Our Board

Huon Regional Care is fortunate to have a highly skilled Board of Directors overseeing governance for the organisation. The Board currently comprises seven Non-Executive Directors bringing a diverse range of experience and knowledge from local community members, health care professionals, finance and risk specialists and governance experts.

Natasha (Tash) Whish-Wilson

Chair

Natasha is the Chief Risk Officer for Bank of us and is responsible for the Compliance and Risk Management functions for the company. She has more than 20 years’ experience in banking and financial services and has held several Executive and Senior Management roles. Prior to this, Natasha was employed as a Police Officer at Tasmania Police and has extensive experience in the Forensic and Criminal Investigation fields. Natasha has a Adv Dip Bus Mgt – Business (Federation University Australia), is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, GAICD and a graduate of the Governance Institute of Australia, GIA(Cert) Governance and Risk Management. Natasha joined the Board in August 2019.

Penelope (Penny) Egan

Deputy Chair, Board Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Management committee member

Penny is the CEO of Cancer Council Tasmania, a position she has held since 2013.

Previously held the combined role of CFO of the Department of Health and Human Services and CEO DHHS Business Services Network, CFO of Forestry Tasmania and was the Director Corporate Services Hobart Water.

Current Board Director of TasCOSS.

Past governance experience includes Director on the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board and Chair of the International Federation of Accountants Compliance Advisory Panel. Past President of CPA Australia,  CPA Tasmania Divisional Council and Treasurer of the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Council.

Penny has a BBus (Accounting) UTAS, is an FCPA and is a Graduate of the AICD.

Penny joined the Board in February 2022.

Joanne (Jo) Sabena

Non-executive Director and Chair of the Clinical Governance committee

Over a 30-year career Jo has held senior executive positions within healthcare and has 12 years’ experience in ASX-listed not for profit and private organisations in both aged care and retirement living sectors. In addition, Jo has a strong commercial and clinical management background complimented by academic study.

Jo is a member of the AICD and has completed the Company Directors Course. Jo also holds a Master of Applied Management (Health) from the University of Newcastle, Grad Cert Critical Care from the Australian Catholic University and a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney.

Jo joined the Board in August 2019.

Meghraj (Megh) Thakkar

Non-executive Director and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management committee

Megh is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, GAICD, holds a Master of Computer Science from the University of Oklahoma, USA and Bachelor of Electronic Engineering from the University of Bombay (First Class). He has an International Certificate in Corporate Finance from Columbia Business School and a Certificate of Specialisation (Strategy) from Harvard Business School.

As Managing Director of ITjewel, Megh has consulted for companies that include the ATO, Telstra, Jetstar, Medibank, ANZ, Linfox, Queensland Health, Coles Myer and Toyota. Megh has over 30 years of experience working globally for clients in numerous sectors including private and government, consulting on digital transformation, cybersecurity, emerging technologies and strategy. He has a portfolio career consisting of Board Director, Executive Technical Adviser, Gateway Reviewer and Author.

 

Megh joined the Board in August 2019.

Paula Wriedt

Non-executive Director and member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management committee

Paula has a wealth of experience ranging from 13 years in the Tasmanian State Parliament, 10 years as a senior Tasmanian Government Minister, 12 years in the Not for Profit sector and 11 years in Local Government.

A passionate advocate about mental health issues Paula is an engaging public speaker and experienced media performer.

Over the past 12 years Paula has been heavily involved with Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania and is their Executive Officer.  Since 2011 Paula has held the position of Councillor of Kingborough Council and since July 2021 has held the role of Mayor. Paula was the Deputy Mayor of Kingborough Council from 2014 – 2018, was a member of the Council’s Disability Access committee and was the Deputy Chair of the Kingborough Road Safety committee and Chair of the Arts and Environment committee.

Paula holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Diploma of Management.

Paula joined the Board in August 2019.

Christian Street

Non-executive Director, Company Secretary, member of the Clinical Governance committee

Christian is a Senior Associate with Ogilvie Jennings Lawyers, practicing primarily in the areas of commercial law, property, trusts, commercial litigation, estate planning, land use planning and local government law.

Prior to commencing in legal practice, Christian had a long involvement in family business, particularly in the retail supermarket sector, and has experience working in and with Government.

Christian is a current member of the Kingborough Council, and a long-serving member of the board of Guilford Young College.

Christian holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Economics (Bec), Law and Economic Foundations.

Christian joined the board in February 2022.

Richard Sadek

Non-executive Director, member of the Clinical Governance committee and the Finance, Audit and Risk Management committee

For over 25 years Richard was the Chief Executive Officer of Southern Cross Care (Tasmania) and has had a long and varied career in management roles in the health sector and state government.

Previous experience includes Associate Fellow Australian College of Health Service Executives (ACHSE), Branch Councillor Australian College of Health Service Executives (Tasmania), Treasurer Australian College of Health Service Executives (Tasmania), President and Chairman, Aged & Community Services Tasmania.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Management) and a Diploma Health Administration.

Richard joined the Board in February 2022.

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