I’m a public servant at the Australian Government Department of Health in Canberra. My current role is to advise government on spending funds for medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, prostheses (such as hip replacements) for coverage under private health insurance and new medical services and pathology tests accessible though Medicare. I’ve worked in many areas in health including leading the Ebola Response Taskforce, the National Immunisation Program, the Community Pharmacy Agreement and breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening. Prior to my current employment I worked in NSW Health services and hospitals in both rural and city areas as well as a few years at the NSW Health Department in North Sydney.

I started out with a BSc at ANU awarded in 1981 with majors in biochemistry and molecular genetics. Instead of going on to do honours I enrolled in a graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sydney and started my first job as a clinical dietitian at St Vincent’s Hospital. A few years later I needed a change and completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Sydney in 1997 and then worked at the NSW Health as a public health officer trainee earning a graduate diploma in applied epidemiology. I worked as the director for public health in Broken Hill and then for Southern NSW, a job which brought me back to living in Canberra. I then decided after working at local and state levels the national level was worth a try and moved to the Australian Government Department of Health.

I grew up in Canberra and couldn’t wait to leave in 1981 but on returning on 2001 I found I really love it here. I’m a late convert to running and cycling and enjoy all the sporting opportunities Canberra has to offer. I’m close to retirement now and have recently started a BA at ANU studying French and history part-time as a transition from a busy working life.