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Sonia Marshall PSM (she/her) Sonia’s 30-year journey in healthcare began as an intensive care nurse at Griffith Base Hospital where her dedication to patient care and innovation set the foundation for an extraordinary career. She was appointed Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Wagga Wagga Hospital, before taking on a number of nursing and health leadership roles in rural, regional and urban areas. She joined South Western Sydney Local Health District in 2016, and initially held the role of Executive Director Nursing, Midwifery and Performance. Now, as Chief Executive, Sonia leads with a clear vision for the future of healthcare for the District. Accountable to the SWSLHD Board, she leads the Executive Leadership Team in delivering safe, equitable, and high-quality healthcare to our diverse communities. Her commitment to governance and strategic leadership drives the District's mission, ensuring that every person from Bankstown to Bowral receives the care they deserve. Sonia is also passionate about the future of healthcare, through teaching and mentoring, and fostering research. She established the South Western Sydney Nursing and Midwifery Research Alliance, partnering with the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and seven universities. She is Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University and Honorary Principal Fellow, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health at University of Wollongong. In 2024, she was awarded the Public Service Medal for her outstanding service, particularly for her leadership and resilience as District Incident Controller through the Covid-19 response. |
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Karen McMenamin Born and raised in south western Sydney, Karen started her journey in healthcare in 2004 as a clinical nurse when she relocated to Victoria in her early twenties. She then took on a number of leadership roles within Healthscope, before moving to Western Australia to oversee the development of Fiona Stanley Hospital. She returned to south western Sydney in 2018 as the General Manager, Liverpool Hospital. In her current role as Executive Director, she fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability for the District’s network of six hospitals, Mental Health, and Primary and Community Health Services. Karen is responsible for managing the clinical operations and performance across the District, ensuring health services are delivered with the highest quality and efficiency through strategic leadership, financial oversight, and the seamless integration of clinical services to meet best practice standards. |
Kate Reakes (they/them) Kate started with South Western Sydney Local Health District in September 2024 as Director Healthier Communities. Kate has worked for NSW Health local health districts and pillar organisations since 2008 across Community Health, Drug Health and Population Health services. Kate has completed tertiary studies in education, public health, health sciences, business administration and public administration. Kate is driven by equity and social justice and is passionate about working with communities to achieve change. In this role they provide leadership for Drug Health, Multicultural Health, Oral Health and Population Health Services. |
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Brenda Gillard (she/her) Brenda has dedicated over 40 years to healthcare, starting her journey as a student nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital before completing her training at St Joseph’s Hospital in Auburn. She later pursued midwifery at Ryde Hospital and specialised in Child and Family Health at Tresillian, where she found her passion for supporting families during their most formative years. With a deep commitment to quality improvement, patient safety and enhancing the patient experience, Brenda has spent the last 18 years in clinical governance across a range of settings, including Paediatrics and Justice Health. She is also a strong advocate for kind and compassionate leadership, believing that the best care comes from teams that feel valued and supported. Brenda joined South Western Sydney Local Health District in 2021 as the Executive Director of Clinical Governance, where she continues to champion safer, better healthcare for both patients and staff across the District. Beyond her professional expertise, Brenda holds a Master’s in Health Management and Public Health and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. |
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Angy Dinevska (she/her) Angy Dinevska joined the District in August 2024 as the Director of People and Culture. She is responsible for ensuring our workforce is engaged and empowered to provide excellent, high-quality care to our community. With a career spanning over 15 years, Angy has garnered substantial experience within purpose-driven sectors, including health, aged care and medical research. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Commerce in Human Resources Management from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Angy is dedicated to creating workplace environments where people are enabled to thrive and grow. She has a strong track record in building and leading innovative strategies that empower staff and enhance organisational effectiveness. She has led workplace culture programs to promote collaboration, wellbeing and positive outcomes for stakeholders.< |
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Angela Davey (she/her) With 30 years of experience in accounting, Angela’s expertise includes financial control, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. Angela has provided advice to, as well as led several projects to deliver efficiency benefits and cost savings for public and private sector organisations. Angela holds a Commerce Degree with a major in Accounting and she is CPA accredited. Angela’s career in NSW Health commenced in 2014 at Westmead Hospital as a Commercial Manager. In 2017 Angela joined SWSLHD where she has held various finance leadership roles including Director of Finance Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals, Director of Finance Liverpool Hospital, and Deputy Director of Finance SWSLHD. In November 2024, Angela commenced her current role as Acting Director of Finance SWSLHD. Prior to joining NSW Health, Angela’s career included 15 years with Qantas Airways and three years with Optus Vision. Throughout her career, Angela has followed her passion by working with operational teams to understand and improve financial performance. Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as holidays exploring other countries. |
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Dr Sayali Pendharkar, PhD (she/her) Sayali brings a wealth of experience in health, research and government sector. Most recently, Sayali was the Deputy Chief Science Advisor at the Ministry of Health, New Zealand, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the vision and strategic direction of the very first Evidence, Research and Innovation Directorate. Sayali also co-led the establishment of the Office of the Chief Science Advisor and the Research, Evaluation and Innovation function, which resulted in evidence and insights being embedded within the Ministry, enabling it to deliver on its stewardship role and commitment to being evidence-led and future-proofed. Within the academic and health sector, Sayali has held various positions as an Honorary Lecturer, Co-Director of Surgical Trials Unit, and as Clinical and Translational Research Fellow. Sayali has published extensively and won several research awards. Sayali is driven by her commitment to help our healthcare system deliver and sustain equitable, improved outcomes for our communities and people. |
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Jemma Milloy Jemma Milloy is a proud Mandandanji woman who has dedicated her career to Aboriginal community development and enhancing cultural wellbeing across urban and rural communities. With deep connections to the lands of the Dharawal, Darug and Gundungurra, peoples, Jemma has built a career spanning public, private, and non-government sectors. Holding a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Sydney, Jemma has utilised her academic background, professional expertise, cultural understanding, and lived experience to establish culturally responsive models and programs for Aboriginal families and communities. Her journey in healthcare began as a Mental Health Professional, where she led the innovative Aboriginal GOT IT! Program, which focussed on embedding clinical models of care within cultural frameworks. Jemma also served as the Aboriginal Workforce Manager, where she was responsible for overseeing initiatives aimed at enhancing employment and development opportunities whilst ensuring cultural safety in the workplace. As Director of Aboriginal Health at South Western Sydney Local Health District, Jemma provides strategic leadership fostering partnerships that respect and integrate Aboriginal values in healthcare policy and practice. Through her work, she continues to champion improved health outcomes for Aboriginal communities, with the goal that that every Aboriginal person in South Western Sydney receives culturally responsive and high-quality healthcare.
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Dr Brett Oliver
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Helen Goldsack (she/her) Helen commenced her nursing career in 1997 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, quickly developing a keen interest in cardiology/cardiothoracic surgery - an interest she pursued for the next 11 years in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. After returning to Australia and working in a variety of roles in occupational health and population health, Helen began her formal management career in Sydney as a Nursing Unit Manager at Balmain Hospital. Within the next couple of years, she was appointed to work in the Nursing and Midwifery Services executive team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital as the Nursing Executive Officer and then Operational Nurse Manager, before taking up the position of Director of Nursing at Concord Hospital.. Helen has completed a Masters in Health Service Management and, most recently, has joined South West Sydney Local Health District as the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services. Helen finds great satisfaction in supporting and developing staff to achieve their professional goals, which ultimately leads to the highest quality of care and experience for patients. |
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Sue Colley The Director of Allied Health provides effective clinical and professional leadership to the allied health professions across the District. These professions include: audiology, counselling, diversional therapy, music therapy, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work, speech pathology and welfare. It also supports pharmacy for some professional functions. Allied Health work within all facilities and services across SWSLHD. The Director is also responsible for developing and implementing a framework for continuous improvement in the quality of service and practice, workforce planning and effective people management strategies and processes in order to support excellent patient care and a safe , supportive work environment. |
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Damian Harrington The Director of Capital works and Infrastructure oversees all aspects of strategic service planning, delivery, management, governance and leadership of the District’s sites and facilities. This includes capital works projects (major and minor), facility and asset management, engineering, fire services, biomedical engineering and planning (strategic, clinical and corporate). The Director also oversees redevelopment projects within the District, which include approximately $3 billion of works at Campbelltown, Liverpool, Bankstown and Bowral Hospitals and a number of joint ventures. |
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Michael Dickinson Michael joined South Western Sydney Local Health District in September 2022 as the Director of Digital Health/Chief information Officer. Key responsibilities include leadership for the Digital Health Strategy, the Single Digital Patient Record implementation (Electronic Medical Record), data analytics, technology adoption, digital learning, software development, the Project Management Office and providing Digital Health/ICT services to approximately 18,000 staff in the District. Michael began his healthcare career as a Registered Nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Camperdown and has over 30 years of health experience, including roles in paediatric nursing, nursing education, project management, ICT, health services management and digital health within local health districts and eHealth. Michael has a Bachelor of Nursing, a Paediatric Nursing Certificate, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Computing, and is a graduate of the NSW Health Senior Executive development program. Michael is also a Board Member of the Ronald McDonald House Charity – Greater Western Sydney chapter since 2019, who keep families of seriously ill children together and close to the care their child needs. In his free time, he loves to race down the slopes driving a sit ski and spend quality time with his family and friends. |
