External Advisory Committee for BICT(HIM)

Richard Madden, Chair
BSc (Syd), PhD (Princeton), FIAA, AM, PSM, Professor of Health Statistics, University of Sydney

Richard was Director of the National Centre for Classification in Health, an international centre of excellence in health classifications, from 2006 to 2019. The Centre over 25 years had a range of national classification responsibilities in Australia and overseas. He continues at the university to work closely with the World Health organisation on health classification development.

Richard has led the WHO effort since 2007 to develop an International Classification of Health Interventions, now approaching finalisation. He chaired/co-chaired the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) Family Development Committee from 2000 to 2012 and chaired the WHO-FIC Network from 2003 to 2005. In 2019, the WHO awarded Richard a Lifetime Achievement Award for long standing work on health classifications. In addition, Richard works on a variety of Indigenous and disability statistics issues.

In 2002, Richard was Australian Actuary of the Year. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2003 and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018. The University of Sydney awarded Richard an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2005. In 2016, Richard was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Witwatersrand. From 2010-2018 Richard was Chair of the House with No Steps (HWNS), a major non-government provider of disability services in Australia. In 2018, HWNS merged with the Tipping Foundation, and is now Aruma Services. Richard is Deputy Chair, Aruma Services. From 2008 to 2017 he was a Board member of the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney.

Prior to 2006, Richard was Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for 10 years. From 1992 to 1995, he was Deputy Australian Statistician. He has had wide experience across the Australian health and community services sectors, including as Deputy Secretary of the NSW Health Department and as head of the Disability Programs Division in the then Commonwealth Department of Health and Community Services. He was also Head of the Treasuries of the Northern Territory (1983-86) and the Australian Capital Territory (1989-92).

Vicki Bennett, CHIM, FAIDH, CHIA, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Vicki is currently the Head of the My Health Record Data Unit at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, where she has held a number of different roles over the past 12 years. She was also previously the Manager of the Information Strategy Section at Medicare Australia.
She has a degree in Health Information Management, and a Masters in Health Informatics and has had a diverse career both domestically and internationally. She has worked extensively across the Pacific over the past 15 years as well as lectured at a range of Australian universities.
Vicki has a passion for seeing health data used appropriately at all levels of the health system, and is looking forward to the challenges of making the My Health Record data available for good research and public health purposes.

Dr Jon Carrano, PhD MBA GAICD Managing Director, Pharmsite

Jon Carrano spent over two decades managing the Australian and regional operations of America software companies focused on solutions for clinical research. Prior to involvement in software, Jon began his career in immunopathology medical research at the University of Western Australia, moving to Sydney to set up a hybridoma facility in the neurobiology research centre at Sydney University. In the mid-80’s he entered the commercial sector as a senior scientist at early biotech start-ups developing immunodiagnostics. That research also led to product development in instrumentation, data analytics and software development.  An opportunistic move to technology came in in the early 90’s, when offered a technical position with a leading American software company commencing operations in Australia. Over subsequent years, Jon rose to the position of Australian General Manager, mentoring and developing a highly regarded and competent technical regional team.  As the Managing Director of Pharmsite, Jon continues to offer software solutions in clinical research, and maintains an active engagement with peak organisations in health informatics and clinical research to contribute to and promote the local industry.

Qualifications:
BSc (Hons), PhD University of Western Australia
MBA Macquarie UniversityGraduate,
Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
Current Volunteer Positions:
Australian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH)NSW Branch Committee and Precision Medicine Community of Practice
ARCS Australia, Co-Convenor Asia Pacific Interest Area

Heather Grain, ADip HIM, Dip TDD, GDip IS, MHI, FAIDH, FMU, Board Member, GeHCo

Heather has an international and national expertise in the development, implementation, management and governance of EHR and eHealth systems, terminological content and education.

She focuses on practical, future focused solutions to improve the safe use of computer technology Developing the understanding and skills of decision makers as well as those implementing eHealth are important to me as achieving the vision requires an understanding of the vision.

Alan Hamdan, Western Sydney Local Health District

Alan is a highly professional eHealth Program Director with an outstanding delivery record of high-profile programs and projects. Through my national, regional and international experience I have a proven record of successful delivery for many significant eHealth programs and initiatives. With exceptional strategic planning skills, leadership skills, risk management, stakeholder engagement experience with excellent analytical and negotiation skills capabilities I successfully delivered significant multimillion programs and projects within business and technical environments.

He has participated in many strategic planning sessions from a state-wide to a countrywide level and developed the program management methodology for many eHealth initiatives. He is a certified Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP), a certified professional for Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE2), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Project+ Certified. Currently working on a digital health program with WSLHD, named as the secretary for the Australian Institute of Digital Health - NSW and as Associate Director with Project Management Institute – Sydney chapter.

Doug Henry, Chief M&A Officer, Beamtree

A founder and entrepreneur, experienced in health data technology systems and business management, Doug began his career with IBM working on mid-range systems (System/36, System/38, and AS/400), before carving out a niche as a technology and business consultant. He has had the privilege of working throughout North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.

Doug specialises in operational process model design and excellence, and strategic organisational and operational transformation and has held senior management, executive and director roles working with established and start-up businesses (DST Systems, CSC (Continuum), AdStream, Invivo Medical).

In 2007, Doug co-founded Pavilion Health, a specialist healthcare technology solutions, data analytics, and advisory services business, and served as the Managing Director until it was acquired in early 2020 by Beamtree Holdings Limited (ASX: BMT), (formerly Pacific Knowledge Systems), where he served as the Chief Operations Officer until December 2021. He is now the Chief Mergers & Acquisitions Officer for Beamtree which is headquartered in Redfern but have offices in Melbourne, London, Dublin, and New Zealand.

Originally from Kansas, Doug and his wife “found Oz” in 1995 and now call Sydney home with their three children.

Cassandra Jordan, St Vincent’s Correctional Health

My career in health information management began at St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, after graduating from Cumberland College of Health Sciences.  The role formed my academic interest in staff management and clinical documentation systems. I completed a Certificate in Personnel Administration followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science (Health Information Management) at the University of Sydney.  I have worked in various roles in Sydney, the Hunter Valley and Great Britain,  whilst furthering my experience in operational processes of health information and staff management. After graduating with a Master of Health Management at the University of NSW Sydney, the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse contracted me to complete a data base project. Currently, I work for St Vincent's Correctional Health, Parklea, a new service for the network.

Dr Mohamed Khalifa, MD, PhD, PGDip, MSc, MRCSEd, CPHIMS
Consultant, Healthcare Strategy and Analytics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University

Dr Khalifa is a leading expert and consultant in healthcare strategic management, business intelligence, and health analytics. Over 20 years, Dr Khalifa led multidisciplinary healthcare teams to develop and implement evidence-based solutions to direct healthcare strategic management, planning, and operations of healthcare services. Using health analytics, business intelligence, and healthcare management, Dr Khalifa led diverse projects of healthcare improvement, enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, and safety of healthcare services. Dr Khalifa published over fifty journal papers, book chapters, and was granted an innovation patent with IP Australia. His experience areas include healthcare strategic management, project management, healthcare performance improvement, healthcare business intelligence, health informatics, health analytics and big data.

Dr Mary Lam, PhD, University of Technology Sydney

Mary is health data scientist who has a background in bioinformatics, health informatics and health information management. Her expertise is the linkage, management and analysis of large-scale health system datasets.

Dr Mary Lam is a member of the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA), a Certified Health Informatician Australasia (CHIA) and a Fellow of Australasian College of Health Informatics (ACHI), with many years of experience in health information management and health data science. After years of practice in the industry, she has developed an academic career with a focus on promoting health information and health data science education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is currently the Acting Director of Studies in Digital Health and Innovation at the University of Technology Sydney. Dr Lam is dedicated to equipping students with the professional attitude, knowledge, and skills to face up to the challenge of a data rich healthcare environment. Mary's main research areas are data linkage and analysis, and health informatics education. She is the informatics consultant as well as a key member of the research team in many studies supported by a number of competitive grants including a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Program grant. She has also received awards for eHealth and Health Informatics education and research, including the Branko Cesnik and Don Walker Awards at the Health Informatics 2014 and 2016 Conferences respectively.

Jeremy Roach, J S Roach Consulting

Jeremy is driven by improving patient outcomes and the patient experience - smart digitalisation and de-siloing of healthcare and aligning purposeful technologies to aid the clinical workflow. Building awareness of the importance of well-rounded clinical leadership and clinician engagement in digital health and developing knowledge in clinical informatics is pivotal.
He maintains his Pharmacy registration (hospital and community), with mental health adv qualifications, an accredited MHFAider, a Fellow of the AIDH, and a CHIA; IIBA credentials include: CBAP & CCA.
Digital health transformations are Jeremy's focus – his roles expand across NSW and national health systems and strategy. He has experience in PROMs (Oncology), oral health, critical care and community health, clinical system safety, clinical terminology and pharmacy systems. He has a significant interest in leveraging robotic process automation, codesign and interoperability standards to deliver clinical and business objectives. He is very active in digital health, both in the community (AIDH), the DH TAG for the World Health Organisation, and a sessional lecturer for Monash University.

David Roffe, Independent Consultant

With a background in science, biomedical engineering and information technology, David has considerable experience in chief biomedical and chief information officer roles in several large public and private healthcare organisations in NSW spanning acute, sub-acute and aged care sectors.  David’s passion is to support clinicians to provide better and safer patient care by the pragmatic application of engineering and computer science.  Examples include the successful commercialisation of an inhouse developed clinical information system and the implementation of Australia’s first electronic medication management system. David is currently an independent consultant in eHealth working with innovative technology startups and vendors in the acute hospital, residential and community aged care sectors.

Gowri Sriraman, Clinical Coder, Northern Sydney Local Health District

Gowri’s  qualifications include Bachelors in Pharmacy and Masters in Management. She has over twenty years’ experience in the NSW Health Systems at various levels (Hospital, LHD and Ministry) and across various regions (Metropolitan/Regional/Rural). The Key Areas of her work include:

PAS Project Management and Helpdesk Support  (1994 -1997), IT manager at Sydney Hospital (1997-2000)
Health Services Planner at the Department of Health (200-2002), Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (2003-2008), Introduction of New Interventions (2009-2012), Performance Analyst (2012-2015), for Activity Based Funding Clinical Coder (2017-2020 to date)

She is currently gaining valuable skills in clinical classification to enhance her data analysis capabilities. She is a Certified Health Informatician of Australasia (CHIA), Fellow of the College of Health Services Managers (FCHSM), Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Digital Health (AFAIDH) and Senior Associate Member of the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA).

Tanija Tarabay, AFAIDH, CHIM, CHIA, Senior Information Management, Queensland Health

Tanija is an Associate Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health and a Certified Health Information Manager (CHIM) currently working at eHealth Queensland. Tanija’s qualifications include Masters in Business Administration, Project Management and Health Information Management. Tanija has worked as a Health Information Manager for over 20 years in both NSW Health and Queensland Health, and has a passion for health information/informatics within the digital health environment.