The Mackay Hospital and Health Service is a dynamic regional health service with a clear purpose — delivering exceptional, compassionate care to a community that values connection, collaboration and local identity. As Health Service Chief Executive, you will lead more than 3,500 dedicated staff serving a population of almost 190,000 people across the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions — a vast area of 90,364km2 stretching from the Whitsundays in the north to St Lawrence in the south and west to Clermont. The region combines the best of regional and rural living with a thriving economy, strong community spirit and a relaxed coastal lifestyle. This is an exciting moment in Mackay HHS’s journey. The service is set to undergo its first major hospital expansion in a decade. The expansion project reflects both growth and renewal and it sits alongside an organisational focus on strengthening governance, transparency and community trust. The Board is seeking an experienced and visible leader who will continue this journey — someone who can drive performance, reform and innovation while building a culture of engagement and accountability across the service. Reporting to the Mackay Hospital and Health Board, the Health Service Chief Executive holds full accountability for clinical, operational and corporate performance across all hospitals and community services within the region. With an annual operating budget of approximately $750 million and responsibility for a complex, multi-site network of acute, subacute, community and mental health services, this role is both strategic and deeply connected to the community it serves. Supported by the executive team and working in partnership with the Board, Queensland Health, clinicians and community leaders your remit will be to deliver safe, high-quality and sustainable healthcare outcomes. A key focus will be on advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ensuring that care is culturally safe, inclusive and grounded in genuine partnership with local communities. To succeed in this role, you will bring significant experience in public health system leadership and a proven record in delivering complex service reform. You will be known for leading with authenticity, courage and empathy — building trust and collaboration across government, clinicians and community, and driving high performance through influence rather than hierarchy. Your leadership will reflect strong strategic capability balanced with compassion and visibility, ensuring that decisions are informed by both evidence and the lived experiences of patients and staff. You will be a leader who fosters accountability, safety and quality, and who inspires a workforce that feels valued, connected and proud of the care it delivers. Experience leading within a regional and rural context will be highly regarded, as will a genuine appreciation for the importance of connection to community. The Mackay region offers an enviable balance of professional challenge and personal reward, with pristine beaches, subtropical rainforests and a welcoming, family-friendly environment. The region’s diverse economy — underpinned by tourism, agriculture, mining and education — supports a vibrant lifestyle where work, purpose and wellbeing coexist. This is more than an executive opportunity; it is a rare chance to shape the future of healthcare across one of Queensland’s most diverse and rapidly evolving regions. The incoming Chief Executive will play a pivotal role in leading Mackay HHS through its next chapter of transformation — strengthening culture, delivering sustainable health outcomes, and building confidence in a service that is central to the lives and wellbeing of its community. For a confidential discussion, contact Justine Eden, Eden Ritchie Recruitment on 0412 156 930 or email mhhs@edenritchie.com.au. To apply and access further information please visit https://edenritchie.com.au/health-service-chief-executive-mhhs/ Applications close 5pm Thursday 27th November 2025 Please note, this role is open to applicants with unrestricted working rights in Australia
