Kathy Hilyard
Interim CEO
Kathy Hilyard was appointed interim CEO in August 2025 and is a skilled and people-focused leader who creates high performance environments. Her career includes public sector leadership roles in Commonwealth Health and Community Services. As a national partner with KPMG, she worked closely with clients in the health and aged care sector and the federal government. Kathy has been working with the CHA Board and its members on a new three year Strategy. She co-founded the Centre for Collective Leadership, a for-purpose organisation that focused on researching, designing and facilitating models of leadership, strategy, governance and culture fit for our times.
Kathy brings expertise in senior leadership, design and facilitated collaborative approaches to reforms and strategy, coupled with experience in leading teams for effective outcomes, navigating complex change, and championing collaborative governance. She brings a wealth of experience, a passion for public service and driving positive social outcomes through collective and inclusive leadership.
She is a Board member with the Australian Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT Division) and holds a Master of Business Administration (Executive) Australian Graduate School of Management, a Graduate Diploma of Management, Australian Graduate School of Management, and is an alumni of the Harvard Business School's Professional Service Firms leadership program.
Dr Katharine Bassett
Director Health Policy
Dr Katharine Bassett is a visionary and values-driven leader with a track record of executive impact across health and social sectors. She brings deep expertise in policy, strategy, reform, and advocacy, developed through senior roles spanning government, national peak bodies, and consulting. Her leadership is grounded in evidence, equity, and inclusion, with a consistent focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations. Currently Director of Health Policy at Catholic Health Australia, Katharine leads national health advocacy and reform initiatives, with a focus on equity, financial sustainability, and access to care. Previously, she directed research and reform strategy at the Australian Medical Association and delivered high-impact policy and organisational transformation projects as a consultant with KPMG. Katharine holds a PhD in clinical immunology and genomics from the Australian National University (ANU), where she is also a visiting lecturer, and serves as an Executive Director across several boards.
Alex Lynch
Director of Aged and Community Care
Having previously worked for CHA across community aged care and hospitals, Alex takes on the newly created role of Director of Aged and Community Care. He has extensive health policy experience both in and out of government, including with the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority. Alex has also worked with leading clinicians on paediatric and disability policy at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He started his career working in aged care homes and community-based aged care services, and is passionate about delivering policy solutions that ensure high quality health and aged care is available to the most vulnerable members of our community. Beyond social services, Alex has spent time working with not-for-profit educational institutions.
Brigid Meney
Director of Strategy and Mission
Brigid is a policy and advocacy expert who has more than a decade’s experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She has worked as a ministerial adviser for both Federal and State Coalition Ministers and Assistant Ministers in a range of portfolios including health, aged care, multicultural affairs, and resources and energy. Brigid started her career as a nurse in aged care and is passionate about building a society that reflects the intrinsic value of all people and promotes the dignity of the human person through the health care system. Brigid has both an Arts degree and a Masters in Nursing from the University of Sydney and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Leadership and Policy at the University of New South Wales. Brigid represented the Catholic Women’s League at the 2015 UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
Brigid is currently on maternity leave.
Adrian Kerr
Director Public Affairs and Media
Adrian Kerr joined CHA in June 2023 as the Director of Communications, Media & Governance after a successful career in media and the NSW Public Service.
As a former radio and television journalist, Adrian has worked in newsrooms in Sydney, Melbourne and country Victoria, including as journalist and Chief of Staff at the ABC, and producing roles at SBS and Nine Network.
He has also worked extensively in media and communications including as Media Director at a Royal Commission and roles at the NSW Electoral Commission, Landcom and UrbanGrowth NSW.
As Group Media Director at NSW Education during the COVID-19 pandemic, he managed a high performing team and brings his broad experience in public affairs and keen interest in social justice to CHA.
Annabelle Wang
Policy Manager
Annabelle is a Policy Manager at Catholic Health Australia (CHA), leading work on complex issues at the interface of health and aged care policy. She brings experience from consultancy firms PwC and Scyne Advisory, where she partnered with governments, health and aged care providers, and human and social service sectors to deliver strategic policy solutions.
Annabelle holds a Bachelor of Biomedicine from the University of Melbourne and is completing a Master of Public Health. She is passionate about advancing health equity and shaping integrated policy approaches that strengthen Australia’s care economy. At CHA, Annabelle drives initiatives across primary care, digital health innovation, and workforce strategy, ensuring member perspectives influence national policy and deliver better outcomes for all Australians.
Megan Eustace
Policy Officer
Megan recently joined CHA as a Policy Officer, bringing a strong foundation in clinical practice and research. With a background in speech-language pathology and a PhD in Speech and Language Sciences from the University of Canterbury, her work has focused on improving service delivery and policy for Indigenous families living with dementia in Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on this experience, Megan brings a commitment to ensuring health policy reflects the voices and needs of healthcare providers, as well as people with living and lived experience.
Dominic Butler
Policy Officer
Dominic joins CHA as a Policy Officer, having previously worked in cancer policy across the UK where he engaged with clinicians, patients, and policymakers to drive improvements in genomics and digital health. Dominic holds a Master of Arts from University College London in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics of Health. His work with the team will reflect his commitment to addressing health inequities and advancing accessible, evidence-based healthcare across Australia. He is based in Melbourne.
Shona McQueen
Senior Advisor Aged Care
Shona McQueen joined CHA as our Senior Advisor Aged Care in 2018. Before retiring from the Public Service, Shona was the Assistant Secretary of Home Care Reform Branch in the Ageing and Aged Care Stream. She has had over a decade of working in aged care policy at senior levels in the Department of Health and Ageing and previously the Department of Social Services.
Deborah Reynolds
Office & Membership Manager
Deborah is CHA’s longest-serving staff member, having joined the organisation in 2007. As Office & Membership Manager, she coordinates the Secretariat and plays a central role in scheduling Board meetings and other events including our Fishes and Loaves dinners which are an opportunity for us to meet with our members and guests around the country. Deborah maintains the CHA office in Canberra and handles enquiries, administration and technology tasks on behalf of the team. She has also been pivotal to the success of CHA’s National Conference, including organising venue hire, accommodation, catering and the national awards program.