Australian Healthcare Week - Healthcare Operational Excellence Agenda Day 1
9:15 am - 9:30 am
Opening Remarks
9:30 am - 10:10 am
Keynote C-Suite & Transformation Leaders Panel: Driving10X Healthcare Efficiencies Through Back-Office Transformation
Prasanna Perera -
Chief Financial Officer,
Medical First Group
Leaders from across Australiaโs public and private sectors discuss how back-office reform can unlock system-wide efficiency, resilience, and financial sustainability. From procurement to workforce planning, finance, and digital enablement, learn how operational excellence at the core creates better outcomes for patients, staff, and the bottom line.
Practical strategies for transforming back-office functions into value-driving enablers
Lessons learned from hospital and aged care COOs leading major operational change
How to leverage technology, governance, and people to deliver scalable efficiency gains
10:10 am - 10:30 am
Presentation: Session to be announced soon
10:30 am - 10:50 am
Session reserved for Silverchain
10:50 am - 10:50 am
Agentic AI & Process Transformation
10:50 am - 11:10 am
COO Insight: Making Your Health System Work - Transforming Performance Through Accountability and Effective Operations at Canberra Health Services
Canberra Health Services shifted from being one of Australiaโs poorest performing and most costly health services to a top performer with strong patient flow, all in just 18 months. At the heart of this transformation was the creation of an operations centre built on three clear pillars: building an accountable organisation, applying the principles of the requisite organisation, and managing effectively. Join Grant Howard as he unpacks the model, challenges and outcomes, offering practical lessons on how operational transformation can drive measurable improvements in performance, cost, and patient experience.
How building an accountable organisation strengthens culture and performance
Practical strategies to manage effectively and deliver sustainable system-wide transformation
11:10 am - 11:50 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: Reimagining Healthcare Workflows: From Paper Trails to Digital Transformation
Join to discover how healthcare organisations are leveraging digital tools, EHRs, automation, AI-driven decision support, to streamline operations, reduce errors, and improve patient experience.
How can hospitals balance technology adoption with staff training and patient engagement?
What lessons have been learned from failed or successful digital transformation projects?
How do regulatory requirements and data privacy concerns shape operational redesign?
11:50 am - 12:10 pm
Reserved for Sponsor - Get in touch to find out more!
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm
PRESENTATION: Reinventing Patient Transport: Digitising Reservations for Efficiency and Experience
Shubjeet Kaur -
Executive Director, Operations,
Healthshare NSW
HealthShare has introduced a new airline-style reservation model for patient transport, bringing simplicity and transparency to an often-complex process. Now, you can book transport online, see available vehicles and times in real time, and ensure patients move through the system with less friction. A live operations dashboard enhances visibility for facilities, while patients benefit from smoother, more predictable journeys. This session will showcase real-world case studies and patient personas, highlighting the before-and-after impact on both clinical workflows and patient experience.
How an airline-style reservation system is streamlining bookings for clinicians
Improving patient journeys through predictability, transparency, and efficiency
Using dashboards and data to drive operational visibility and smarter decision-making
12:30 pm - 1:10 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: Operational Transformation That Sticks: Leading Change Across Healthcare Systems
Vanessa Janissen -
Chief Executive Officer,
NSW Health Pathology
Paul Boje - Chief Executive Officer, Ramsay Health Care
Ben Wakeling - Director Clinical Strategy & Outcomes, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
Managing change effectively is what separates short-term fixes from lasting improvement. This session explores how operational leaders can successfully navigate transformation, engage teams, and embed new ways of working that drive both efficiency and quality. From rethinking workflows and resource allocation to strengthening leadership capability and culture, discover proven strategies to manage operational change with confidence, clarity, and impact.
Ben Wakeling
Director Clinical Strategy & OutcomesIllawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
1:10 pm - 1:30 pm
Reserved for Sponsor - Get in touch to find out more!
1:30 pm - 1:50 pm
PRESENTATION: Driving Regional Operational Excellence โ Start-to-Finish Care Models for Sustainable, Patient-Centred Health
Linda Jorgensen -
Chief Executive Officer,
St Andrews Toowoomba Hospital
Regional hospitals face unique challenges โ tighter budgets, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for continuity of care. By adopting start-to-finish care models, health services can streamline patient journeys, reduce unnecessary transfers, and strengthen financial sustainability while maintaining quality outcomes. In this session, a hospital CEO shares how regional systems can do more with less, integrate preventative care, and build a model of operational excellence that delivers seamless, sustainable care close to home.
Improving efficiency and sustainability through integrated start-to-finish care models
Enhancing patient continuity and reducing costly inter-hospital transfer
Embedding prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term system strain
1:50 pm - 1:50 pm
Procurement & Supply Chain Innovation
1:50 pm - 2:10 pm
Presentation: Redefining Procurement Excellence: Building Trust and Delivering Value Across Victoriaโs Health System
Sarah Bryant -
Chief Procurement Officer,
Healthshare Victoria
HealthShare Victoria is reshaping the future of health procurement through a strategic vision centred on simplicity, convenience, efficiency, and transparency. Join Sarah Bryant, Chief Procurement Officer as she outlines the roadmap to becoming a trusted partner for the sector by delivering best-value statewide agreements, strengthening supply chain resilience and driving consistency across the system. Discover how a redefined team structure and partnership model are enhancing collaboration, ensuring supply surety, and enabling healthcare providers to focus on what matters most: patient care.
Understanding HealthShare Victoriaโs strategic priorities and operational vision
How statewide procurement can deliver both best value and supply chain security
Building a trusted, transparent procurement model that simplifies healthcare delivery
4:10 pm - 4:50 pm
Panel Discussion: Smarter Spending: How to Maximise AI in Procurement for Cost Savings and Efficiency
David Owens -
Director Procurement & Supply Chain,
Adventist Healthcare Limited
Ishmeet Singh - Director Procurement Services, Northern Health
Colleen van der Watt - Operations Manager, Northern Sydney LHD
AI is helping hospitals optimise sourcing, forecast demand, and reduce costs. When integrated with ERP systems, AI delivers actionable insights that streamline processes, automate routine tasks, and enhance supplier management. Join leaders to explores how they are harnessing AI for smarter, more efficient procurement and maximise value across the organisation.
Identifying cost-saving opportunities and reduce inefficiencies with AI.
Leveraging ERP-integrated AI for smarter, data-driven decision-making.
Optimising supplier management, demand forecasting, and inventory using AI analytics
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm
Presentation: Building Resilient Supply Chains: Future-Proofing Hospital Supply Chains Through Cost Efficiency and Resilience
Dan O'Brien -
Deputy Director of Pharmacy - Operations,
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Hospital supply chains face ongoing pressures from global disruptions, rising costs, and regulatory changes. Join this session to explore how finance and supply chain leaders are building resilient, cost-efficient supply networks through risk management, demand planning, supplier diversification and integrating analytics to anticipate shortages and optimise inventory.
Anticipating and respond to supply chain disruptions
Leveraging analytics to maintain the right stock levels and reduce waste
Improving partnerships, negotiating contracts, and diversifying suppliers to ensure cost savings and reliability
3:10 pm - 3:10 pm
People, Culture & Workforce Transformation
3:10 pm - 3:50 pm
Panel Discussion: Prioritising Workforce Wellbeing in Healthcare: What does a Supportive Workplace Like in 2026 and Beyond?
Wendy Hoey -
CEO,
NSW Justice Health & Forsensic Mental Health Network
Susan Sims - Safety and Culture Lead, Clinical Excellence Commission
Rachel White - Managing Director, Australian Institute of CPD Accrediation
Valentina Trajkovski - Workload Balance Project Lead, Western Health
Understanding the motivations and priorities of your employees to best align reward systems and culture
Creating a strong employee value proposition to ensure satisfaction and longevity in staff
Exploring the changing workforce & wellbeing landscape today and how organisations must adjust
3:50 pm - 4:10 pm
Building the Future Workforce: Local Training Pathways to Strengthen Healthcare in Regional Australia
Anthony Brown -
Chief Executive Officer,
South West Hospital & Health Service
Australiaโs healthcare system faces a looming workforce crisis, with regional and remote communities at the sharpest edge. South West Hospital & Health Service is tackling the challenge head-on by creating a sustainable workforce pipeline, transforming into a learning organisation that trains and retains talent locally. By engaging high school students and establishing medical education pathways for the full spectrum of healthcare roles, they are reducing reliance on costly external labour as well as fostering accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. The overarching aim is to adapt to changing models of care and embed multi-disciplinary teams to ensure healthcare remains accessible and resilient.
Developing supported pathways into healthcare, from schools to professional practice
Reducing workforce costs and reliance on external labour by growing talent locally
Building resilient, multi-disciplinary teams equipped for evolving models of care
4:10 pm - 4:40 pm
Panel Discussion: Understanding and Shaping Hospital Culture for Success
Heather Flynn -
Executive Director People, Safety and Engagement,
NCN Health
Sandhya Limaye - Director of Well-being, SLHD
Anna Hinz - Clinical Operations Director, Monash Health
Hospitals can be highly pressured environments for staff, and while efforts are being made throughout the health system to alleviate pressure on the workforce through technology and evolving models of care, organisations must also consider the importance of culture as a factor that impacts performance and success. Join our panel of experts as they explore the importance of understanding hospital culture, strategising improvements, listening to the workforce and considering culture when making decisions that affect workflow and performance.
