Introducing our new CEO

The Board of Primary Health Tasmania has appointed experienced executive Lucy O’Flaherty as the organisation’s new CEO.

In announcing the appointment, Board Chair Graeme Lynch AM said Ms O’Flaherty brings to the role more than 25 years of leadership in Australia’s aged care and community services sectors.

“Lucy spent 10 years at the helm of Glenview Community Services in Hobart, where she was instrumental in the development of Korongee – Australia’s first purpose-built village for people living with dementia,” Mr Lynch said.

“She is a person-focused, values-driven leader with strong experience in change management and a passion for innovation, all of which put her in good stead to make a real difference in this primary care leadership role.

“Lucy was attracted by the fact that Primary Health Tasmania has a whole-of-state influence as the sole primary health network, working alongside government and the primary care and community sectors to drive our vision of healthy Tasmanians by creating enduring health and wellbeing solutions with the Tasmanian community.”

A former Tasmanian Telstra Business Woman of the Year and previous winner of the Australian Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership, Ms O’Flaherty was also a driving force behind the creation of the Child, Family and Disability Gateway service in Tasmania.

She said she has relished the last 15 years in the aged care sector, including the past four as CEO of Columbia Aged Care in New South Wales.

Ms O’Flaherty is now looking forward to returning to Tasmania and the new experience of a role in the primary care sector.

“Anyone who has spent any time working in aged care knows how important general practice, allied health and other primary care services are to the health and wellbeing of our community,” she says.

“I’m also a big believer in connected care that not only meets the health needs of Tasmanians but empowers them to live well.

“I know there’s a lot of great work being done across Tasmania to integrate health care, aged care, community and social services and I’m excited about being a part of that moving forward.”

Ms O’Flaherty, who will be based in Primary Health Tasmania’s Hobart office, will take up the role in January.

Her appointment follows the departure of Phil Edmondson in August after 10 years as CEO. Executive team member Susan Powell is interim CEO.

Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN) is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working to connect care and keep Tasmanians well and out of hospital. It was established under the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program to support and enable a coordinated, primary care-focused health system.

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