Chief Executive Officer

The organisation

Emmerton Park is a long-standing, award-winning aged-care provider with deep roots in the Circular Head community. Its evolution demonstrates resilience, innovation and a persistent commitment to dignity and quality of life for older Tasmanians. With strong governance, expanding services, major new ILU developments and a culture of continuous improvement, Emmerton Park is firmly positioned as a leading, future-ready aged-care organisation in regional Tasmania.

Emmerton Park is one of Tasmania’s most decorated aged-care organisations, with a long track record of excellence, with a couple of examples of awards being:

• ACSA National Aged Care Provider of the Year (2013) – the highest honour in Australian aged care
• ACSA Tasmanian Regional, Rural & Remote Provider of the Year (2019)

Facilities and Services 

1. Residential Aged Care – 65-bed residential care facility, completed in 2008, including a dedicated 5-bed NDIS-focused wing.  It is located as part of a central hospital and aged care hub, enabling close linkages with health services, allied health and acute-care support, enhancing continuity of care.
2. Respite Care – Day respite and short-term residential respite options.
3. Home Care / CHSP – Services include domestic support, personal care, transport, home maintenance, social support, meal services, and flexible in-home assistance.
4. Independent Living Units (ILUs) – Currently 88 ILUs across Smithton, Stanley and surrounding areas, with further plans for expansion.

The brief

Following the sudden mid-December departure of Emmerton Park’s Chief Executive Officer, the Board urgently engaged Brooker Consulting to source an interim leader. The timing was particularly challenging: the organisation needed an experienced aged-care executive immediately, just days before Christmas, and willing to relocate or work within Tasmania’s remote north-west.

The Interim CEO would ensure stability while the permanent recruitment process commenced in January 2025. Responsibilities included leading residential aged care, home and community services, and independent living, as well as overseeing the final delivery stages of the new Independent Living Units construction and handover. 

Given the abrupt transition, the Board required a leader who could rapidly build trust, assess cultural impacts, and provide steady, people-focused leadership. Strong financial capability, governance experience and well-honed interpersonal skills were essential. Although the exact duration was uncertain, a minimum three-month engagement was required.

The process

Brooker Consulting was appointed to undertake an accelerated Interim Executive Search, focused on identifying a highly capable leader who could start immediately.

A detailed in-person briefing with the Board clarified requirements and risks. Brooker Consulting mobilised its candidate database and referral partners to respond quickly.

Despite the tight timeframe, compounded by the pre-Christmas period, the specific expertise required and the remote location, a shortlist of qualified candidates was delivered within four days. Candidates were assessed for sector experience, leadership capability, alignment with the role, and immediate availability.

The outcome

Three candidates were shortlisted for an interview, with Mark Zentgraf emerging as the preferred candidate. All shortlisted individuals were ready to begin at once, enabling the appointment to be completed within seven days of Emmerton Park engaging Brooker Consulting. One key factor that has allowed Mark’s commencement to ensure as seamless as possible leadership continuity has been the ability of both Emmerton Park and Mark himself to show adaptability in the onboarding and initial engagement period. 

Mark is a seasoned executive with a strong financial and operational background and extensive aged-care and clinical experience. He excels in multi-service environments and understands the importance of genuine engagement with staff, residents and the community—particularly during sensitive organisational transitions.  His breadth of experience across Health, Aged Care, Disability, Immigration, Out of Home Care and the Department of Human Services, combined with Non-Executive Director roles, demonstrated his deep understanding of governance, stakeholder management and mission-driven leadership.

Subsequently, Mark Zentgraf was hired into the substantive, full-time Chief Executive Officer position at Emmerton Park.