The Melbourne Health Executive Management Team consists of the Chief Executive and Executive Directors.
The nine Executive Directors each hold an executive portfolio. The Executive Management Team meets twice a month to consider operational decisions, review performance and steer the strategic direction of Melbourne Health.
Download the Melbourne Health Organisational Structure.
Our Executive team
Christine Kilpatrick commenced as Chief Executive, Melbourne Health in May 2017. Previous appointments include Chief Executive, the Royal Children’s Hospital from 2008 – 2017, Executive Director Medical Services, Melbourne Health and Executive Director Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Health 2004-2008. Prior to these appointments she was a neurologist, specialising in epilepsy.
Christine is a member of several boards including Orygen, National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC). She was awarded a Centenary medal in 2003, in 2014 was included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, in 2017 was a recipient of the Inaugural Distinguished Fellow’s Award, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and in 2018 inducted in the top 50 Public Sector Women.
Professor Braitberg was elected to fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine in 1988 and undertook further training in medical toxicology at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix Arizona. He became board certified in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology in the US and in 2005 was made a fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology.
Since then, he has held a number of senior positions in medical toxicology and emergency medicine.
In 2014 he pursued his interest in health services management and clinical governance by completing a Master of Bioethics (2014), Master of Health Services Management (2017) and in 2017 became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.
He has been a Board member of Ambulance Victoria and Barwon Health and remains on the Board of St Johns Ambulance Victoria and the Israeli Institute of Emergency Medicine Research.
He most recently completed a secondment as Senior Medical Advisor to Safer Care Victoria and remains a medical advisor to Ambulance Victoria and a member of the Victorian Clinical Council.
He is Professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine Royal Melbourne Hospital and University of Melbourne and the Emergency Medicine Head of the Centre for Integrated Critical Care (CICC) Medicine.
Research interests include toxicology, pre-hospital care and health system redesign .
Kemsley commenced as the interim Executive Director Finance and Logistics in January 2019. He has been part of senior leadership at Melbourne Health since 2015.
He is an experienced healthcare finance executive, having worked in large public and private hospital organisations for over 15 years. Kemsley has a strong record of achievement and experience in complex multinational corporations across the healthcare, information & communication technology and manufacturing sectors.
Kemsley’s track record demonstrates excellent financial acumen, leadership capability and strategic thinking combined with commercial practical know-how. He is a stalwart advocate of transparency, finance business partnering and solid corporate governance that supports and aligns with the overall strategy of an organisation.
Ellen joined Melbourne Health as the Executive Director People and Culture in October 2017. Her career commenced in the Industrial Relations field before moving into Human Resources at Fairfax Media, where she worked for many years in Sydney and Melbourne. She has also consulted in and led the People function in other industries, including hospitality, legal and accounting services and aged care.
Originally graduating from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics, Ellen undertook a Masters of Labour Law and Relations. She has completed a change management qualification at the Australian Graduate School of Management. And in 2016, she graduated in Law.
Ellen is the author of three books, two of which are career guides.
A/Prof Heinjus trained as a general nurse at Albury Base Hospital and as a midwife at Preston and Northcote Community Hospital in Melbourne. Denise has a Graduate Certificate in Law and Management and a Masters (Honours) in Health Science Management. Denise commenced her role as Executive Director Nursing Services with Melbourne Health in 2007.
Previous nursing leadership positions include Executive Director, Nursing & Midwifery at Southern Health (Monash Health), Area Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Northern Sydney Central Coast Health Service; and Area Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Illawarra Health Service.
A/Prof Heinjus has a keen interest in workforce planning, clinical governance, organisational change and disaster management.
Adam Horsburgh was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer in May 2017.
Adam comes to Melbourne Health with extensive experience in operational health service management within Australia and the UK National Health Service (NHS).
Prior to joining Melbourne Health, Adam was the Director of Performance and System Design at the Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, Adam was responsible for the monitoring and management of performance across Victoria's 85 health services, including Ambulance Victoria.
Before Adam commenced with the department, he spent eight years at Monash Health, managing the operations of the Monash Medical Centre Clayton, Moorabbin Hospital, Ambulatory and Community-based Services and a number of the medical programs across Monash Health. In addition, Adam held the Executive Portfolio of Strategy and Planning; and was the Executive Director for Jessie McPherson Private Hospital.
A graduate of the UK's NHS Management Training Scheme, Adam also held a variety of operational management roles in the NHS and worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers Public Sector Consulting practice in the UK. During this time he undertook financial and operational improvement projects across NHS Trusts and Social Services departments.
Cate was appointed as Chief Medical Officer, Melbourne Health in February 2016 and has significant experience in multiple academic, tertiary health services.
Cate received her basic medical degree from the University of Sydney. She also holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons - Pharmacology), a Masters of Health Administration and a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators.
Her long term interests are in clinical informatics, clinical governance of new technologies and medical education. She has published multiple papers about health system management and leadership with a focus on medical education and new technology / clinical practice.
Rebekah is a senior corporate affairs practitioner with extensive media relations, stakeholder management, government affairs, issues management and internal communications experience.
She joined Melbourne Health having spent 20 years working within some of Australia’s largest corporate entities, for global organisations, and in government. Over that time she worked across a range of industries from transport to infrastructure, banking and health.
Rebekah is passionate about building strong communities and retains a keen interest in the connections between organisational purpose, inclusive workplaces and reputation.
A/Prof Ruth Vine previously worked at the Department of Health, and was the Director of Mental Health from 2003 – 2008 and the Chief Psychiatrist for Victoria from 2009 – 2012.
A/Prof Vine has also worked as a consultant psychiatrist in forensic mental health, community health and in an advisory role with the Australian Government. She holds both medical and law degrees, and has contributed to the development of legislation and policy in areas including mental health, disability, and the management of mentally ill offenders.
She is actively involved in psychiatry trainee teaching and in teaching to mental health service staff, particularly in the areas of leadership, mental health legislation, risk assessment and forensic psychiatry.
