The Board of St John Ambulance Tasmania is responsible for providing governance, strategic direction and oversight of organisational performance.
Board members uphold the St John values and ensure the organisation maintains best practice across all areas of operation. With diverse expertise across clinical, governance, financial and commercial disciplines, the Board is focused on delivering sustainable outcomes and supporting the long-term success of St John Ambulance Tasmania.
Meet the Board
David is the Official Secretary to the Governor of Tasmania. Prior to his current employment David had a long career with Defence in Aviation Corps before joining the Army Reserve in Tasmania. Colonel Hughes commanded Australian Defence Forces support to the State following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 and was responsible for the ADF Assistance Team that deployed in support of the Northwest Regional Hospital in Burnie
Catherine has been associated with St John since 1995. She is a registered nurse-midwife, forensic nurse examiner, has a law degree and spent a number of years working in clinical and administrative roles at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Currently Catherine works with the Department of Health as Executive Manager – Medicolegal and as a forensic nurse examiner.
Neil has served as an Australian Army Officer for over 30 years and has extensive experience in operational and strategic leadership, risk management and strategy development. He has undertaken studies at the Australian Defence College, Melbourne Business School and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently undertaking the role as Army’s Area Representative for Tasmania and Senior Australian Defence Force Officer in Tasmania.
Kate brings extensive experience in business and accounting, with a career spanning across Government, listed companies, private enterprises, and, for the past nine years, the not-for-profit sector. She is currently the CEO of Positive Solutions a Tasmanian not-for-profit organisation that delivers psychosocial support and services to individuals, families, communities, and workplaces across the state.
Han-Wei has occupied several senior leadership roles with Ambulance Tasmania and has experience successfully implementing large, complex, high risk and high value projects for Ambulance Tasmania and the Department of Police Fire and Emergency Management. Most recently he was an Incident Controller/Senior Executive within the Department of Health for the COVID-19 Pandemic. He has a broad background as a Paramedic and Critical Care Registered Nurse and has a long association with St. John dating back to 1991.
Karen Murfett is an experienced executive and non-executive director with more than 30 years in the ICT industry and over 16 years in senior leadership. In addition to being a Board Member of St John Ambulance Tasmania, Karen is also Vice President of TASICT, and Chair of its Industry Development Sub-Committee. Karen has held senior roles including Chief Operations Officer at GSD Advisors and Tasmanian Sales Manager at Data#3. A Graduate of the AICD, she brings strong skills in governance, strategy, risk, and stakeholder engagement.
Carmen Rocchia is Chief Executive Officer of Queen Victoria Care, leading with a strong commitment to resident-centred care, quality, and innovation. She has driven reforms in workforce design, financial stewardship, and alignment with the new Aged Care Act and Quality Standards, while strengthening clinical governance and family engagement. A Graduate Certificate holder in Business Management and pursuing postgraduate Health Administration, Carmen also serves as a Board Director with St John, contributing to community health and emergency services.
Andrew Winch is CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation Tasmania, the peak body for the state’s civil construction sector. He has a strong history of service in Tasmania’s not-for-profit sector, including board roles with Asthma Foundation Tasmania, Quit Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Olympic Committee. A Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and AICD Graduate, Andrew brings 20+ years’ leadership experience in finance, governance, community engagement, stakeholder management, brand development, and strategic marketing.
To support its governance responsibilities, the Board operates through a number of Committees, each with defined roles and areas of oversight.
These Committees enable more detailed focus on key areas of risk, performance and compliance, and provide recommendations to the Board to support informed decision-making.
Supports the Board in fulfilling its statutory, legal, and corporate governance responsibilities in relation to risk management. This includes oversight of risk identification, assessment, risk appetite, mitigation strategies, and response frameworks.
Through its Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, the Board oversees the establishment and implementation of St John Ambulance Tasmania’s risk management framework. This framework is designed to safeguard the organisation’s reputation and ensure that key risks are actively managed, enabling the achievement of strategic and operational objectives.
Supports the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to nominations, honours, and awards. The Committee provides advice on Board composition, including Director appointments and renewal, and assists in coordinating the annual Board performance review.
The Committee also oversees the recognition of members, volunteers, and community contributors through commendations, medals, and awards. It facilitates nominations and progression within the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, ensuring alignment with national and international protocols.
St John Ambulance Tasmania operates within a robust clinical governance framework aligned to national standards. This includes participation in the St John Australia National Clinical Governance Committee and adherence to nationally endorsed clinical systems and oversight structures.
This framework ensures a consistent, organisation-wide focus on patient safety and quality of care. All clinical personnel operate in accordance with St John Ambulance Australia’s National Clinical Practice Guidelines, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and evidence-based care across all services.
