Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) has appointed its new chief executive officer.
Peter Abraham is expected to start work at BRHS on Monday, June 16 and will work alongside Acting chief executive officer Kathy Kinrade for two weeks as he settles into the role.
At present, Peter is CEO at Swan Hill District Health.
He also chairs the Loddon Mallee Health Network and its Quality and Safety Committee, and is the Executive Lead of the
Loddon Mallee Regional First Nations Reference Group.
BRHS board of directors chair Dr Sandy Leggat said she is excited that Peter is
joining BRHS.
“Peter has the skills and experience to lead BRHS during our next phase of growth and within the Gippsland Local Health Service Network. Peter journeyed from nurse to nurse manager to CEO, and has been the CEO at Swan Hill District Health since 2019,” Sandy said.
“He has also been CEO at Kyabram, Heathcote and Boort, demonstrating his passion for meeting community needs in regional, rural and First Nations health. Peter has family in East Gippsland and, after working at BRHS and Omeo District Health Service in the early 2000s, has been hoping to return.”
Kathy said she is delighted that Peter is joining the BRHS team.
“It is an exciting and positive time for Bairnsdale Regional Health Service to welcome a new CEO. Peter’s appointment has been very well received by staff and he will come on board at a great time to take the organisation through to the future at both a local, regional and state level,” she said.
Sandy thanked Kathy for her superb service as acting CEO.
“Kathy has been a terrific Acting CEO. She never sat back, but worked to continuously improve BRHS, effectively using her knowledge and interpersonal skills,” she said.
Peter was appointed following an extensive process that began in October 2024.
The BRHS board made the appointment with the assistance of an external recruitment firm and a panel comprising board chair Sandy Leggat, deputy chair Chad Burrell, fellow board member Karly
McCaskill, a Department of Health executive director, Debra Sudano, and Grampians Health CEO Dale Fraser.
“We reviewed many excellent applications and conducted interviews, reference checks and psychometric testing of a shortlist of exceptional candidates,” Sandy said.
“Our appointment process made it clear that Peter is open and constructive, that he understands his team and allows them to speak for themselves. We believe that he has a supportive leadership style, that he is highly empathetic and that he has strong mentoring skills based on care for others. “
