Our Executive Leadership Team

Peter has a broad range of experience within NSW Health with previous roles including eHealth Program Manager/implementation lead SNSW and MLHD, Goulburn Nurse Unit Manager Intensive Care in addition to a number of interim and acting roles including Coastal General Manager, SNSWLHD/MLHD Chief Information Officer, Cooma Facility Manager, Goulburn Director Nursing Midwifery, Goulburn Deputy Director Nursing Midwifery, After Hours Nurse Manager and Theatre Nurse Unit Manager. After a career in Hospitality managing hotels, clubs and pubs, Peter commenced his Nursing career as a hospital trained Enrolled Nurse in 2003 and then transitioned into a new Graduate Registered Nurse with ACT Health.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Nursing, Post Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care Nursing and working towards a Graduate Certificate in Project Management. 

Heather has extensive experience in health with demonstrated excellence in the areas of clinical governance, patient safety, project management and quality and safety systems. She was appointed as Southern's District Director Clinical Governance in January 2026 and was previously the Director Clinical Governance for Western Sydney Local Health District.

Heather has post graduate qualifications in Intensive Care Nursing and holds a Master of Public Health. She has held a range of clinical and patient safety positions in the South East Sydney and Western Sydney Local Health Districts prior to the Executive leadership role she has held for the past five years.

Karen is an executive leader with experience working in a number of Australian Government policy, program and service delivery agencies.

Prior to joining Southern NSW Local Health District in October 2023, Karen was National Manager for Services Australia, where she was accountable for the oversight of a range of complex Human Resources programs, driving service transformation to establish a capable and agile organisation.

Karen’s career in health includes experience as a critical care nurse with a decade of experience in State health clinical, hospital and occupational settings. She has formal qualifications in human resource management and post graduate qualifications in public policy and finance.

Karen holds HR certification with the Australian Human Resource Institute and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Professor Pooshan Navathé joined us in March 2025. He was previously the EDMS of Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and DMS at Maitland Hospital. Professor Navathé is an Occupational and Environmental Physician who has held leadership positions in aviation medicine including with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and as the Principal Medical Officer of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia.

Professor Navathé is a Wing Commander in the RAAF Specialist Reserve and is the Dean of Education of the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine. Professor Navathé is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee and a Board member with the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and holds adjunct appointments as a Professor with the University of Queensland, and Central Queensland University. Additionally, he is an assessor with the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

Sarah joined Southern in 2021 as Deputy Director Finance and Analytics before being appointed as District Director Finance and Performance in 2022. Sarah is an experienced financial director, with a deep knowledge of finance and accounting in government settings. 

Previously, Sarah was Manager Financial Reporting at Murrumbidgee Local Health District. Sarah has a Bachelor of Business and Accounting and graduated from CPA Australia in 2004 as a Certified Practicing Accountant.

Damien is a registered nurse and has worked in mental health services for 20 years in both rural and metropolitan areas. He has worked in general mental health and forensic settings, in disability services, and for NSW Police. 

He has a Master of Public Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Damien’s strengths are in strategy, governance and efficiency and has interests in safety and quality systems, and the use of technology in health care.

Kayeleen is a proud Walbunja Wangeen of the Yuin Nation and Bundjalung Doobay woman who lives on the south coast and was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services. With over a decade of senior leadership experience, Kayeleen has successfully managed teams, advocated for change and driven positive outcomes in a range of settings. Kayeleen’s experience and demonstrated commitment to advancing Aboriginal health, fostering cultural safety, enhancing service outcomes and enabling effective partnerships equip her well to make a significant impact as Southern’s Director Aboriginal Health. 

Nicola has over thirty years of strategic and operational experience in health, local government and multi-agency partnership work gained in the UK and Australia. Nicola has a strong focus on system innovation and improvement and is responsible for the District-wide strategic leadership of research, clinical trials, innovation and project management as well key multi agency collaborative partnerships. 

Ian leads a skilled, hardworking team of communications professionals responsible for all internal and external communications at Southern.

He has a thirty-year career in media, community engagement, political engagement, editorial oversight, and organisational leadership; and before joining Southern, Ian was National Communications Director with Palliative Care Australia. Other previous roles have included Regional Content Manager and breakfast presenter with ABC South East NSW, founder and editor of About Regional, Media Manager at Geoscience Australia, and Communications and Marketing Manager at Fortem Australia.

Ian has also held key roles with the Federal Member Eden Monaro, Kristy McBain MP and with the Bega Valley Shire Council – both of which connect strongly with his leadership of the team responsible for managing public information, communication, and media during the devastating Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/20.

Jen holds the roles of Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and Chief Audit Executive (CAE) for the shared Governance, Risk and Audit service across both the Southern NSW and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts. Jen is a risk and governance specialist with over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of organisational governance, risk management and assurance.