Experienced Chief Executive and Board Chair, Ms Shelly Park, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Royal Women’s Hospital Board.
Ms Park is the outgoing Chair of Ambulance Victoria and the Vice President of the Stroke Foundation and has extensive strategic and operational experience, having previously served as Chief Executive of Monash Health and Chief Executive of Red Cross Lifeblood.
“I’m very much looking forward to joining the Women’s board and making a significant contribution to women’s health,” said Ms Park. “The strategic environment offers many opportunities for collaboration and improvement across the whole health system and the Women’s plays a critical role in making the system more equitable.”
Ms Park takes over the role from Ms Cath Bowtell, who is retiring from the Women’s Board after serving for nine years, including three years as Board Chair. In welcoming the new Chair to the Women’s, Ms Bowtell said she was pleased to be able to support her transition to the role.
“I am thrilled to be welcoming Shelly to the Women’s. She is such an experienced and thoughtful leader and I am confident the hospital, and the health sector, will benefit from her experience and expertise,” Ms Bowtell said.
The Women’s Chief Executive, Professor Sue Matthews, also welcomed the appointment of Ms Park, acknowledging her outstanding leadership and extensive experience in public health.
“We are excited to have Shelly join the board as our new Chair,” Prof Matthews said. “Her extensive experience and leadership in strategy, health, risk, finance, and governance brings enormous value to our hospital and the broader Parkville health services network.”
“We’re very lucky to have the continuity of two strong female leaders as Board Chair,” she said. “Cath has helped us to progress our agenda and broaden our ambition. I would like to thank her for her strong commitment to our vision and mission and the enormous and lasting contribution she has made to the health and wellbeing of Victoria’s women and babies,” said Prof Matthews.
Ms Park commences in the role of Board Chair on 1 July 2025.