Meet The Team: Estia Health Residential Aged Care

Meet the Executive team

Innovation, quality care via specialised heathcare teams, and access to helpful advice are fundamental to our vision of providing an inclusive and caring experience that makes us the family you choose.

With extensive experience from a wealth of aged care backgrounds, our Executive team strives to ensure that our residents and families have peace of mind, knowing they are safe in whatever care choices that are made, in appropriate care settings that meet the diversity of needs across all of our residents.

Ian Thorley
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Ian has over 30 years’ health and aged care experience in both Australia and overseas.

Appointed as Chief Executive Officer in October 2018, Ian was previously Estia Health's Chief Operating Officer from October 2016.

Ian’s executive experience includes CEO and COO roles in large aged care groups, acute private hospital groups and diagnostic services. Ian has been at the forefront of major developments that have shaped Australia’s healthcare sector, including the privatisation of public hospitals, new reimbursement and funding models, and a broad range of public/private sector service models.

Ian has held the position of Non-executive Director in private equity owned, and ASX listed companies and has consulted to aged care operators, private hospital groups, health insurers, health logistics and specialist health recruitment businesses throughout Australia.

Ian is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds a Master of Commerce from the University of NSW.
Sean Bilton
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO

Appointed as Estia Health’s Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO in October 2018, Sean brings a breadth of experience from more than a decade as a senior executive in the sector across a diverse range of roles.

Sean is responsible for leading Estia Health's operations teams, initiating improvements to ensure the highest level of care is delivered to the 8,000 residents in our homes annually. Sean ensures that every one of our 69 homes engage with their local communities and works closely with teams on the ground, supporting and empowering them to deliver exceptional and compassionate care to all residents as they make the journey into aged care.

Prior to joining Estia Health, Sean was Commercial Director at Opal Aged Care and previous to that was an Investment Manager with AMP Capital Investors, responsible for managing assets in aged care, agriculture and resources sectors.

Sean commenced his career in the Financial Advisory business of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics from UNSW and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
Steve Lemlin
Chief Financial Officer

Steve holds 30 years’ experience in senior financial and operational leadership roles across a range of professional services businesses in Europe and Australasia.

Joining Estia Health in February 2017 as Chief Financial Officer, Steve is responsible for corporate finance and investor relations and also leads the broader finance team in supporting our homes deliver the best experience for our residents through accurate and timely management information.

Prior to joining Estia Health, Steve was Finance Director at private equity owned Careers Training Group, which followed his role as CFO and then COO at leading digital advertising and engagement company, the White Agency, part of STW Australia’s largest listed communications group. Steve has held senior financial leadership roles at MYOB/Solution 6, Reckon and Ramsay Health Care as well as leading a management buyout, turnaround and subsequent sale of a corporate training business.

Steve is a Fellow of the ICAEW and holds an Honours Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Lancaster, UK.
Fiona Caldwell
Chief Information Officer

With over 25 years’ experience in various IT strategic and operational leadership capacities, Fiona brings to Estia Health a wealth of practised knowledge and a sound background in managing IT solutions and projects.

Appointed to the role of Chief Information Officer in October 2017, Fiona leads Estia Health’s IT team in the delivery of modern and innovative technologies and services and seeks to advance the level of assistance and amenities available at Estia Health.

Fiona is a recognised leader in optimising the IT user experience. She has extensive experience in the Government and Commercial sectors, including Village Roadshow, Cenitex and the Tatts Group. Fiona holds a Bachelor of Computing and Master of Business Administration from Monash University.
Mark Brandon, OAM
Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer

With 40 years’ experience in the health and aged care sectors, Mark is an internationally recognised leader on strategy, quality, accreditation and government relations.

He is a member of the panels of experts for the International Society for Quality in Healthcare and the International Federation on Ageing. His experience also includes vice chair of the International Accreditation Council, convenor ISQua international special interest group Quality in Social Care for Older Persons and advisor to governments.

As Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer, Mark’s remit includes key stakeholder relationship management and oversight of regulatory compliance. Mark was CEO at the Australian Government Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd from 2002 to 2013. He previously held senior executive positions at Medibank Private and Medicare and was a member of the Aged Care Minister's Advisory Council.
Leanne Laidler
Chief Quality and Risk Officer

Appointed in May 2019 as the Chief Quality and Risk Officer, Leanne is a senior healthcare executive with over 40 years’ experience in the hospital sector in Australia and overseas.

Prior to her appointment with Estia Health, Leanne was National Deputy Clinical Governance Manager for Ramsay Health Care and previously Group Vice President Nursing, Learning and Operational Excellence with Parkway Health based in Singapore.

Leanne is responsible for leading Estia Health's delivery of high quality care to our residents in safe and supportive environments. This involves the development and implementation of a person-centred care framework that combines quality and risk management strategies. Leanne’s role is focused on embedding a continuous improvement culture, using quality indicator measurement and a risk management framework that enables transparent incident reporting, data analysis, trending and benchmarking with validation of compliance via audit.

Leanne is a Registered Nurse with a post registration Bachelor of Nursing awarded from Deakin University and a Master of Business from Monash University. She is currently enrolled in a Master of Gerontology program.
Damian Hiser
Chief Customer Officer

Damian is a senior healthcare executive, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the private health care sector in Australia and the Middle East, and the last eight years in aged care in Australia. Damian brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the complexities of health care systems, looking at opportunities to improve the customer experience to contribute to business sustainability and growth.

Appointed to the role of Chief Customer Officer in October 2017, Damian is responsible for programs that improve the experience for residents and their families as they navigate the difficult and emotional journey into aged care, to help make the transition as easy as possible.

He leads a team in the areas of hospitality and lifestyle, marketing and communications and client services in building Estia Health’s brand as one of the most respected and preferred aged care providers in the local communities in which it operates.

Damian holds a Bachelor of Optometry (UNSW) and a Master of Business Administration (UTS).
Rita Sheridan
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT AND PROPERTY OFFICER

Rita Sheridan’s career spans capital development in the aged care and accommodation sectors, residential construction and commercial interior design.

Appointed to the role in March 2018, Rita leads Estia Health’s capital development and property maintenance programs.

Prior to joining Estia Health, Rita was General Manager Property for Amana Living and previously Southern Cross Care (WA) Inc where her responsibilities included leadership and management roles in strategic planning and developments, asset and maintenance services, retirement living and affordable community housing.

She has a significant record of successful completion of major capital developments in both aged care and retirement living, bringing together strategic market insight and functional service details that support the key requirements of the business.

Rita holds a Business degree majoring in Accounting and has held committee positions with ACSWA and the Property Council WA.
Lisa Keogh
Chief People Officer

Lisa joined Estia Health in September 2020, bringing with her more than 20 years’ experience in leading People and Culture teams both in Australia and overseas.

As Chief People Officer, Lisa leads a dedicated team, working to attract and develop the best available talent in the Industry, maintaining a safe workplace and a motivated workforce capable of delivering excellent care and service for our residents and their families. Lisa describes her purpose as enabling people to be their chosen best and she tries to deliver that both professionally and personally.

Before joining the Estia Health team, Lisa worked across various sectors including Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail and Consulting. Her experience covers the full range of Human functions with key expertise in defining and implementing long-term People and Culture strategies and working in partnership with CEOs and Senior Leadership teams, to develop and align organisation capability to successfully execute business strategy.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Management from Monash University.
Suzy Watson
General Counsel and Company Secretary

Suzy was appointed to the role of General Counsel and Company Secretary in October 2014 and in this role provides advice on a full spectrum of legal and compliance matters to support corporate activity, operations and strategic growth. Previously in-house counsel for the Bupa Group both in Sydney and overseas, Suzy holds over 15 years of experience in both private practice and in house roles across healthcare, commercial and corporate law and is a dual qualified lawyer both in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Suzy was awarded the 2016 Leonard Watson Chant Legacy scholarship (Governance Institute of Australia) and the National Industry Scholarship for Women in Leadership.

Suzy holds an LLM (Applied Law) majoring in In-House Legal Practice, an LLM in International Economic Law and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Law and Government from the University of Manchester. She is currently enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management at the Governance Institute of Australia. Suzy is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a member of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Association of Corporate Counsel.