Board and Team
Stephen Carmody
Stephen brings a wealth of experience as a clinician and also a leader in aged care and health services. Over the last 38 years, Stephen has worked in metropolitan, rural, regional and remote locations across WA as a clinician, manager and leader.
For the last 30 years, he held senior leadership and management roles with Silver Chain and St John of God Healthcare. In May 2020, Stephen retired from his role as CEO of Capecare (Aged Care), a role he held since October 2017.
Stephen has held a number of Board roles including Wound Innovation CRC (2015-2018), Palliative Care Western Australia (5 years), Palliative Care Australia (8 years, including 4 years as Treasurer), SJOG Villa (5 years). He is a past member of the WAPHA Regional Clinical Committee.
Mr Carmody’s qualifications include Hospital-Based Diploma of Nursing, Diploma of Midwifery, BA Science, Master of Business and Grad Diploma Pastoral Studies. Stephen has also completed the AICD Company Directors Course.
Debra Bakker
Debra is an experienced financier in the resources industry, with significant international experience. Skills are spread over areas of corporate advisory, cross-border joint ventures and partnerships, project finance and M&A.
Debra’s career has spanned Sydney, London, Chicago, New York and since 2003 in Perth, Western Australia. Leaving full time employment in 2013, Debra and her husband have built a small-ish scale sustainable farming business in the Margaret River region of WA.
Debra is now a non executive director on several listed and unlisted companies, and has been active in the not-for-profit sector via her Board roles with St Bartholomew’s House and Access Housing.
Peter Heyworth
A consultant eye surgeon in Bunbury for 21 years, in both private and public practice, Peter practises general ophthalmology as well as having a sub-specialty interest in oculo-facial plastic surgery.
As Chair of Lishman Health’s Research Management Committee, Peter is able to advise the Board on current issues in regional health and clinical practice.
Peter is a former President of Bunbury Rotary Club, and was President of the Bunbury Aero Club from 2011 – 2014.
Jeffrey Williams
Jeffrey Williams was appointed Chief Executive Officer at St John of God Bunbury Hospital in April 2019. Jeffrey has extensive experience in nursing and quality management at St John of God Health Care as well as in the public health service.
Prior to joining Bunbury, he was the Wheatbelt Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the WA Country Health Service. His previous experience with St John of God Health Care includes roles as the Director of Nursing and Clinical Governance at St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals and Director of Quality and Risk at St John of God Subiaco Hospital.
Jeffrey is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Campus. He is currently a non-executive director of the Bethanie Group and St John Ambulance (WA).
Kelly Hick
Based in Dunsborough and operating tourism and consulting businesses, Kelly has over 20 years experience in senior executive roles in professional services, membership organisations and is a former practising lawyer.
A qualified radiographer prior to commencing her legal career, Kelly has clinical experience within the public and private sector in metropolitan and regional Western Australia and the UK.
Kelly is Deputy Chancellor of Edith Cowan University and Deputy Mayor of the City of Busselton and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
With a long-held interest in health and a passion for the wellbeing of regional and rural communities in Australia, Kelly was delighted to join the Board of Lishman Health in April 2018.
Marisa Gilles
Marisa is a Public Health Physician with 40 years experience gained in the UK, Malawi, Barbados, China, the Solomon Islands, Azerbajian, Australia and recently in Vanuatu working as a WHO technical advisor for the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. Marisa has worked in rural health since 1989 and started her career in Australia as an RFDS doctor in Alice Springs where she developed her passion for Aboriginal health.
Marisa’s present position is as the Director of Public Health Medicine for the WA Country Health Service. Marisa has skills in data analysis, research, epidemiology and writing and has produced several high level reports and published 31 peer review papers on a wide range of health topics. Her particular expertise is in HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and blood borne viruses. She also has a passion for providing evidence to support change in local policies to address inequity and racism in our society.
Marisa has a strong academic background completing two Masters in Australia. Marisa enjoys presenting and provides regular educational sessions to Rural Clinical School medical students, RMOs, SMO and GPs.
In her spare time Marisa studies French and enjoys belly dancing. In 2003 she carried out a belly dance tour of the Midwest regions resulting in a paper titled “The best fun with half your clothes on- Belly dancing, a fun and inclusive activity for every woman!”
Wayne Rushton
Wayne Rushton is the Chief Financial Officer at Melchor and Firesafe. Prior to taking up this role Wayne spent over 23 years working in a variety of practice roles including business/corporate advisory services, audit, corporate finance and restructuring, which included over 5 years as a partner at KPMG and Ferrier Hodgson. Through his experience to date Wayne has developed a skill set that includes financial reporting/modelling, risk mitigation, working capital optimisation, strategic reviews and stakeholder management which has driven a passion for assisting businesses to pursue and optimise growth strategies and deliver outcomes that benefit all stakeholders.
Dianne Ritson
Dianne Ritson is the Chief Executive Officer of Lishman Health. With a health science, medical education and management background, Dianne Ritson has held leadership roles in health and disability across government and non- government sectors.
As a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors she recognises the principles of good governance and strategy leadership in guiding the direction of Lishman Health.
As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of the United Kingdom, she is keenly interested in the significance of research in developing evidence-based policy and practice in health care.
Having grown up in a rural area, she has recently moved to the South West, and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Lishman Health’s focus of improving health outcomes for people living in rural areas.