CEO appointment – Interplast AU & NZ

The organisation

Interplast Australia & New Zealand is a leading not-for-profit organisation delivering reconstructive surgery and health system strengthening programs across the Asia-Pacific region. Working in partnership with local health providers, governments, and international stakeholders, Interplast focuses on building sustainable surgical capacity through training, service delivery, and long-term capability development.

At the time of appointment, the organisation had stabilised its finances and strengthened governance under the outgoing CEO. With this foundation in place, Interplast was entering a new phase focused on consolidation, accreditation, and strategic growth.

Operating in a complex stakeholder environment—including DFAT, Rotary, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and regional partners—the organisation needed leadership capable of balancing program delivery, funding sustainability, and international engagement.

The brief

The Board sought to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to build on recent progress and lead Interplast into its next phase.

Key priorities included maintaining DFAT accreditation and compliance frameworks, strengthening internal capability within a lean team, and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders across government, clinical networks, and international partners. The role also required a continued focus on program delivery across the Asia-Pacific region, along with the expansion and diversification of funding to support long-term sustainability.

This appointment required a leader who could operate across international development, global health, and complex stakeholder environments. The successful candidate needed to bring both strategic leadership and operational discipline, with the credibility to engage confidently at Board, government, and partner levels.

The process

Brooker Consulting partnered closely with the Board to deliver a targeted, international search.

The process combined direct executive search with structured market mapping across the international development and global health sectors, engaging both active and passive candidates. Assessment focused on stakeholder engagement, DFAT experience, governance capability, and leadership within lean, resource-constrained environments.

A highly competitive field emerged, with strong representation from senior leaders across international NGOs and government-funded programs.

The outcome

Following a rigorous assessment and interview process, A/Prof Misha Coleman was appointed as Chief Executive Officer.

Misha brings extensive executive leadership experience across the international development sector, with deep expertise in DFAT-funded programs, humanitarian operations, and multi-stakeholder environments. She demonstrated strong capability across governance, financial and operational management, and stakeholder engagement.

Her appointment brought Interplast a leader who can maintain operational discipline while advancing strategic priorities, strengthening partnerships, and positioning the organisation for its next phase of growth and impact.