FROM THE AHHA DESK
An interview with new AHHA Board Chair, the Hon. Jillian Skinner On 12 June 2020, AHHA announced the appointment
the Directors and the excellent staff in the relevant,
of the Hon. Jillian Skinner as Chair of its Board from
high quality proposals they develop as advocates for
1 July 2020. Jillian succeeds former Board Chair
public health care in Australia.
Dr Deborah Cole. Jillian Skinner is an outstanding health leader,
The Association’s vision of ‘A healthy Australia, supported by the best possible healthcare system’
a former NSW Health Minister, and a long-time
was the vision I had for NSW Health as I developed
advocate for a strong public health system for
policies and strategic directions over many years in
all Australians.
Parliament both as Shadow then Health Minister in
As Health Minister, Mrs Skinner advocated for reforms to support better integrated care across the primary and acute sectors, for equity issues, and for strong and effective regional governance in the NSW public hospital system. Since retiring from politics, Mrs Skinner has continued to contribute very actively to improving healthcare for Australians, including through academic appointments and as a member of the Board of the Children’s’ Cancer Institute Australia, and of the Cancer Australia Advisory Council. Jillian is also Chair of the Advisory Board of OUTBREAK, a consortium of 26 researchers across 13 organisations that has received a Medical Research Future Fund Frontier Grant to address antimicrobial resistance.
What does this appointment to the Board mean to you? I am honoured to have been invited to Chair the Board of the AHHA and I look forward to supporting 4
The Health Advocate • AUGUST 2020
NSW. So, it is with great enthusiasm that I take up this role.
What type of tasks are required of you as part of the Board? As the first Independent Chair, my role will be to support the Directors of the Board, the staff and the AHHA Members who represent a broad cross-section of the health sector Australia-wide. I am very fortunate to be following Dr Deborah Cole who has ensured the AHHA’s reputation for timely and excellent advice continues to earn a great deal of respect.
How important is it to have more women on health services boards in Australia? I have been an outspoken advocate for the appointment of more women on Australian boards. There are so many meritorious women who can and should be heard at board level. Fortunately, the health sector (in New South Wales at least where my