Queensland Health Acting Director-General and former Chief Operating Officer Shaun Drummond has been appointed as the new Director-General of the state’s health department.
The appointment follows a trans-Tasman search and an open merit recruitment process.
Mr Drummond is very well known and respected across the Queensland health system, having led in a range of operational and departmental roles since 2011.
He was previously the Chief Executive of Metro North Hospital and Health Service, the largest district health service in Australia with a budget of over $3.5bn and a team of more than 25, 000 employees.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath has welcomed Mr Drummond’s appointment.
“As Queensland Health’s Acting Director-General, Mr Drummond has been leading a substantive reform process and I look forward to continuing to work with him as we deal with the challenges and opportunities ahead of us,” she said.
“With the Palaszczuk Government’s ambitious health reform agenda, including almost $10 billion of capital investment, strong leadership is needed from the top.
“Mr Drummond has a deep understanding of the current Queensland health reform agenda and has well-established networks and system credibility in Queensland.
“He has over 20 years’ experience in the public health sector and has led in two countries, here in Australia in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, as well as in New Zealand.
“Mr Drummond has a proven ability to lead in complex and challenging environments and has a clear vision for the department.
“He brings with him experience, contemporary health service leadership and a genuine investment in driving public health reform to deliver the best possible outcomes for Queenslanders.
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr Drummond to deliver on the Queensland Government’s commitments and to improve health outcomes for Queenslanders.”
Brief biography
Shaun Drummond is an accomplished senior executive, with over 20 years of health system leadership experience.
He is former Acting Director-General and Chief Operating Officer of Queensland Health and Chief Executive of the Metro North Hospital and Health Service.
Mr Drummond was Deputy Chief Executive of the Western Sydney Local Health District, delivering health services for one of the most disadvantaged socio-economic populations in New South Wales.
He was also lead partner for health and hospital transformation with Deloitte, where he worked with public and private health sector clients to improve clinical and financial performance, precinct and infrastructure development, policy, funding and delivery.
