Our leadership team
| Cheryl Herbert
Cheryl has held roles across the health and community sector, with a practical grounding as a registered nurse and midwife. She has worked in community, aged care and acute settings, as well as in clinical, academic and management positions. Before joining the Health Quality and Complaints Commission, Cheryl was the CEO of Spiritus (formerly St Luke’s Nursing Service) for 10 years, taking it from a cottage industry to one of Queensland’s largest not-for-profit community organisations. Cheryl sits on the boards of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Queensland and Anglicare Northern Territory, and is a member of the state advisory committee for the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. A graduate of the Queensland University of Technology and Monash University, Cheryl is now an Adjunct Associate Professor of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Queensland, and a member of the University of Queensland School of Nursing and Midwifery External Advisory Group Committee.
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| Peter Johnstone Executive Manager, Complaint Services Peter joined us in July 2007, after 15 years in dispute resolution with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, with four years as Exeuctive Manager of the Dispute Resolution Branch. With more than 20 years’ service to the state government, Peter is an accredited mediator and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration. He has also been an adjunct lecturer with Griffith University’s School of Law. In 1997 he received an Australia Day Award for service to the Queensland Government. |
| Dr Alyson Ross Executive Manager, Standards and Quality Most recently in charge of developing a 30-year vision for Gold Coast City Council, Alyson comes to the HQCC with a wealth of senior experience spanning large scale reform, policy, strategy, program and organisational development. She has held roles across the health and community sector as well as at both local and state government levels, and has spent the past 10 years analysing and developing creative and innovative solutions to complex service and population issues or problems in health and human service areas. Alyson holds a Doctorate in Education, Masters of Organisational Development, Graduate Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Arts (Social Science), Diploma of Business in Human Resource Management. Her Doctorate was achieved through researching learning organisations while working in the English National Health Service (NHS), where she led the areas of public health, health promotion, clinical governance, research and development, organisational development, healthcare partnerships, education and major health service reform.
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| Megan Fairweather General Counsel Before joining the HQCC in December 2008, Megan was a Senior Associate in private legal practice specialising in health law and commercial litigation. Megan has experience in managing complex healthcare-related coronial inquests and has acted in a variety of claims arising from negligent medical care, clinical drug trials, registration board matters and discrimination. She has advised on issues involving the treatment of people with diminished capacity and in urgent medical care situations. Megan has assisted in health policy development, holds Bachelor Degrees in Arts and Law with Honours (I), and is a member of the Medico-Legal Society of Queensland. |
| Liz Kearins Manager, Community Engagement Liz has more than 20 years’ experience in public and private sector strategic community relations, communications, media management and journalism (print, radio, television and new media). She has held roles in her native New Zealand, as well as the United Kingdom and Australia. Before joining us in May 2008, Liz worked in engagement and communication roles with Seqwater, Brisbane City Council, Keep Australia Beautiful and Tourism Queensland. Liz holds a Certificate in Journalism and a Diploma in Business Studies, and is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. |
| Shaun Nesbitt Manager, Information Management Shaun has more than 10 years’ wide ranging and international experience within the information and communication technology industry (ICT), working with both government agencies and the private sector to develop and lead ICT planning, strategy, architecture and management. He moved to Australia from his native South Africa in 2006 and has since worked with multi-nationals IBM and BHP Billiton to develop ICT processes, architectures and strategies. Most recently, he was instrumental in developing a whole-of-government IT consolidation framework and migration process for the Queensland Government. Shaun has qualifications in Business (MBA), Natural Sciences (BSc) and Architecture (TOGAF). |
 | Julie Imber Manager, Business Services Julie has been with the HQCC since November 2006. She has 17 years experience in corporate service roles with Queensland Health, including four years with the Brisbane North Division of General Practice, working in general practice policy. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Certificate in Health Management, as well as qualifications in Management and Purchasing. Julie is also a Commissioner for Declarations. |
