ABOUT US

Ms Louise O’Connor has worked in health services, clinical services management and hospital executive roles for the past 24 years. She has worked in the public system for 11 years in various roles, with a focus on operational management of clinical services. Louise worked for Epworth HealthCare for 13 years, in a variety of roles including Director of Clinical Services, Executive Director of Clinical Services and as an Executive Director at Epworth Eastern Private Hospital, Box Hill. Louise was also the Chief of Health Operations at Cabrini Australia where she led the Health Division.

Louise is currently the CEO of Adeney Private Hospital, a new joint venture private hospital between 40+ doctors and Medibank Private. This is an exciting project aiming to achieve zero out-of-pocket for all patients.

Louise’s passion is for clinical safety, patient outcomes, exceptional patient experience, staff engagement, operational and strategic efficiency and leading health services in the provision of excellence. She has a keen interest in the use of clinical technology and innovation to improve efficiency, and outcomes and to assist staff to reduce errors and increase productive time at the bedside.

Dr Edwin Pascoe has been a registered nurse since 1992, working in the areas of critical care, education and diabetes. He currently holds two positions: a Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University within the Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care and a Credentialed Diabetes Educator at Wyndhamvale Health Care. Edwin Completed his Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Health Care at Mayfield Education in 2007. He also has the following qualifications: a Graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Nursing and a Dual Diploma in VET Training Design and Development. In 2023 Edwin was awarded his PhD through Victoria University, exploring gay men and type 2 diabetes. Currently, he is completing a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology. He has served as Finance Officer on the Victorian branch of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association within the Executive Committee and again at the National Level as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is currently on the Editorial Advisory Committee of the Australian Diabetes Educator.

Ms Mandy Sisson is an accomplished HR and organisational development leader with over two decades of experience spanning aged care, education, and corporate environments. She has a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, cultural change, and leadership development.

Mandy’s leadership roles include Head of Employee Experience & Learning at Estia Health, where she implemented organisation-wide engagement strategies, developed leadership frameworks, and launched programs that shaped the future of aged care talent management. As a sole consultant at Mandy Kent Consulting, she continues to deliver HR strategy reviews, onboarding tools, communication frameworks and HR support.

Mandy’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Business (Insurance and Finance), and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management. With certifications in mental health, and leadership frameworks and assessments, Mandy is dedicated to fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures.

Emeritus Professor Day has extensive academic leadership and governance experience spanning both the public and private higher education sectors. In roles including Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and International at Massey University in New Zealand, and Academic Dean at the Australian Institute of Business, she has led Academics, Student Support, Online Learning, Library, Quality Assurance, International, and Non-Award programs. She has steered successful institutional re-accreditations, positioned institutions in the top percentiles of quality measures and driven significant growth in research output and student satisfaction. She has led successful restructuring, implemented academic and international strategies and has extensive experience and expertise in governance roles. With a deep commitment to advancing higher education, she drives positive change and innovation in the academic landscape.

Dr Bas Ebaid completed her PhD at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, where her research focused on epigenetic modifications to identify novel drug targets and biomarkers for predicting disease risk. With a strong passion for understanding disease mechanisms and advancing therapeutic solutions, Bas is a medical affairs professional within the pharmaceutical industry, providing enhanced healthcare outcomes across various therapeutic areas. Dr Ebaid is also dedicated to improving health and education equity, serving as a STEM ambassador, student mentor, and volunteer at Very Special Kids children’s hospice, supporting children with terminal illnesses and their families.

Mr Harry Bryce has considerable business development and management experience within the health sector including mental health, acute health and allied health services.

For the past ten years, he has been the General Manager of Victorian Counselling and Psychology Services (VCPS), which is an integrated mental health practice.

His broad-based industry experience includes his appointment as Executive Officer to the Victorian Health System Review.  He undertook a similar role as Executive Officer in the Review of the Victorian Ambulance Service.

In 2009, Mr Bryce was the recipient of the Australasian College of Health Service Executives/DHS overseas study award. He visited 4 countries in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East to examine best-practice diabetes and chronic disease prevention programs. This included visits to hospitals, universities and community centres and meeting with numerous clinicians and academics in 10 chronic disease service programs.

Louise has worked in health services, clinical services management and hospital executive roles for the past 24 years. She has worked in the public system for 11 years in various roles, with a focus on operational management of clinical services. Louise worked for Epworth HealthCare for 13 years, in a variety of roles including Director Clinical Services, Executive Director Clinical Services and as an Executive Director at Epworth Eastern Private Hospital, Box Hill. Louise was also the Chief of Health Operations at Cabrini Australia where she led the Health Division.

Louise is currently the CEO of Adeney Private Hospital, a new joint venture private hospital between 40+ doctors and Medibank Private. This is an exciting project aiming to achieve zero out of pocket for all patients.

Louise’s passion is for clinical safety, patient outcomes, exceptional patient experience, staff engagement, operational and strategic efficiency and leading health services in the provision of excellence. She has a keen interest in the use of clinical technology and innovation to improve efficiency, and outcomes and to assist staff to reduce errors and increase productive time at the bedside.

David is a qualified finance professional with senior executive experience in the public and private healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. He has more than 20 years of senior and executive management experience leading transformative business services and strategic functions within multidisciplinary organisation. He has accomplished in the areas of financial risk management, governance and is personally enthusiastic about developing and empowering high-performance teams. He is currently working as a Chief Finance Officer/ General Manager Corporate Services at Correct Care Australasia.

David has a Bachelor of Business, a Master of Business Administration, is a Certified Practicing Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Unity Puglisi has enhanced qualifications in accounting, including an excellent understanding of the application of accounting principles. She has 20 years of extensive experience in financial management roles and leading functions, including forecasting, budgeting, reporting and strategic planning. She also has a demonstrated record of providing quality financial management services in a variety of not for profit, corporate and education industry settings.

Unity is currently overseeing the operations of Mayfield Education’s finance department and in her previous tenures has led diverse teams, including regional offices across states, driving results in complex environments. She has worked in a range of settings and has governed stakeholder relationships including auditors and board executive management.

Unity has also undertaken due diligence work, supporting the successful acquisition of businesses as well as strategic financial advice in determining the financial sustainability of organisations. She has successfully led change management processes, including the introduction of new software and in the implementation of significant process improvements.

Dr Edwin Pascoe has been a registered nurse since 1992, working in the areas of critical care, education and diabetes. He currently holds two positions: a Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University within the Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care and a Credentialed Diabetes Educator at Wyndhamvale Health Care. Edwin Completed his Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Health Care at Mayfield Education in 2007. He also has the following qualifications: a Graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Nursing and a Dual Diploma in VET Training Design and Development. In 2023 Edwin was awarded his PhD through Victoria University, exploring gay men and type 2 diabetes. Currently, he is completing a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology. He has served as Finance Officer on the Victorian branch of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association within the Executive Committee and again at the National Level as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is currently on the Editorial Advisory Committee of the Australian Diabetes Educator.

Unity Puglisi has enhanced qualifications in accounting, including an excellent understanding of the application of accounting principles. She has 20 years of extensive experience in financial management roles and leading functions, including forecasting, budgeting, reporting and strategic planning. She also has a demonstrated record of providing quality financial management services in a variety of not for profit, corporate and education industry settings.

Unity is currently overseeing the operations of Mayfield Education’s finance department and in her previous tenures has led diverse teams, including regional offices across states, driving results in complex environments. She has worked in a range of settings and has governed stakeholder relationships including auditors and board executive management.

Unity has also undertaken due diligence work, supporting the successful acquisition of businesses as well as strategic financial advice in determining the financial sustainability of organisations. She has successfully led change management processes, including the introduction of new software and in the implementation of significant process improvements.

With extensive expertise in aligning training and assessment strategies with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), the Skills First Funding Contract, and the Higher Education Standards Framework, Akshay plays a key role in driving continuous improvement and ensuring excellence in training delivery.

At MEI, Akshay contributes to the strategic oversight and academic governance of all nationally recognised programs, providing guidance on compliance, curriculum integrity, and best practice in student outcomes. His commitment to maintaining high-quality standards supports MEI’s vision of delivering industry-relevant, student-focused training that meets both regulatory and workforce needs.

Ms. Zainab Akhter is a highly experienced Registered Nurse and healthcare leader with over 20 years of expertise in vocational education, enrolled nursing education, and healthcare education management. She is known for her leadership in managing diverse teams, advancing nursing education, and fostering professional development. Her career focuses on improving vocational education, shaping nursing practices, and strategic workforce planning to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.

Ms Akhter holds a Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (Research) from Monash University, a master’s in nursing from The University of Queensland, and is currently pursuing a PhD at La Trobe University. Her research is focused on the graduate Enrolled Nurse’s practice readiness in the Australian Context.

Her leadership is grounded in a belief in the power of mentorship and professional development. She fosters an environment of growth, where staff members are encouraged to expand their skills, engage with new ideas, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare, vocational education and higher education.

Ms Akhter has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating educational pathways that reflect the evolving needs of the healthcare and vocational sectors. As a passionate advocate for lifelong learning, Ms Akhter’s work reflects her core values of integrity, innovation, and collaboration. She continues to influence nursing education and workforce development, driving positive changes in the healthcare sector through her research and leadership.