Our Board

On 1 July 2020, HSS became a board-governed Health Service Provider under an amendment to the Health Services (Health Service Provider) Order 2016 (external link).

The HSS Board enables us to better deliver on what matters – supporting our customers to provide excellent healthcare so that we can work to achieve our vision of ‘great services, valued partner, healthy Western Australians’.  

Our board members bring a diverse range of experience across the fields of medicine and health care, finance, law, community and consumer engagement. Their significant accomplishments in their respective fields are an invaluable asset for our organisation.

Margaret Pyrchla is the Head of Commercial at Western Power. Margaret is an experienced non-executive board director who has held numerous roles on boards of small to medium not-for-profit organisations, professional organisations and WA Government agencies. Margaret’s professional training, combined with more than 20 years’ experience in public accounting practice, federal and state government entities operating in financial services, energy and health sectors has equipped her with a wide range of skills and expertise required of a board director.

Margaret is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience, not only through board directorships, but also through teaching. She spent over a decade lecturing for the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Governance Institute of Australia.

Margaret is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and she holds a Masters Degree in Applied Finance and Investments, Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business.

“Being part of the HSS Board provides an incredible opportunity to shape the future of HSS as a shared service provider of choice for the health sector in Western Australia, for the benefit of our community.” 

Dr Con Phatouros is an radiologist with 30 years experience in a comprehensive speciality, research and leadership practice, including in the United Kingdom and North America. He is currently a Consultant Neuroradiologist and Head of Department, Neurological Intervention and Imaging Service of WA (NIISWA).

He is President of the Australia & New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology (ANZSNR) and Vice President of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) WA branch.

Con was the inaugural Head of Department of the NIISWA upon its formal establishment by the Western Australian Health Department in 2007. He was subsequently appointed Medical Co-Director of the Division of Neurosciences at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for a term of three years. He was instrumental in establishing the 24/7 state-wide acute stroke thrombectomy service that commenced in 2017.

He holds a Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Science.

“As an end-user, I experience every day the indispensable contribution of HSS to patient care and staff satisfaction. I am proud to support HSS achieve its maximum potential and ensure HSS staff are valued and appreciate the incredibly important work they do.”

Cheryl Chan is an experienced lawyer, with over two decades’ of experience specialising in employment and discrimination law. She has worked internationally across several different industries such as oil and gas, retail, financial services, health, education and government. Cheryl has managed numerous high-profile mergers, acquisitions and divestments, restructures, regulatory investigations, employment and discrimination issues and litigation and industrial relations issues.

Cheryl runs a consulting business, Remotely Legal, helping employers and boards with employment law issues, strategic HR and industrial relations advisory services, dispute resolution, training and investigations. She is also an experienced non-executive director and board member.

In 2019, Cheryl was named Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers of Western Australia, and in 2020 she was named Senior Lawyer of the Year by the Asian Australian Lawyers Association. In 2020 and 2021, she was named in Doyles’ international guide as a ‘Leading In-house Employment and WHS lawyer – Australia 2021’. 

Cheryl brings a strong focus on people and culture to the HSS Board. 

“If we look after our people, get the culture right, then we look after our customers, health care workers, and in turn, all Western Australians.”

Former Western Australian Executive Director and Group CEO of the Australian Medical Association for more than 30 years, Dr Paul Boyatzis brings a wealth of business and health management experience to the HSS Board.

He has a strong understanding and in-depth knowledge of both the public and private health sectors, with experience including roles at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital in senior executive management positions.

His expertise lies in implementing change management practices in complex organisations while also ensuring a front facing credible social conscience. He is highly motivated with a strong record in improving organisational performance, people and culture and achieving outcomes.

He has served on a number of external Boards and has been recognised for his passion for public health, medical research, education and the shaping of future generations.

Paul is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, an Honorary Doctor of Laws, and holds a Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Dist) and a Bachelor of Business.

Having had extensive experience interacting with WA Health (both from an employer and employee perspective), Paul believes it is important for his experience to be represented around the boardroom.

“Health is going through a complex evolution particularly in the IT arena. Instead of just building on existing programs, now is the right time to overhaul how things are done and be in a position to shape exciting new initiatives that will compliment much needed structural reform. My focus has always been to provide the best environment for health providers to enable them to deliver the best health care for patients.”

Dr Rowan Ellis is an Anaesthetic Trainee Registrar at St John of God Midland hospital, and one of the three practicing clinicians on the HSS Board. Rowan started his medical career as an intern at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) in 2015 and remained within the WA health system for the next five years working at FSH, Royal Perth Hospital, Armadale Health Service and St John of God Midland as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) and Registrar.

Rowan brings a wealth of experience as a clinical ICT end-user and passionate advocate of the clinical user experience. He has worked closely with HSS to make significant improvements to key clinical applications.

His keen interest in ICT as a junior medical officer led Rowan to be actively involved in Business User Groups for NaCS and BOSSnet which were focused on resolving key end-user issues faced by his peers. Rowan also led a Medical Service Improvement Project to assess and improve processes and systems surrounding ICT workflows in clinical areas.

Rowan’s contribution to clinical ICT process improvement led to his appointment as the Department of Health’s main clinical consultant, working with the Chief Clinical Information Officer and the ICT Strategy and Governance team on the WA Health Digital Strategy 2020-2030, planning for a Statewide Electronic Medical Record System, and multiple other projects.

Rowan has also been a Clinical Reference Lead with the Australian Digital Health Agency since 2018, providing clinical assurance for national digital health programs such as the My Health Record rollout and the National Goals of Care Collaborative.

Rowan’s membership of the HSS Board will support the organisation’s renewed focus on customer experience, especially that of the end-users of the many ICT applications supported by HSS.

“It is a privilege to serve on the HSS Board. In treating my patients, I always aim to provide safe, effective and efficient care - and I wouldn’t be able to do this without the team, supplies and tools I work with. Digital systems are a critical tool which will only grow in importance in coming years, and I look forward to working with the HSS teams that will bring the future of healthcare to the clinical frontlines.”

Peter Mott | HSS Board Member | People and Performance Committee Member

Mr Mott is an experienced senior executive and CEO with over 40 years of experience across a range of public and private hospitals and health systems in WA, including nine years as the CEO of Hollywood Private Hospital.

Most recently, he was appointed as the WA Government Relations Manager for Ramsay Health Care in June 2023.  Additionally, he has extensive experience serving on a wide range of boards, including as a current member of the MercyCare Board and the WA Chapter of the University of Western Australia Business School Ambassadorial Council.

Previous board appointments include seven years as a member and Deputy Chair on the Child and Adolescent Health Service Provider Board, Vice President of the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), Deputy President of the Australian College of Health Service Management WA Branch Council, President of the Australian Institute of Management WA, and Chairman of Lifeline WA. Mr Mott holds a Master of Industrial Relations, Bachelor of Business and Diploma in Hospital Administration, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“I am delighted to contribute to HSS's role in providing technology enabled efficient and effective services to front line and support teams to better assist them in delivering excellent healthcare to the WA community.” 

Amanda McKnight has over 40 years’ experience in the WA health sector and has held a variety of clinical and leadership roles. She is currently the Nurse Co-Director of Speciality and

Ambulatory Services at Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group, making her one of the three practicing clinicians on the HSS Board.

She has held numerous state and national executive positions including a term as President of the Gastroenterological Nurses College of Australia where she led the transition of the college from a committee-led society to a board-led college.

Amanda is a Rotarian and committed to the various projects her club is involved in. She has also held executive positions within the club, including President and was the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

“I enjoy working with the HSS Executive and Board to shape the future direction of shared services. This assists health more broadly in its commitment to achieving excellent patient outcomes by supporting staff to be able to be their best selves.”

Yaso Ponnuthurai has worked in resources and health, capital projects, governance, multicultural community, tourism, the arts, and local government. She has expertise in financial management, problem-solving, stakeholder engagement and organisational governance.

Yaso has worked in management positions in Sri Lanka, India and Australia. She is an independent board member of Thalanyji Trust Advisory Council, Fairbridge Festival, Australia India Business Council WA Chapter and Multicultural Service Centre Boards. She holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Commerce and is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors. Yaso was a Councillor at the City of Canning, where she championed the interests of women and local multicultural communities and was an advocate for investment in services that empower, with a focus on tackling inequality.

She has a proven ability to identify and maximise business opportunities and improve profitability. Yaso migrated to Australia in 1996. A practicing musician, she has long standing interests in using music and the arts to build bridges within and between communities.

“I bring my background in audit, financial management and governance and my abilities in both long-term project strategy and obtaining the best possible outcome for investment to the HSS Board and ensure risk management systems are robust and secure.”  

Giles Nunis | Board Member | Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Member

Giles is the current Executive General Manager Digital Transformation at the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA). Prior to this, he worked for Deloitte Consulting for three years as the WA Lead Consulting Partner and Government Lead Partner for Health and Technology. He was the inaugural Chief Executive and Whole of Government Chief Information Officer for the WA Government from 2015 to 2018. Giles has held other senior roles including Deputy Director General, Department of State Development; National Managing Director Ajilon (now called Modis) and Director Courts, WA Ministry of Justice. With his proven track record of leadership in both government and corporate world, Giles is poised to use his expertise to help HSS stay ahead in today’s fast faced technological climate.

“I look forward to help shape one of the most significant digital health transformation journeys for health service professionals that ultimately benefits all West Australian consumers.”