Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service will welcome Lisa Blackler as its new Chief Executive, bringing local expertise and a deep commitment to provide better access to care for Central Queenslanders.
Lisa comes to Rockhampton from New Zealand where she was Group Director of Operations at Te Whatu Ora. Her journey in the health sector is marked by over twenty years of executive and senior leadership experience, including a tenure at Gladstone Hospital in Women and Children’s health and Perioperative and Outpatient care.
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Board Chair Paul Bell recognised Lisa’s reputation as a dynamic, respected and results driven leader, with proven expertise leading health service delivery in regional, rural and remote settings.
“We’re delighted to welcome Lisa to the team. Her deep understanding of our health service and region is invaluable to set our strategic direction and ensure we continue to develop and deliver services aligned to community needs,” Paul said.
“Her leadership approach is deeply influenced by her hands-on experience as a nurse and midwife, and achievement in improving health service delivery across various settings.”
Lisa's brings proven experience implementing improvement strategies in operational efficiency, recruitment processes and developing regional care pathways to provide greater access to specialised care - a focus she plans to continue in her new role.
“It brings me great joy to return to Central Queensland to work alongside its many exceptional teams and communities. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to develop the skills, culture and ambition necessary to position our health service delivery for the future,” Lisa said.
“My experiences have taught me the importance of deep listening with active engagement with communities to build health services that not only meet their needs but also exceeds their expectations. I look forward to leveraging these learnings in CQ.”
Lisa will commence in the role in April. Interim Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Ngaire Buchanan plans to return to New Zealand to enjoy her retirement with her family.