Dallas Leon

Chair

Dallas is a Kalkadoon and Waanyi man that has worked in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander field for over 20 years, holding a number of roles across Government and non-Government sectors.

Dallas previously held the role of CEO at Gidgee Healing, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Mount Isa, where he was instrumental in leading the reform of primary health care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across North West Queensland and the Lower Gulf. He is currently the First Nations Health Advisor for the North Queensland PHN.

Dr Christopher Appleby (until 2 Oct 2021)

Member

Chris has a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Masters of Business Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy.  He is a Senior Lecturer and Practice Support Advisor at James Cook University and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Chris served as a Director on the Board of the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) for eight years, where he also Chaired the NWHHS Financial, Audit and Risk Management Committee.  Chris owned and operated remote and regional General Practices in Queensland for over 20 years and continues to provide consultancy services in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector.  

Elizabeth Fraser (from 2 Oct 2021)

Member

Liz is currently Chair of the CWHHS Board’s Safety and Quality Committee and draws on her wealth of experience including as Queensland Commissioner for Children and Young People social worker in child and family welfare; hospital and outreach mental health, emergency and rehabilitation services, which have enhanced her capabilities to provide strategic oversight and development.

Liz has a Bachelor of Arts/ Social Studies, Graduate Diploma in Multicultural Studies, a Royal Society of Arts Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language and is an Executive Fellow of the Australian New Zealand School of Government

Professor Sabina Knight

Member

Sabina is the Director of the Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MICRRH) at James Cook University.  She comes from an extensive background in remote and Indigenous primary health care, public health education and workforce.  Originally a Remote Area Nurse (RAN), she gained her Master of Tropical Health from the University of Queensland and has held various clinical and leadership roles in remote health and education.

Sheryl Lawton

Member

Sheryl has been the CEO of Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Community Health Limited (CWAATSICH) for the past 20 years.  Prior to her becoming CEO, she was employed in many positions of influence within Aboriginal affairs and Aboriginal Community Controlled Services, spanning legal services, social housing, land council and childcare.  Sheryl has been an avid representative of Aboriginal Affairs at regional, state and national levels and through her ongoing dedication, commitment and hard work, has seen CWAATSICH expand service delivery and become the lead service provider of comprehensive primary health care within the Far South West region. 

Vicki Murphy

Member

Vicki has a degree in Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and post graduate qualifications in Health Economics.  She has over 35 years’ experience in the Health, Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Disability Services sectors within the private, state and federal arenas.  She has worked at the Assistant Secretary level for the Federal Department of Health and as a Senior Policy Advisor, Healthdirect Australia Ltd,

Karen Riethmuller Tully

Member

Karen lives in Charleville in South West Queensland and has lived experience in understanding the wonderful liveability and unique lifestyle which rural communities offer.  She currently serves as Chair of the South West Hospital and Health Board and is Chair of the Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland.  She is also a Director with Southern Queensland landscapes as well as serving as an Ambassador for the Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council.  Karen holds a Master of Education, Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma of Financial Markets and is a Justice of the Peace.  She is a graduate of the Queensland Leadership Program and has completed governance courses with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  

Dr David Rimmer

Member

David is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators.  He has over 35 years’ experience in General Practice and Emergency Medicine, with a lifetime interest in teaching and workforce development.  He works as a Senior Medical Officer at Longreach, with a particular interest in mentoring the next generation of rural doctors. David is a Senior Fellow with the James Cook University GP Training Program, a member of the Queensland Health Clinical Senate Executive, and sits on the Rural and Remote Health Advisory Committee.  

Dr Clare Walker

Member

Dr Clare Walker is a medical practitioner practicing in Longreach providing both private General Practice and as Senior Medical Officer at the local hospital.
Having lived, raised a family and practiced in the Central West Region for over ten years Clare has developed an in-depth understanding of community needs of rural and remote Queenslanders.

Clare has a dual fellowship in General Practice with both Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM 2009) and the Royal Australian College of General Practice (FRACGP 2009), an Advanced Diploma of Obstetrics (2009), and qualifications in Anaesthesia through the Joint Consultative Committee (2010). Clare is working towards completing both a Diploma in Medical Administration and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course in 2018. Clare is registered with the Medical Board of Queensland, is a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practice, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Royal Australian College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a committee member of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland. 

Jason Warnock

Member

Jason was elected to the WQPHN Board in November 2018, nominated by the Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).  For more than 30 years he worked in his private podiatry practice in Townsville, which included regular visits to rural townships.  He was the first podiatrist to deliver services to the Gulf of Carpentaria communities and for 20 years attended a monthly clinic on Palm Island.  During 2003-2005 he developed the Indigenous Diabetic Foot Program.  Resources from this Program are still utilised today.  Jason was the inaugural Chair of the Podiatry Board of Australia from 2009 – 2012 and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2008 to investigate diabetic foot care services in the Indigenous communities of USA and Canada.  In 2015, Jason moved to Brisbane to take on the role of Director of Podiatry for Metro North Health and in August 2019 joined the Emergency Operations Centre at Metro North to support the COVID-19 pandemic response.  

Rachel Portelli

Secretary

Rachel is a graduate and Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, Fellow of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (United Kingdom) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  For over 10 years she has specialised in providing corporate governance advice to not for profit entities.