Mater has announced that senior healthcare executive Julia Strickland-Bellamy will become its next Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Strickland-Bellamy will continue Mater's proud legacy of female leadership and was this week congratulated on her appointment by renowned former Mater Administrator and Queensland Great, Sister Angela-Mary Doyle.
Currently Chief Executive Officer of healthcare provider Aurora, Ms Strickland-Bellamy's new role will see her lead Queensland's largest not-for-profit healthcare provider, comprising a statewide network of 11 public and private hospitals and more than 10,800 staff.
Mater Board Chair Patrick Brady said Ms Strickland-Bellamy had an impressive record as a healthcare leader and a deep understanding of the issues and opportunities facing private and not-for-private healthcare providers.
"Mater has a special place in Queensland's healthcare system, providing both public and private services to patients across the state," Mr Brady said.
"Julia has the experience and expertise this role demands and we are delighted she is joining us.
"Private healthcare especially faces a number challenges, but Julia has demonstrated great skill in navigating those issues and delivering both business growth and high-quality health services."
Ms Strickland-Bellamy, who began her career as a nurse, has more than 20 years' experience as a senior executive in leading health and aged care companies and has served as CEO of Aurora, which runs 16 private hospitals across Australia, since 2021.
Her prior roles include Chief Executive Officer of Healthecare Australia's specialty hospitals, Chief Operating Officer of 35 Healthecare private hospitals and executive and non-executive director roles for some of Australia's leading aged care providers.
"Mater has a special place in the hearts of Queenslanders, many of whom were born in Mater hospitals, so it's an honour to be appointed its Chief Executive Officer," Ms Strickland-Bellamy said.
"I'm looking forward to building on Mater's legacy of delivering compassionate healthcare to the community and to working with its world-leading clinicians and medical researchers."
Ms Strickland-Bellamy, who takes over from Dr Peter Steer, will commence her new role after Easter.
As well as Mater Health, she will also lead nationally-accredited Registered Training Organisation Mater Education, the internationally-renowned Mater Research institute and Mater Foundation, Australia's leading private hospital foundation.
Mater was founded in Brisbane in 1906 by the Sisters of Mercy and run by Sister Administrators until the appointment of its first lay Chief Executive Officer in 1987.
Today Mater admits almost 250,000 inpatients a year to its hospitals in Brisbane, Redlands, Springfield, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg.
Featured image: Julia Strickland-Bellamy is welcomed to Mater by its acclaimed former Administrator, Sister Angela-Mary Doyle, 99.
