Governance

Sunshine Coast Health Network (trading as Country to Coast, Qld) is an independent not- for-profit organisation, structured as a company limited by guarantee. We are registered as a charity with the Australian Not for Profits and Charities Commission. We are a membership-based organisation with a Constitution and Board of Directors and hold an Annual General Meeting each year. Our Primary Health Network (PHN) is governed by organisational (voting) members who have responsibilities, such as election of the Board and overseeing the constitution.

View the Sunshine Coast Health Network Constitution

Our Board

Our Board of Directors leads the strategic direction of the organisation and is responsible for our compliance and reporting to governing bodies such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission. A skills-based governing body, our Board is comprised of experienced health professionals, business and legal experts and representatives from the not-for- profit sector.

Dr Shea Spierings

Board Chair

Shea is a Gaangulu man, originally from Central Queensland. He is a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, focussing on Aboriginal men's health and COVID-19 health messaging in Indigenous communities. Shea has significant experience advising and working in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector, research sector, and youth sector. In 2015, he was appointed by the Australian Government to serve as the Australian Youth Delegate to the United Nations. Shea currently serves on the Board of Metro North Hospital and Health Service and was previously on the Board of Health and Wellbeing Qld. Shea is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Michael Walsh

Board Director

Michael is a highly experienced leader with expertise in health governance and strategy, system reform and digital health strategy and transformation. With a distinguished career that includes serving twice as Director- General of Queensland Health, he has overseen large-scale public sector systems and reform and driven major digital transformation. As Chair of multiple health and digital health organisations, including the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre and the Australasian Institute for Digital Health, in addition to chairing the former Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee, Michael has played a key role in shaping Australia's health and digital health landscape. His expertise spans governance, strategy, planning, and transformation, with notable contributions to national health policy, digital system transformation and public sector excellence.

Ms Rebecca Bell

Board Director

Originally an Occupational Therapist, Rebecca has served in senior executive roles across health and community organisations, responsible for health and care service delivery, policy development, strategy, and business development. Rebecca was previously the Senior Executive, Member Health at Medibank Private where she was accountable for health and wellbeing support for Medibank Private's 3.8 million members. Rebecca has served on the Boards of CASPA Family Services and Healthy North Coast. Rebecca has been included in the AFR Boss' Top 10 Young Executives. Rebecca is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr David Conry AM

Board Director

David is Managing Director of Damarcon, a privately owned advisory and investment business. He has over 20 years' experience on private, government and community sector boards. David has a strong community focus with particular interest in health and disabilities and has been awarded an Order of Australia, Queensland's Australian of the Year, and EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dr Fiona McGrath

Board Director

Fiona has worked as a GP on the Sunshine Coast since 1998. She is a passionate advocate for primary healthcare and maintains involvement in GP education, practice improvement and primary healthcare program improvement and innovation. Her experience has included both leadership and program development roles at local, regional and state levels in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors.

Megan Daniels

Board Director

Megan Daniels is a dedicated regional community leader and experienced not-for-profit board director based in Emerald. She currently serves on boards in the primary healthcare and natural resource management sectors. Megan previously served two terms as a Councillor with the Central Highlands Regional Council, retiring in 2024, and has held board roles across regional development, social services, and affordable and disability housing organisations. Alongside her governance work, Megan is a primary producer operating a beef grazing enterprise, and a consultant delivering ESG and community development outcomes. She is deeply committed to supporting strong, sustainable and thriving regional, rural and remote communities. She holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).

Ms Karen Murphy

Board Director

Karen is an experienced CEO and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience in ASX-listed companies, government and not-for-profit organisation across multiple sectors, including health, biomedical engineering, legal, financial services and community services. Karen is currently the Chair of Right at Home (RightCare) an approved provider of Support at Home Services and has previously serviced on the Boards of Gold Coast Hospital and Health District Board, Emergency Medicine Foundation, the Spinal Injuries Association, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently Chief Operating Officer at the Translational Research Institute.

Mr Paul White

Board Director

Paul is an accomplished Director and CEO having served with several ASX-listed companies, including his current position as the Chair of Magnetite Mines Ltd and 10 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Broncos Ltd. Paul has also held high-level positions at Anglo American Metallurgical Coal and Xstrata Zinc. Paul’s strong connection to regional Queensland, including still calling Rockhampton home, drives his passion for community service and underpins his understanding of the diverse health challenges our region faces.

Sheridan Cooper

Company Secretary

Sheridan is a corporate governance and compliance professional with over 20 years’ experience advising boards and executive management with not-for-profit organisations, government and government-owned corporations, and ASX-listed companies. She has worked with Australian and international organisations across a wide range of industries including primary health, aged care, mining, financial services and aviation. Sheridan has served as a non-executive director in the aged care sector and on the board of a credit union, including roles as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.