Executive team

Annette is Health Service Chief Executive at Darling Downs Health. She commenced her career in health as a physiotherapist. She spent her earlier career as a private practitioner in solo practice in Central Queensland and later joined the Queensland public health system where she subsequently fulfilled a number of roles as a senior clinician, project manager and, Quality and Safety Manager.

Annette subsequently focused her career on health service management and has extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary health services across a range of settings including acute inpatients, community and rural outreach. Prior to the role of Health Service Chief Executive she was the Executive Director of Allied Health and the Allied Health Statewide representative on the Queensland Clinical Senate Executive, Queensland’s peak clinical advisory body.

Some of her most notable achievements focus on the implementation of several successful telehealth-enabled clinical services across the southern region of Queensland including the Premier’s award-winning Telehealth Pre-admission Clinic at the Toowoomba Hospital.

In addition, she was responsible for implementing a range of innovative Health Practitioner workforce redesign initiatives that attracted national and statewide attention for positive impact on patient flow and service efficiency.

In 2020, Annette undertook the lead role as COVID Health Incident Commander for Darling Downs Health, as well as the lead for the roll out of the COVID vaccination program across the region. In June 2021 she was awarded a Public Service Medal for her services to health as well as awarded recognition through the Queens Honour Roll for her role in the COVID 19 response.    

Annette was a key contributor to the design and implementation of Southern Queensland Rural Health, a University Department of Rural Health and continues to forge strong collaborative relationships with a number of University partners.

Greg Neilson is responsible for the delivery of Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Services in line with State and Commonwealth mental health strategies.

He commenced his health career as mental health nurse at Baillie Henderson Hospital, before moving to undertake further studies.

Greg has extensive leadership experience and a proven track record in coordinating the delivery of specialist mental health services across inpatient and community settings in the Darling Downs. In 2009 he received a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his leadership in regional mental health services. Greg led significant project work that resulted in the introduction of telehealth mental health assessment process to support rural emergency departments in the Darling Downs and South-West in 2013.

He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team delivering the Joint Regional Plan for Mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and drugs plan. Immediately prior to his current position he was Nursing Director for Acute and Community Mental Health Services.

Greg is a Fellow of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, and hold a several specialist tertiary qualifications in mental health nursing, health management and health economics. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia, Effective Director Course.

Dr Hwee Sin Chong was appointed as the Executive Director of the Queensland Rural Medical Service (QRMS) in 2017.

Dr Chong and the QRMS division are responsible for supporting the sustainability of rural and remote medical practices and promoting excellence through integrated medical practices and training. QRMS provides a range of client focused workforce and business services, including comprehensive rural medical and health practitioner relieving services; the Queensland Rural Generalist Program; and several medical specialist vocational training pathways.

Dr Chong first joined Darling Downs Health in 2011 as the Deputy Director of Medical Services in Toowoomba and was the Executive Director Medical Services from 2014 – 2017, and then again from 2020 - 2024.

Dr Chong is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and has a Master of Health Management and Master of International Public Health.

Dr Liam Flynn is the professional and strategic lead for Doctors across Darling Downs Health and ensures the ongoing pursuit on innovation in their work.

Dr Flynn has extensive clinical experience, having worked for the Princess Alexandra Hospital prior to working as a GP, Rural Generalist and in hospital positions in several locations across Queensland. After working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Dr Flynn joined Darling Downs Health as a registrar in Public Health Medicine and led the public health response of Darling Downs Health during the largest public health challenge in 100 years.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Director Medical Services, Dr Flynn was the Director of Darling Downs Health’s Public Health Unit.

Dr Flynn is a Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Christopher Cowling is responsible for the rural and remote communities of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, ensuring our Rural workforce is supported to provide high quality care for our patients, consumers and communities.

Chris is an accomplished Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine with extensive experience and genuine affection for the rural and remote communities he has served throughout his career. Prior to commencing with Darling Downs Health as a member of the Clinical Governance Unit in 2020, Chris trained and worked as a Rural Generalist with an Advanced skill in Anaesthetics and committed many years with the Royal Flying Doctors Service based out of Charleville.

During his tenure as Director of Medical Services-Western Cluster, Chris provided medical leadership to support staff across the cluster and has since transitioned his leadership skills to his current role of Executive Director Rural.

Chris is a Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and has a Master of Health Leadership and Management from the University of New South Wales.

Ms Andrea Nagle stepped into the Darling Downs Health EDNMS role in July 2017.

She is the professional lead responsible for nursing and midwifery services across Darling Downs Health and maximising the potential of nursing to enhance health outcomes for the health service.

In July 2018, following realignment processes, Community and Oral Health and Nursing Education and Training, joined Public Health sitting under the Executive Management of the EDNMS.

Ms Andrea Nagle is a career nurse who has worked in the public and private health sectors as well as non-government health organisations. Ms Nagle completed her initial nursing training at Mackay Base Hospital before moving to Brisbane where she worked in Intensive Care for six months.

In 1986 she relocated to Nambour, where she undertook midwifery training, worked in emergency nursing and became the first nurse involved in aeromedical retrievals from the Nambour Department of Emergency Medicine. During her time in Nambour Ms Nagle also completed her Bachelor of Nursing and Masters of Health Management (Health Administration).

In 1997, Ms Nagle moved to Brisbane where she was employed as a Nurse Manager at the Sunnybank Private Hospital (HCoA Hospital Holdings), charged with commissioning the Acute Referral Centre. Ms Nagle worked in this position for two years before joining the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia as Senior Flight Nurse of the Townsville base, where she was involved in emergency evacuations and retrievals across North Queensland and was responsible for setting up primary health clinics in Pentland, Greenvale and Ravenswood.

In late 2002 Ms Nagle took up the position of Clinical Nurse Manager at Wesley Emergency Centre, where she remained for seven years.

Family considerations prompted a move to Toowoomba in 2009 and Ms Nagle returned to Queensland Health, taking a temporary job as relieving NUM at Laidley before becoming Nurse Unit Manager – Emergency Department/ Maternity at Dalby Hospital.

Ms Nagle went on to fill relieving Director of Nursing roles in Millmerran, Jandowae and Oakey before taking up a 12-month position relieving the Nursing Director Medical at Toowoomba Hospital, and then Nurse Unit Manager of the Emergency Department, a role to which she was eventually permanently appointed.

Following this appointment, she was seconded to the role of Toowoomba Hospital Nursing Director and Service Manager (Women’s and Children’s and Emergency Department). Most recently, Ms Nagle was appointed as the Darling Downs Health Director of Nursing Rural (Western Cluster), before stepping into the Darling Downs Health EDNMS role in July 2017.

Ms Louise Van Every is currently acting as the Executive Director Transformation, Analytics and Governance.  Louise is an Occupational Therapist by background and has completed a Graduate Diploma in Rural and Remote Health.

Louise started her career working in the North Burnett as a generalist Occupational Therapist and then moved to West Moreton Hospital and Health Service where she worked in many roles from clinical service delivery to program management and senior leadership positions.  Louise then joined Children’s Health Queensland as the Director of The Child Development Program and led the programs workforce and relocation business case for change. From this position Louise moved into the Divisional Director of Child and Youth Community Health Services where she was involved in leading a variety of community health partnership initiatives that supported improved outcomes for children and families.

Most recently Louise has been in the role of Divisional Director Clinical Support Services based at Queensland Children’s Hospital where she provided operational and strategic leadership for a range of services which included a workforce comprised of Allied Health Practitioners, Clinical Nurses, Medical Officers and Administration Staff.

Louise is focused on innovation and promoting the opportunities for Allied Health Practitioners in Darling Downs Health.  Louise looks forward supporting the delivery of person centred healthcare for the Darling Downs community.

In this role, Jane provides single point accountability for the Finance Division including Financial Control, Commercial Management and Procurement, Health Information Services and the Business Analysis and Development areas ensuring the prudent financial management for Darling Downs Health.

Jane has extensive experience at a senior level in the banking, hospitality, public transport, manufacturing and building industries.

She also has senior level experience in both public and private health care. This includes 5 years as the State Commercial Manager, Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales for Healthscope, the second largest private healthcare provider in Australia.

Jane has a Bachelor of Business from Griffith University Gold Coast, where she graduated as dux of the year.

Jane gained her CPA status in 2002 and was awarded a Fellowship in 2019.

In 2018 she gained a Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors and completed the Queensland Health Change Leadership Program in association with KPMG and Harvard University.

Dave Pugsley is responsible for the executive oversight of the Infrastructure Division which includes Projects, Planning and Property, Maintenance and Engineering (M&E), Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Facility Services at Toowoomba and Baillie Henderson Campuses. Dave is passionate about regional and rural healthcare and advocates for ensuring the effective coordination of the Health Services’ infrastructure and asset management and maintenance priorities. Dave commenced his healthcare career in Pathology Queensland, which he fondly recalls as the catalyst for launching his passion for rural healthcare finance management and investment into innovative and transformative healthcare technologies in regional, rural and remote Queensland.

Dave has held multiple senior finance management roles across Darling Downs since 2018, including in Rural and Toowoomba. Dave and his team have implemented initiatives across Darling Downs that have provided perpetual funding opportunities to the rural communities of Darling Downs. During the early stages of the pandemic, Dave established the PPE Auditing and Inventory Management system, which used evidence-based modelling to inform supply requirements to Darling Downs Health.

In 2022, Dave took up appointment as the Manager Rural Operations, leading a team that focused on a number of strategic priorities including standardisation of facility services, Staff Accommodation, Rural Hospital Build Program, Primary Healthcare, Virtual Models of Care, Drone Logistics Network and Clinical Workforce Recruitment and Retention.

Dave holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), is finalising a Masters in Business Administration (Healthcare Management) and has an Australia Day Achievement Award for his contribution during the 2011 Floods in Brisbane. In his spare time, Dave enjoys trail running, gardening and spending quality time with his wife Matilda and son Noah.

Kylie Pippos joined Darling Downs Health in the role of Executive Director Workforce in January 2023.  The Executive Director Workforce provides strategic oversight to the workplace relations, work health and safety, occupational violence prevention and security, recruitment and attraction, workforce planning, learning and development and workforce capability culture and engagement teams.

Kylie is a senior human resources professional with over 20 years’ experience across a broad range of industries including health, aged and community care, finance, and retailing. She has worked in a number of leadership roles in large complex organisations, including almost five years as General Manager of Business Partnering (People & Culture) with UnitingCare Queensland and five years in senior leadership positions with Mater Group.

Kylie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations and Sociology and is a certified professional member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.  In 2020 Kylie completed a Leadership Excellence Program in conjunction with McKinsey & Company to further enhance her leadership and coaching skills.

Kylie has recently moved from Brisbane to the Toowoomba region with her family and is looking forward to building a future with them here.

Andrew Day is responsible for the Division of Allied Health, ensuring our Allied Health workforce across the HHS is well supported to provide high quality care for our patients, consumers, and communities.

Since joining Darling Downs Health in 2007 as a Psychologist, Andrew has worked as a clinician and team leader in primary care, acute and community settings including Mental Health and the Aged Care Assessment Team.  He commenced as Acting Director for Allied Health Services and Support in 2021 and is currently Acting Executive Director Allied Health.

Health is a second career for Andrew who spent 10 years with the Australian Army during a period of high operational demand and active service commitments.  Andrew was awarded the Soldiers Medallion for exemplary service.

The common thread across careers for Andrew is a strong focus on relational leadership, professional connection and collaboration, and helping others feel that what they do matters.

Rachel Phillips was appointed to Executive Director of Toowoomba Hospital in December 2023 and has been working in Queensland Health since 2001.

Rachel has worked as clinician, professional leader and Executive Director in acute and ambulatory care settings, primary care, and mental health.

Prior to joining Darling Downs Health she worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) as Executive Director of Clinical Support Services including six months as Acting Executive Director PAH.

Rachel is a Clinical Psychologist by training and currently the Chair of the Psychology Board of Australia.

Rachel has a strong interest and experience in health practitioner regulation, clinical education, implementation science, and clinical and professional ethics.