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After serving as Board Chair since the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service was formed on 1 July 2012, Mike Horan AM has today announced he will retire on 31 March 2024.
During his tenure as Board Chair, Mr Horan has guided the organisation through significant periods of expansion, reform and has led a community and patient-focused Health Service.
Reflecting on his tenure as Board Chair, Mr Horan highlighted a remark from one of his first engagements as Board Chair.
“When Darling Downs Health was first formed, I shared my vision as Board Chair, which was that ‘I am determined to set the standard and tradition of a truly local board that makes the best decisions for local communities’.
“When you look at the membership of the board and the decisions that we’ve made as a board over the last 12 years, I think we’ve met that mark and exceeded it. We reintroduced services to regional areas – like general surgery in Kingaroy and expanded service availability and facilities like the maternity suites in Stanthorpe, and we’ve consistently delivered financially responsible budgets,” Mr Horan said.
Mr Horan highlighted that the success of his role was in-part because of the dedication of staff who support the Board’s vision.
“Over the last 12 years I’ve met and listened to our staff from every corner of the Health Service about the work they do and the challenges they face and together we’ve solved problems and introduced new and expanded services that they’ve advocated for.
“In the last 12 years we’ve also built new facilities, like the Kingaroy Hospital and the organisation is about to embark upon a once in a generation infrastructure expansion, with the new Toowoomba Hospital the centrepiece.”
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM, acknowledged the dedication, passion and fierce loyalty Mr Horan has for the organisation and the significant growth under his leadership.
“Mike has given his all as Board Chair and left no stone unturned when it came to advocating for this organisation - be it for new facilities, additional funding or the introduction of services that would help our communities,”
Health Service Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM
“When Darling Downs Hospital and Health Serviced commenced on 1 July 2012, it had approximately 4,900 staff and an operating budget of roughly $500 million.
“Fast forward 12 years and we are an organisation that has grown significantly, with 6,793 staff and an operational budget that is more than double what we received in 2012.
Mike’s contributions to this organisation will be lasting, and as work commences on the new Toowoomba Hospital, it will serve as a reminder of his influence to secure a transformational project that will better the lives of people throughout the Darling Downs.”