Our Board

Chairwoman, Ms Elthies (Ella) Kris

A/Prof CPHMVS(JCU), MPH, GDipIndigHProm

18 May 2019 - 31 March 2024

Ms Kris is a is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman, with cultural connection to the land and sea from her father from the Mabuiag, Saibai and St Pauls and her mother from Mer and Erub. She carries and lives by her mother’s totem Serar (tern bird).  Ms Kris brings more than 20 years of experience within the health industry, including corporate, primary health care and public health and through volunteering with Torres Shire Council to lead, support and empower health changes within her community of Thursday Island.  Her current role with Torres Strait Island Regional Council includes developing, planning and implementing sustainable health related activities within council communities.  Ms Kris has a Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion, a Master of Public Health and is an Adjunct Associate Professor within James Cook University’s College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Science.

Ms Kris holds the following positions:

• Chair, Board
• Chair, Board Executive Committee
• Member, Finance and Performance Committee

Deputy Chair, Dr Scott Davis

PhD IndSoc&EcCapBldg, MIPH, GradCertARLP, DipEd

18 May 2016 - 31 March 2026

Dr Davis has worked in regional rural and Indigenous health and development and is committed to addressing the social determinants of health for rural and remote Indigenous committees.  He has more than 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles within the health, education and research sectors and more than 20 years of board experience. Dr Davis holds a range of directorships with the commercial, not for profit and community sectors.  He holds a doctorate in Indigenous Community Capacity Development (social and economic development) and a Masters in International Public Health.

Dr Davis holds the following positions:

• Chair, Safety and Quality Committee
• Member, Board Executive Committee

Karen (Kaz) Price

MEd, PGDipVocEd, BAgrSc(Hons), AdvDipCommSecMgmnt, MAICD

11 December 2015 - 31 March 2024

Ms Price lives in Cooktown and has been involved with community organisations and regional-based projects and management for the past 16 years.  She is currently CEO of the Cooktown District Community Centre and operates a training and development project for young people and vulnerable job seekers through a social enterprise model.  Ms Price has previously served eight years as a Councillor for Cook Shire and was a former manager of the Cape York Hospital and Health Service Learning and Development Unit.

Ms Price holds the following positions:

• Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
• Member, Board Executive Committee

Ms Rhonda Shibasaki

GCIndSectMgmnt

18 May 2019 - 31 March 2026

Ms Shibasaki has worked extensively in the health sector throughout Queensland in urban, regional and remote communities since 2008.  She has undertaken various executive roles and is experienced in leading change management processes at board, corporate, clinical and service provision levels.  Ms Shibasaki is recognised for introducing management and system reforms in several community health organisations.  As the operator of two businesses in the surrounding areas of Thursday Island, Ms Shibasaki brings proven leadership and local knowledge.

Ms Shibasaki holds the following positions:

• Member, Audit and Risk Committee
• Member, Finance and Performance Committee

Ms Susan Hadfield

BScN, CertIVTA, CertTLQM, CertTLQM(NDIS)

29 September 2020 - 31 March 2024

Ms Hadfield is currently retired after more than 40 years working in clinical nursing, leadership, and management of clinical services roles throughout both rural, regional and metropolitan Queensland.  Ms Hadfield is committed to improving the experience of health service users and delivery of health services and outcomes for people in rural and remote communities.  An area of experience and advocacy Ms Hadfield offers is inclusion of service reforms which are sensitive to the Indigenous people and rural and remote communities.  This was particularly relevant when Ms Hadfield led the coordination of cancer service projects and service reforms to improve the patient experience, timeliness and access to services across Far North Queensland rural and remote communities.

Ms Hadfield holds the following positions:

• Chair, Finance and Performance Committee
• Member, Board Executive Committee
• Member, Safety and Quality Committee

Mr Darren Thamm

BCom, FCA(Aust), CIA, RCA

18 May 2021 - 31 March 2024

Mr Thamm offers more than 20 years of experience in the field of accounting within commerce and public accounting across a wide number of industry sectors.  Mr Thamm is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, a Registered Company Auditor, and a Certified Internal Auditor.  He is a partner of Jessups NQ, a specialist auditing and assurance firm based in North Queensland and has acted as Auditor for a wide range of clients across local government, indigenous organisations, charities and not-for-profit community organisations.  Mr Thamm has also presented educational training courses in the fields of accounting and audit for universities and professional accountancy bodies.

Mr Thamm holds the following positions:

• Member, Audit and Risk Committee
• Member, Finance and Performance Committee

Ms Marjorie Pagani

BA(Hons), LLB, DipMed, DipArb, FDRP, CPL, GAICD

18 May 2021 - 31 March 2024

Ms Pagani has lived in far north Queensland most of her life, commencing her profession as a barrister in 1991, then primarily involved in the Children’s Court and representing young people on Palm Island.  Ms Pagani has more than 30 years’ experience in law, mediation and arbitration, and board positions in the private, public, and government sectors, as well as holding the rank of Squadron Leader with the RAAF specialist legal corps for 17 years.  She is the Chief Executive Officer of Angel Flight which offers free non-emergency medical transport flights for people in rural and remote areas to city centres. Ms Pagani is a member of the JCU Council, and chair of the JCU Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and deputy Chair of the Estate Committee.  She is also founder and general manager of the farm animal rescue charity, AFARM, on the Atherton Tablelands, where she lives.

Ms Pagani holds the following positions:

• Member, Audit and Risk Committee
• Member, Safety and Quality Committee

Ms Karyn Sam

GDipIndigHProm, DipATSIPrimH, DipBusGov

18 May 2021 - 31 March 2024

Ms Sam is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman who resides in Seisia, Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York.

Ms Sam has extensive knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, specific to primary health care.  She has a great passion for health and social wellbeing and has been highly involved strategically and operationally planning and implementing health initiatives and programs to bring about positive health outcomes for the region. Ms Sam has worked within the primary health care sector for the past 16 years including seven years in management positions and has enjoyed the challenges involved with the business and tailoring services to meet the specific needs of community.

Ms Sam holds the following positions:

• Member, Audit and Risk Committee
• Member, Safety and Quality Committee

Ms Tara Diversi

GAID, MBA, MND, GDipPsyc, PGDipPsyhc, APD

1 April 2022 - 31 March 2026

Ms Diversi is an Accredited Practising Dietitian starting her career in Cairns in private practice and in public health nutrition throughout Cape York in 2003 and since, working in almost all areas of dietetics.  Ms Diversi is the CEO of Sophus Nutrition, a digital nutrition platform that improves accessibility and affordability of expert nutrition and dietetic care through the combination of evidence-based nutrition with psychology, behavioral economics and technology. She also holds current roles as the President and Chair of Dietitians Australia; National Dietetic Adviser to the Department of Veterans Affairs; Co-chair of North Queensland PHN and Entrepreneurship Facilitator for Cairns.

Growing up in Kunnunurra and Cairns fuelled Ms Diversi's initial passion and work focused on First Nation’s nutrition in Australia and Papua New Guinea, which drives her continued interest in improving health and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Ms Diversi holds the following positions:

• Member, Safety and Quality Committee
• Member, Audit and Risk Committee