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.

Norah Barlow
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Norah holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University and is a Chartered Accountant.

Norah is amongst Australasia’s most experienced and respected executives and directors, with an in-depth knowledge of the aged and health care sector. Norah also holds extensive experience as the highly-respected former CEO and former Director of Summerset Group, a NZX and ASX-listed company named Australasia’s best retirement village operator four years running.

Norah has a strong background across business leadership and management, strategy, corporate finance, governance, tax and accounting. Norah is a member of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women, was President of the Retirement Villages Association (NZ) for seven years and made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business in 2014.
Ian Thorley
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Ian is an accomplished senior leader with over 30 years’ health and aged care experience in both Australia and overseas.

Appointed as Chief Operating Officer in October 2016, Ian is responsible for leading Estia’s operations and care teams to grow revenue and deliver operational efficiencies, whilst ensuring excellence in care and services.

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.
Steve Lemlin
Chief Financial Officer

Steve holds 30 years of experience in senior financial and operational leadership roles across a range of professional services businesses in Europe and Australasia. Joining Estia in February 2017 as Chief Financial Officer, Steve leads the Finance team in the production of accurate, timely and powerful management information to accelerate business improvement and value.

Prior to joining Estia, 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 Australia’s largest listed communications group, STW. 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.
Mark Brandon
Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer

With 40 years’ experience in the health and aged care sectors, Mark is an internationally recognised thought 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 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’s Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd from 2002 to 2013. He previously held senior executive positions at Medibank Private and Medicare.

Mark is an Adjunct Professor, School of Business, University of Notre Dame Australia and is a director of two organisations in the education sector. Mark was awarded an Order of Australia Medal, in recognition of his contribution to health and aged standards.
Maryann Curry
Chief Nursing Officer

With over 20 years’ senior management experience in both the health and aged care sectors in Australia, Maryann is a nationally recognised leader in clinical service delivery. Appointed to her role as Chief Nursing Officer in December 2016. Maryann provides high level expert advice, leadership and guidance on clinical policy, care and clinical engagement for the Group.

Maryann’s experience prior to joining Estia included both operational and clinical governance roles in private day surgeries, hospitals and large not for profit and for profit aged care providers, including Bupa and The Salvation Army. Maryann has successfully developed and delivered clinical risk frameworks, models of care and clinical governance strategies.

Maryann has held previous Board positions with the Australian College of Nursing and The College of Nursing (NSW); and has been appointed by the NSW Minister for Health to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW for a second term. Maryann is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Fiona Caldwell
Chief Information Officer

With over 25 years’ experience in various IT strategic and operational leadership capacities, Fiona brings to Estia 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’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.

Fiona is a recognised leader in optimising the IT user experience. She holds a track record in leading both smaller and more expansive portfolios and teams in both Government and Commercial sectors, including working at Village Roadshow, Cenitex and the Tatts Group.

Fiona holds a Bachelor of Computing and MBA from Monash University.
Mary Burke
Quality and Risk Director

Working in the aged care industry for over 18 years, Mary has held key management roles across both profit and not for profit organisations. Appointed as Estia’s Quality and Risk Director in December 2016, Mary leads Estia’s Quality Managers and Clinical Educators team to deliver
the Group’s review and auditing program with continuous improvement focus, the Quality Management System, clinical education and development program and supports the implementation of initiatives across the Group.

Previously, Mary was Head of Risk and Compliance for Bupa Australia and New Zealand, and, prior to joining Estia, worked as the National Risk and Compliance Manager for Allity Aged Care. Mary has also worked as a Compliance Officer for the Department of Health (Aged Care), an Injury Management Advisor for Allianz, and has managed aged care facilities for not-for-profit organisations.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Nursing (ACU), Juris Doctor (UTS), and is a member of both the Australia Governance Institute and the Risk Management Institute.
Jane Murray
People and Culture Director

A passionate, values-based leader, Jane brings over 15 years’ experience in commercial business leadership and HR strategy from ASX listed companies. Appointed to the role of People and Culture Director in July 2017, Jane leads the delivery of Estia’s HR and Safety capability.

Astute and performance driven, Jane has grown a successful career across a variety of senior human resources and change leadership roles for top ASX listed companies, as well as government agencies, including AXA Asia Pacific, AMP, Australian Casualty and Life, and the Victorian Funds Management Corporation.

As an internationally accredited Organisational and Executive Coach, Jane has proven capability in unlocking leadership potential within organisations to build on their success. Jane attained her International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential for organisational coaching in early 2017.

Jane holds a number of qualifications across Human Resources, Project Management and Organisational Change, and is currently undertaking a Masters of Business Leadership.
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 7 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 improving 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’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
GENERAL MANAGER DEVELOPMENT AND PROPERTY

Rita Sheridan’s professional experience spans across key areas of capital development and operational services in the aged care and accommodation sector, residential land and dwelling construction and commercial interior design and construct services.

Most recently Rita was General Manager Property for both Amana Living and prior for Southern Cross Care (WA) Inc and for more than 10 years 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 detail that support the key requirement of the business.

Rita holds a Business degree majoring in Accounting and has represented the sector previously holding retirement living committee positions with ACSWA and the Property Council WA.
Leanne Ralph
Company Secretary

Leanne is an experienced Company Secretary with over 15 years in this field, and holds this position for a number of ASX-listed entities. She was the founder of Boardworx Australia Pty Ltd, a business specialising in the provision of outsourced Company Secretarial services.

Leanne is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Directors