Executive team

Andrew Quabba

Andrew is passionate about improving healthcare access in remote communities, mentoring emerging leaders, and building partnerships with patients and community groups. He has a strong focus on service improvement and empowering teams to provide high quality health care.

He’s worked in clinical, operational and leadership roles with rural and remote health services throughout Queensland, and held several key roles with us, including:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Executive Director of Allied Health
• Director of Pharmacy
• Senior Outreach Pharmacist.

Andrew has a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a postgraduate qualification in healthcare management. As the first Chair of our Clinical Council, he’s had a key role in strengthening the voice of clinicians in our health service.

Wesley Shann

Wesley started his career as a graduate nurse at the Townsville University Hospital and has over 20 years experience in nursing, intensive care and senior leadership. He has a deep commitment to patient-centred care, collaborative leadership, and supporting sustainable health services in rural and remote Queensland.

During his career at Queensland Health, Wes has held a range of senior leadership roles, including Nursing Service Director for Medical Services and Emergency Access & Flow, Sunshine Coast HHS and Director of Nursing, Mount Isa Hospital. He’s led large-scale service improvements and operational reforms, and has experience strengthening clinical governance, workforce capability, and patient flow across the service.

Wes holds a degree in nursing, postgraduate qualifications in Critical Care Nursing, and a Master of Business Administration.

Christine Mann

Christine is a proud Woppaburra/Quandamooka woman, and feels privileged to have been raised and schooled on Kalkadoon Country where she is currently raising her own children. She became the first Executive Director of First Nations Health in 2019, previously holding the role of Director Cultural Capability and Engagement.

Before working with North West Hospital and Health Service, Christine held social worker and management positions in children protection in Queensland, interstate and overseas. She has worked in health undertaking coronary care social work services and worked for a number of years at Relationships Australia Queensland. She's also an Adjunct Associate Professor with JCU: Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Heath.

Christine is responsible for driving the North West Health Equity Strategy 2022-2025, working alongside other Executive portfolios to grow the health service's First Nations workforce, and influencing the health service to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal people through building strong partnerships.

Sylvie Brdjanovic

Commencing at North West Hospital and Health Service in 2022, Sylvie acted in the role of Executive Director People, Culture and Planning before being subsequently appointed to the role in 2024.

Holding an Executive Masters Public Administration and having worked previously in various health settings including at the Office of the Health Ombudsman, mental health, public health, strategic procurement and various health policy environments, Sylvie understands how to successfully navigate the complexities of health environment.

Having worked in central agencies as well as the community and private sectors, with over 20 years’ experience in various senior leadership and management roles, Sylvie also understands the value of engagement and culture on performance.

While at North West Hospital and Health Service, Sylvie has provided strategic oversight on significant organisational change activities and initiatives to help improve staff engagement levels, sense of belonging and service outcomes.

Helen Murray

Passionate about the value technology can bring to healthcare delivery, Helen has a 30-year track record commencing with her first project role implementing patient administration systems.

Helen led the multi-award winning ‘The Viewer’ program and today delivers digital transformation in remote Queensland. As one of the founding members of what is now the Australian Digital Health Agency, and has held senior roles in private industry delivering some of Australia and New Zealand’s first nurse-led triage call centres after spending several years with NHS Scotland.

In recognition of her commitment to better healthcare through innovative technology she was the recipient of multiple Women in Technology Awards and has been a judge for the awards for over a decade.

Originally from the Western Downs, Helen is a practising Registered Nurse with over 35 years of experience, having both hospital-based and tertiary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Nursing and a Graduate Certificate of Information Technology.

Helen brings extensive experience as a Company Director serving on several not-for-profit Boards and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Anthony Bell

Anthony has 25 years of specialist level experience in Emergency Medicine including 10 years in Medical Administration.

As a Dual Fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) he has led clinical departments and services, clinical networks, research groups and project teams. Anthony's now well known in the region, still working in the Mount Isa Hospital Emergency Department.

He has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Public Health from Queensland University of Technology and is studying to be a professional certified coach. He holds an academic appointment as a JCU Associate Professor in the College of Medicine and Dentistry.

Anthony undertook his specialised training in emergency medicine in New South Wales and the United Kingdom. His career has spanned Clinical and Executive leadership roles in Queensland Health and the private, not for profit sector in Queensland and Western Australia.

Anthony is committed to improving the resilience of and access to health services as well as improving models of care that are specifically designed to address the needs of underserved communities.

Karen Slater

Karen has over 40 years of experience in nursing and midwifery, including 16 years in leadership roles. The majority of her nursing career has been at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she worked clinically in cardiology, infection control, public health and general medicine.

Karen completed her midwifery training at Cairns Base Hospital in 1997. Karen holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Doctor of Philosophy. Karen has published in the areas of nursing absenteeism, needlestick injuries, hand hygiene, and needleless connectors.

Karen is an adjunct Associate Professor with Griffith University and is a member of the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control, the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research, and the Australian Vascular Access Society.

Karen is committed to supporting nursing education, especially newly graduated nurses.

Clare Newton

Clare became Executive Director Remote Health Services in April 2024. She's worked at North West Hospital and Health Service since 2021, most recently as Assistant Director of Nursing for Rheumatic Heart Disease. She also worked with the health service about 20 years ago.

Clare's a registered nurse with experience in clinical care, management, education and leadership. She's worked in Queensland, interstate and overseas.

Clare has a Bachelor of Nursing, postgraduate qualifications in critical care nursing and healthcare management, and a Master’s in Leadership and Management.

She's passionate about helping staff learn and improve, so they can provide better care. She also works with communities to build strong relationships and improve services in the region.

Lynette Stenhouse

Lynette was appointed Executive Director of Allied Health in July 2025 after holding many senior leadership roles at North West Hospital and Health Service. She has more than 10 years of experience in allied health, mental health and management in rural and remote Queensland.

At North West Hospital and Health Service, Lynette's held multiple key roles including Acting Director of Healthcare Standards, Acting Director of Mental Health and ATODS, and Acting Team Leader for Child and Youth Mental Health Services. She's led large multidisciplinary teams, improved services to meet national healthcare standards, and built culturally safe, community focused models of care.

Before joining our health service, Lynette worked in leadership and engagement roles with North and West Remote Health, Headspace, and BUSHkids. These roles supported early intervention and allied health services in the Lower Gulf and remote communities.

Lynette has a Master of Health Management, a Master of Public Health, a Master of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

She's passionate about building strong teams, embedding allied health as a key part of care, and improving access to quality services in remote Queensland.