Dr Peter Steer

Chief Executive Officer

MBBS, FRACP (Paediatrics), FRCPC (Paediatrics), FAAP, GAICD

Dr Peter Steer was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer in March 2025. Dr Steer is a paediatrician with a strong focus on research and brings more than three decades of Australian and international health leadership experience to his role at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH).

Previously Dr Steer served as CEO of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, President of McMaster Children’s Hospital in Canada, and as CEO of Children’s Health Queensland. Most recently, Dr Steer was the Group Chief Executive of Mater Misericordiae Ltd in Brisbane.

Dr Steer’s extensive experience as a paediatrician with subspeciality training in neonatology is supported by significant research activity. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, he is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Paediatrics) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ed Oakley

Chief of Critical Care

MBBS FACEM

Professor Ed Oakley was appointed Chief of Critical Care at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in 2016, after working as the Director of Emergency Medicine for three years.

Ed trained in emergency medicine in Melbourne at Austin Health and the RCH. He gained fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) in 1998 and became a senior staff member in the Emergency Department of the RCH that same year. Ed continued in this role until 2008 when he moved to Monash Health as the Director of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, before returning to the RCH in 2012.

Ed has been an Honorary Research Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) since 2002. Ed is an active researcher in clinical emergency medicine and is the lead researcher for the Paediatric Emergency Medicine Centre of Research Excellence housed at the MCRI.

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 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.

A/Prof Tom Connell

Executive Director Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer

MB BAO BCH B Med Science MRCPI FRACP PhD FRACMA

A/Prof Tom Connell was appointed to the role of Executive Director Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer in July 2023. In this role, Tom provides leadership for the Medical Workforce Unit, Senior Medical Staff, Research operations and Medical Education at the RCH and has a key role in access and hospital management.

From October 2018 to Dec 2022, Tom was the Chief of Medicine at the RCH where he provided leadership for Heads of Department and their staff in 20 departments within the Division of Medicine and five inpatient medical wards. Prior to that appointment, Tom was the Director of General Medicine at the 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. Tom has a keen interest in research translation and 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. He is a current candidate on the Williamson Community Leadership Program cohort for 2023.

Tom leads with kindness and is deeply motivated by collaboration and a strong desire to effect positive change.

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.

Annabelle Mann

General Counsel

BSc LLB LLM MBioeth MAICD

Annabelle Mann was appointed to the role of General Counsel in July 2019.

Annabelle is a highly regarded health lawyer with a wealth of knowledge and experience in government and public health. Annabelle also has a keen interest in the intersection of law and bioethics – she has been closely involved with the Children’s Bioethics Centre for many years, initially joining the Clinical Ethics Committee as the independent lawyer in 2008 before taking up employment with the RCH in 2010.

Prior to joining the RCH, Annabelle was in-house counsel at Medibank Private, after moving on from her role as a commercial litigator at Minter Ellison.

Annabelle has a Bachelor and a Masters of Laws, a Bachelor of Science, a Masters of Bioethics and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Doug McCaskie

Executive Director of Ambulatory Services and Chief Allied Health Officer

Adjunct Associate Professor, Speech Pathologist, Grad Dip (Research), MHA, GAICD

Doug McCaskie was appointed to the role of Executive Director of Ambulatory Services and Chief Allied Health Officer (CAHO) of the RCH in July 2024, with responsibility for Pharmacy Services, Laboratory Services, Allied Health Services, Psychology Services, RCH School and Ambulatory Services, including Specialist Clinics, Day Oncology and NDIS services.

As the CAHO, Doug leads the professional governance for 23 allied health professions and para-professions. The allied health workforce is diverse in their clinical expertise and play an integral part in the delivery of safe and high-quality care at the RCH. Doug is a values driven leader who is passionate about building and extending the capability of individuals and teams. Doug finds purpose in developing accessible and high-quality services, which enables the community to thrive.

Doug begun his professional career as a speech pathologist at Royal Melbourne Hospital, later gaining further clinical experience in neurotrauma rehabilitation before moving into management after completing a Master of Health Administration. Doug joined the RCH with more than 18 years of clinical, operational and leadership experience across private, public, government and community sectors. Prior to commencing at the RCH, Doug was the CAHO and Director of Allied Health at Alfred Health.

Doug has a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Speech Pathology), a Masters of Health Administration, a post graduate diploma in Health Research Methodology, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Clive Peter

Executive Director, People and Culture

Bsc. Hons, MPhil, MAICD

Clive was appointed to the role of Executive Director People and Culture in April 2023. Clive has previously held senior roles in both the private and public sectors including Director of People and Culture at the City of Melbourne and EGM People with Aruma Disability Services. Prior to this Clive has held senior roles globally and regionally with ANZ Bank, Royal Dutch Shell, Ford Motor Company and BHP.

Clive is an accomplished leader in his field and has a breadth of experience in Australia and internationally. He has a passion and proven record for developing and driving people strategy aligned to organisation objectives in both the short and long term. Known for his quiet leadership and authenticity, he is a trusted advisor to key leaders and has a reputation for developing talent and providing strategic insight. He is at his best when working collaboratively to identify opportunities to drive growth and improvement. He takes great pride leading highly effective teams to deliver valued outcomes. He describes “truly valuing diversity and creating belonging” as his key success enabler.

Clive has a Bachelor of Science Hons. Degree in Psychology and a Master of Philosophy Degree in Industrial Psychology. He holds accreditation in Emotional Intelligence assessment and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kathryn Riddell

Executive Director Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer

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

Kathryn Riddell was appointed Executive Director Nursing and Allied Health and Chief Nursing Officer in August 2022. In June 2024, Allied Health moved to the newly appointed Chief Allied Health Officer. Kath is currently responsible for the RCH’s nursing workforce, education and research, Infection Prevention and Control, Clinical Governance and Quality, and Support Services.

Previously, Kath was Executive Chief Nursing Officer with St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) and spent 12 years with Eastern Health, with her last appointment being Executive Director: Learning and Teaching & Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Kath is a highly respected nursing leader with 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 has been personally connected to the RCH through her own family experience and is committed to making a difference in patient outcomes, improving the experiences of care, driving transformational change and advocating for the importance and value of the nursing profession.  

Kath has a Master of Nursing (Research), a Graduate Diploma of Health Management, a Bachelor of Education, a Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Nursing and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kog Ravindran

Executive Director of Communications

Bachelor of Journalism, Specialist Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced)

Kog Ravindran was appointed to the role of Executive Director of Communications in September 2023, with responsibility for corporate communications, media relations, creative services, clinical photography, consumer engagement, family services, volunteers, archives, interpreting services and health literacy project.

Kog was previously the Director of Communications, The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria where his responsibilities included whole of government strategic communications, government advertising, speechwriting, protocol and events and multicultural community engagement.

Prior to this, Kog was a Senior Communications Advisor in the Victorian Government’s Department of Premier and Cabinet and the University of Melbourne’s Australia India Institute.

Kog has a Bachelor of Journalism from Monash University and a Specialist Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) from the University of Melbourne.

Michelle Telfer

Chief of Medicine

MBBS (Hons.), FRACP, GAICD

Michelle is a Paediatrician and Adolescent Medicine Physician and is the current Chief of Medicine, appointed to the position in December 2022.

Prior to being appointed Chief of Medicine, Michelle was the Director of the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the RCH. She was also the Director of the RCH Gender Service and has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the clinical and research programs amidst rising demand for trans-specific health care in children and adolescents. As an advocate for improved access to medical treatment, Michelle was central to the achievement of federal legal reform and was first author of the inaugural Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for trans and gender diverse children and adolescents, which was endorsed via an editorial in The Lancet. In 2019, Michelle was personally profiled by The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health for her achievements in the field.

Michelle was awarded the 2017 GLOBE Community Award for LGBTI Ally of the Year, the President’s Award by Thorne Harbour Health in 2021 and she received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Adolescent Health by the Australian Association for Adolescent Health in 2019. Led by Michelle, the RCHGS was awarded the Minister for Mental Health’s Award for excellence in consumer leadership and advocacy at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in 2015 and 2018. In 2022, Michelle was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Michelle was born in Perth and graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2000, receiving Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2010. Prior to studying medicine, Michelle was a gymnast with the Western Australian Institute of Sport. As a 16-year-old she won silver and bronze medals at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and was a member of the 1992 Olympic Gymnastics Team in Barcelona.

Dr Nathalie Webb

Chief of Surgery

MB BS (Hons) FRACS (Urol) FFSTEd MSurgEd GAICD

Nathalie Webb was appointed Chief of Surgery in 2023, with responsibility for Division of Surgery, elective surgical services, operating theatres and surgical wards.

A graduate of University of Sydney medical school, Nathalie is an Australian-trained urological surgeon with tertiary subspecialty practice in paediatric urology and clinical experience from many hospitals across Victoria, NSW and United Kingdom, including Sydney Children’s, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Great Ormond St (London) and the RCH. Relocating to Melbourne in 2012, she established the specialist paediatric urology service within Monash Children’s and has been Monash Health’s Deputy Program Director for Surgery since 2019. With strong interest in clinical governance and service redesign to support equity of access and outcome, Nathalie’s core focus is delivery of high-quality surgical and procedural care to babies and children, whenever and wherever it is needed.

Nathalie holds a Master of Surgical Education, is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently completing a Master of Health Administration. She is a member of RACS Academy of Surgical Educators, Fellow of Faculty of Surgical Trainers (RCS Edinburgh) and has been appointed to RACS Court of Examiners.