WA metropolitan and regional health services, as well as private hospitals.

As a consultant for nearly two decades, Mr Keesing has provided a wide range of tactical and strategic advice on health issues and directions to governments both in Australia and the Middle East

 

Photograph of Paddy RamanathanPaddy Ramanathan
EMHS Board Member

Dr Paddy Ramanathan is an experienced clinician, with over 40 years in Public and Private sectors including 11 years in Air Force. He is currently the Managing Director of his large GP practice in Perth.

He has significant experience in senior leadership roles in health and community services. He was the Founding President of Australian Indian Medical Association in 2002. He has a special interest in the issues of health workforce in WA and is working at various levels to mitigate this issue.

He is committed to improving outcomes for migrant population and the community more broadly, through his role on the EMHS Board.

 
 
 
 

     
Steven (Steve) PatchettPhotograph of Steve Patchett
EMHS Board Member


Dr Patchett has had an extensive career as a psychiatrist and forensic psychiatrist in the WA health system and prior to this in New Zealand. He has held roles as practitioner member on the WA Board of the Medical Board of Australia, was appointed Medical Advisor to the WA Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services and was a Psychiatrist Member of the WA Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board.

Dr Patchett holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
 

Tracey Moroney OAMPhoto of Tracey Moroney
EMHS Board Member

Professor Tracey Moroney has been the Head of School, Curtin University of Nursing since April 2022.

Tracey has 21 years' experience working in higher education, and a wealth of experience from the health system.

In January 2021, Tracey was bestowed an Order of Australia Medal for services to medical education, particularly nursing.

A member and former Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, Tracey currently represents the Council on the National Nursing and Midwifery Education Advisory Network and is Chair of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council RN Accreditation Committee.

   

 
 
 
 

     

Photo of Elizabeth KoffElizabeth Koff AM
EMHS Board Member

Ms Koff was appointed Managing Director of Telstra Health, Australia’s largest digital health company, in April 2022 and holds the position of Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, at the University of Technology Sydney. She was Secretary of NSW Health from 2016 to 2022 and brings executive experience in health service delivery, strategic management and transformational change.

 

Current board roles include membership of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI) Advisory Board at Macquarie University and membership of Chief Executive Women. She was previously Chair of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) and Chair of the National Centre for Immunization Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

 

Ms Koff holds a Bachelor of Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Sydney and a Master of Public Health from Monash University. Ms Koff is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. 

 

Ms Koff was awarded the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours list in recognition of her significant service to public health administration and governance.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 
 
 
Last Updated: 15/01/2024