Executive Team

Dr Stephen Ayre began his career as a general practitioner on the Sunshine Coast and has worked in several hospitals across the state. He is a graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School, has a Masters in Health Administration from the University of NSW and is a Fellow and Jurisdictional Coordinator Training for the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.

Dr Ayre has worked in senior management roles across health, including community health, medical superintendent and medical services. He also worked in Tasmania, where he was the CEO of the Launceston General Hospital from 2004 to 2008.

Dr Ayre worked as the Executive Director of Medical Services at The Prince Charles Hospital from 2008 to 2014. He was appointed as Executive Director, Princess Alexandra Hospital and QEII Jubilee Hospital Health Network in May 2014, prior to his appointment as Chief Executive in July 2017.

Dr Jacinta Powell has been the Director of Medical Services at Logan and Beaudesert Hospitals since April 2015 and has been acting in the role of Executive Director, Logan Bayside Health Network since November 2016. Prior to these roles she was the Medical Director of the Metro North Mental Health Service and Clinical Director at The Prince Charles Hospital. Her previous experience includes Director, Inner North Brisbane Mental Health Service, Director of Herston Mental Health Services and founder of the Eating Disorders service at Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital.

Dr Powell’s qualifications include the Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (1994), a Masters of Health Administration from the University of NSW (2002) and a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (2011). Dr Powell has experience in working in state wide roles as the Principal Advisor in Psychiatry and Director of Mental Health for Queensland. She has been an active member of the Queensland Branch of the RANZCP for many years currently holding the position of Chair of the Queensland Branch Training Committee.

She is a surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards and has a keen interest in health care systems, patient safety and consumer and carer engagement. Dr Powell maintains an active clinical practice working with adults with severe, chronic and complex mental illness including providing a consultation liaison psychiatry service to the renal dialysis unit.

David worked in private practice as a rural general practitioner prior to commencing psychiatry training and spending 12 years in private psychiatry practice. David is a Professor within the School of Health Service and Social Work and holds academic titles with the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. He has held leadership roles in Queensland Health and New South Wales Health and is the coordinator for the Centre for Neuroscience, Recovery and Mental Health. He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for development of community based mental health services for veterans, development of community post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and substance abuse treatment services. David’s research interest includes the impact of trauma and natural disasters, suicide and factors that influence recovery of individuals with mental illness.

Michael is a registered nurse with postgraduate qualifications in intensive care, health administration and information systems. He has a background in clinical education, informatics and leadership positions across both the public and private sectors and has worked in health delivery roles in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. Michael has experience in the implementation, management and delivery of ICT and its benefits in hospital and health care environments. He is passionate about working with clinicians in expanding the understanding and value informatics can bring to health care.

Kathy has been continuously employed as a physiotherapist in hospital and community settings in South Australia and Queensland since 1981. She joined the Princess Alexandra Hospital as Director of Physiotherapy Services in 1995 and was appointed as Executive Director of Clinical Support Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, in December 2015.

Kathy has a strong interest in governance, and has served as a practitioner member of the Physiotherapy Board of Queensland, Physiotherapy Board of Australia, and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Recently, Kathy chaired the Steering Committee for the review and development of the Physiotherapy practice thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, which were published in May, 2015. She is a current Director of the Australian Physiotherapy Council.

Dr Susan O’Dwyer has worked in various medical administration roles at various facilities across Queensland Health since 2001. Susan’s experience includes a 7-year term at the Department of Health with responsibilities for medical workforce, education and training. Susan has a long-standing involvement with the Australian Medical Council, including accreditation activities for international medical graduate pathways, prevocational accreditation, and specialist college accreditation. Susan is a Censor with the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and a member of the Queensland Board of the Medical Board of Australia. She is also the chair of the Queensland Registration Committee of the Medical Board of Australia, and a member of the Australian Medical Council prevocational accreditation standards committee. These professional roles complement Susan’s role with Metro South Health as the professional lead for medical practitioners.