Chief Executive Officer

The organisation

Alpine Health is north east Victoria’s largest rural-focused health service and the largest Multi-Purpose health service in Australia, located in the heart of Victoria’s high country and ski fields. With three main sites located in the townships of Myrtleford, Bright and Mt Beauty, Alpine Health has a reputation for providing acute health, community home support, residential aged care services, health promotion and education in an innovative, flexible and responsive manner.  The organisation was established in November 1996 through the amalgamation of hospitals, nursing homes, hostel and accommodation units including Myrtleford District War Memorial Hospital, Bright District Hospital and Health Services and Tawonga District General Hospital, Barwidgee Lodge and Kiewa Valley House Nursing Homes, Hawthorn Village Hostel and the Myrtleford Extended Care Accommodation Centre.  The Multi-Purpose Model of Service provision was developed by the joint Commonwealth/State governments taskforce established in March 1991 to address the challenges of service provision in rural and remote communities.  

Alpine Health created the Alpine Institute in 2013 to manage Alpine Health’s growing commitment to training and education. Initially established as a facility for Alpine Health staff to access training, the Institute has expanded to provide opportunities for staff, international students, and individuals seeking training, development and work opportunities within the health and community service sectors.   The Alpine Institute is accredited to deliver a range of nationally recognised qualifications that provide articulated pathways to further studies in health and community services, ensuring the knowledge and learnings students receive are current, relevant and reflective of health, community and industry needs.

The brief

In February 2020 the Board of Directors of Alpine Health engaged Brooker Consulting to undertake a wide-ranging executive search to support the organisation to recruit a Chief Executive Officer.  

The Board seeks, in their next CEO, a candidate with demonstrable experience in addressing complex and critical issues in the medical, educational and community service environs in which Alpine Health and the Alpine Institute operate.  It is seen as essential that the appointee had strong values based leadership experience with the ability to provide vision for the organisation and insurance that strategy and business directions are in accordance with the needs of the community and the Alpine Health Service Plan, consistent with state and federal government health policies and direction.  Fostering a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices, integrity and a positive work climate, enabling Alpine Health to attract, retain and motivate a diverse group of quality staff members would be a key determinant in identifying the successful applicant.

The process

Brooker Consulting ran a targeted search process, combined with a print and online media campaign, that was interrupted by the Covid-19-related travel bans and lock downs.  We eventually were able to carry out a visit to three sites, including intensive briefing discussions with the Selection Panel and a confidential conversation with the retiring CEO, who is unusual in that he has led the organisation for more than 20 years.

The outcome

A successful appointment was made in Nick Shaw. Nick had been a key member of the Senior Management Team as the Corporate Services Manager and Alpine Institute Manager since 2008 and took over from Lyndon Seys who had led Alpine Health with distinction for the previous 21 years.