Bernadette McDonald

Chief Executive Officer

RN (Registered Nurse), MHA, GAICD

Bernadette McDonald was appointed to the role of CEO of The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in September 2021.

Bernadette was previously the CEO of Canberra Health Services at a time of great change in the ACT’s health service system. Prior that appointment, she was the Deputy CEO and then Interim CEO of Austin Health, having previously been the CEO of the Orbost Regional Health Service.

Bernadette is a highly experienced leader with a track record of delivery in the Australian health sector. Known for her strategic vision, strong relationships, inspirational leadership and commitment to exceptional patient care, she demonstrates authentic leadership, and positions organisations for success by strategically assessing the environment and providing foresight to maximise impact and reputation.

Bernadette has a Bachelor of Nursing, a Masters of Health Administration, post graduate diplomas in Health Services and Health Systems Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sandy Bell

Executive Director Strategy, Planning and Performance

BA (Hons), MPPM, GAICD

Sandy Bell was appointed to the role of Executive Director Strategy, Planning and Performance in February 2022.

Sandy was previously the Director Strategy, Planning and Performance at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Austin Health, building a vision and strategic plan for the future at both health services.

Sandy began her career as a Registered Nurse before joining the Department of Health where she worked in a number of roles across service and capital planning, elective surgery and rural health. In parallel, Sandy has built a 25+ year board career in both the public and not for profit sector in the areas of women, children and community services. Sandy is currently the Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Centre.

Sandy is at her best when working together with others to create positive change for the future and measuring success.

Sandy has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in women’s studies, a Masters of Public Policy and Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Professor Michael Cheung

Chief of Surgery

BSc, MB ChB, MD, FRCP (UK), FRACP, MBA

Michael is the current Chief of Surgery, appointed to the position in November 2022.

Michael was born and raised in Birmingham in England. Having attended medical school at University of Bristol UK, he trained at leading congenital cardiac centres in the world including RCH, Great Ormond St (London), Royal Brompton Hospital (London), and the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto). He returned to Melbourne in 2005 as a Consultant Cardiologist, and in 2011 he was appointed Director of Cardiology at the RCH and Leader of the Heart Research Group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. He is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has published 9 book chapters and >200 manuscripts. His MBA study was through Melbourne Business School.

His subspecialty clinical interest is Cardiac Imaging including echocardiography and MRI. He has served on the RCH Foundation board and is the current Chair of the Paediatric Executive of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

A/Prof Tom Connell

Chief of Medicine and Executive Director Medical Services and Clinical Governance and Chief Medical Officer

MB BAO BCH B Med Science MRCPI FRACP PhD FRACMA

A/Prof Tom Connell was appointed to the role of Chief of Medicine at the RCH in October 2018. In this role, Tom provides medical leadership for Heads of Department and their staff in 20 departments within the Division of Medicine and five inpatient medical wards.

Prior to being appointed Chief of Medicine, Tom was the Director of General Medicine at RCH where he provided leadership to over 120 staff and gained awards for quality improvement in General Medicine and Specialist Clinics. In 2016, Tom was the recipient of the RCH Chairman’s Medal, recognising his contribution to improving patient flow, care for complex patients, medical education, clinical research, and workplace culture in his department. Tom has published over 80 peer reviewed manuscripts and has mentored and taught many trainees who now have successful careers at the RCH and other major national and international hospitals.

Tom graduated from University College Dublin in 1996, received Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 1999 and Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2010. Tom completed a PhD through the University of Melbourne in 2011. In 2021, he completed fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA). Tom is an honorary Principal Fellow within The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics.

Alison Errey

Executive Director Communications

GradDipPublicAdmin, MJour MAICD

Alison Errey was appointed to the role of Executive Director Communications at the RCH in April 2017, with responsibility for Strategy and Planning, Corporate Communications, the RCH National Child Health Poll, Family and Volunteer Services and History and Archives. In this role Alison oversees all facets of corporate strategy, brand and reputation management, media relations, digital strategy, and government and partner relationships.

For more than 25 years Alison has led communications, corporate affairs and business transformation programs for some of the country's largest and most complex organisations. She led the creation of a $20 million community foundation and negotiated a national-first partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission to champion workforce reform for mature Australians.

With a background in news journalism, Alison has had an extensive career in media and issues management in the NSW public sector across the police, education and health portfolios, and led the change communications strategy for a multi-million dollar IT platform integration in the financial services sector. Acknowledged with industry awards for journalism and workforce engagement, Alison has complemented her career with a number of Board appointments in children's welfare and sports administration.

Shane Hendricks

Acting Executive Director, People and Culture

MBA, MOHS, DipOHS, MADM, ME, HDE

Shane was appointed to the role of Acting Executive Director People and Culture in October 2022. He has worked at the RCH for 12 years, most recently as the Director of Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing. He has led a portfolio encompassing staff safety, injury management, well-being, respiratory protection and mental health.

Shane has more than 15 years of experience in developing and implementing health and safety solutions. He has a proven track record of success and has led an award-winning injury management program that was recognised by WorkSafe.  

Prior to this, Shane worked in Education. His experiences in this field have provided a solid foundation for ensuring that appropriate frameworks are developed and implemented and that leaders are coached in the necessary skills to work towards a 'zero harm' culture. Shane has qualifications in Education, Architecture, Occupational Health and Safety, and Human Resources and has worked as a safety expert across multiple industries, including telecommunications and energy.  

Shane lives by the motto “I never lose; I win or I learn” (Nelson Mandela) and encourages his team to continuously improve on HR and safety issues raised within the hospital.

Shane holds a Master of Business, Master of Occupational Health and Safety, Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, Master of Architecture (Design Management), Master in Education and a Higher Diploma in Education.

Andrew Gay

Chief Financial Officer

BBus, MBA, FCPA, GAICD

Andrew Gay was appointed Chief Financial Officer in June 2022, and has responsibility for Finance, ICT, Payroll, Procurement and Supply, Facilities and Support Services.

Andrew has previously held CFO positions with the Victorian Department of Health, Northern Health Services, Canberra Health Services and Austin Health Services.

Prior to moving into the health sector, Andrew had a long and diverse career as a commercial executive and business leader across a wide range of complex industries and cultures. He has worked in packaging, paper and automotive industries in Australia, Korea and China. Prior to returning to Australia, Andrew was General Motors regional lead for business services within the Middle East and Asia Pacific areas, along with being a board member of GM Holden Australia Limited.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business degree, and a Master of Business Administration. He is a Fellow of the Australian CPA’s and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Stuart Lewena

Chief of Critical Care

MBBS(Hons) B Med Science FRACP

Stuart is the current Chief of Critical Care, appointed to the position in January 2022 for the remainder of the year. He was previously the Director of Emergency Medicine and will return to this role in 2023.

Stuart is a medical graduate of the University of Tasmania and worked across a range of clinical disciplines both in hospital and general practice for several years, before commencing specialist training in paediatrics in Western Australia in 1997. He moved to Melbourne in 2002 working in emergency medicine while completing fellowship training in paediatric emergency medicine (FRACP) that same year. He joined the RCH in 2003 as a fellow in our emergency department and was appointed to a senior medical staff position in 2004. He has continued as a full-time emergency physician at the RCH and was appointed to the position of Director of Emergency Medicine in 2016.

His interests include sustainable access to the required levels of care according to need, and the relationships between access, flow and patient safety.

Denise Patterson

Chief Operating Officer

MMidwifery, GradDipHealthMgt, GCertHospRedesign

Denise Patterson was appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer of the RCH in May 2022. In this role, Denise has overall responsibility for the clinical operations of the hospital, working closely with the Executive Team.

Denise was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Canberra Health Services at a time of great change in the ACT’s health service system. Prior to that appointment, Denise held many senior executive roles, including Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Patient Quality and Safety at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (Queensland), Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Health (Victoria) and Chief of Clinical and Site Operations at Box Hill Hospital (Victoria).

Denise is a highly experienced leader with an extensive career across nursing and midwifery, health system reform and hospital operations. With a track record of delivery in the Australian health sector, Denise is known for her inspirational leadership and commitment to patient care and experience.

Denise has a Masters of Midwifery, a Graduate Diploma in Health Management and a Graduate Certificate in Hospital Redesign.

Kathryn Riddell

Executive Director Nursing and Allied Health and Chief Nursing Officer

Adjunct Professor, RN, CCRN, MN (Research), MACN

Kathryn Riddell was appointed Executive Director Nursing and Allied Health and Chief Nursing Officer in August 2022, with responsibility for Nursing Education and Research, Allied Health and Infection Prevention and Control.

With a career spanning over thirty years, Kath is a highly experienced nursing leader who demonstrates more than 10 years’ executive level professional and operational experience within the Victorian public health sector. Across the breadth of her career, Kath has led strategy in patient safety and quality, workforce planning and industry based nursing and inter-professional education.

Kath previously held the position of Executive Chief Nursing Officer with St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM). Prior to this, Kath spent 12 years with Eastern Health, with her final position being Executive Director: Learning and Teaching & Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.

Kath is compassionate and inspired to make a difference to deliver high quality care, and excited about driving generational change.

Kath has a Master of Nursing (Research), a Graduate Diploma of Health Management, a Bachelor of Education and a Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing.