Executive
Chief Executive Officer
Samantha Sharp
BEd Arts (UniMelb), BSW (Monash), MBA (Charles Sturt), GAICD
Sam commenced as Chief Executive Officer at Portland District Health in December 2022. She has over 25 years of experience primarily across local government and health sectors. She has held senior executive roles for the past seven years in health and primary health and previously worked for PDH in various roles across youth work, drug and alcohol and homelessness support. Sam has completed the Williamson Community Leadership program and has a keen interest in leadership development. She wants to make Portland a healthier community and PDH a financially viable organisation that is a good place to work.
Director of Medical Services
Dr Andrew Walby
MBBS, DipRACOG, FACEM, AFRACMA
Andrew commenced at Portland District Health in August 2022. He originally pursued a career in Surgery but decided to specialise in Emergency Medicine. He has over two decades of Emergency Medicine experience in both the public and private sectors having worked at Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, John Fawkner Hospital and Epworth Hospital. Andrew has been involved in Victoria’s Health Disaster arrangements as a Field Emergency Medical Officer (FEMO) since December 2006. His medical interests include disaster medicine, patient safety, and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals to name a few.
Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery & Aged Care
Ros Nagorcka
RN, DipMgt, MRCNA
Ros commenced her current role in June 2014. She has over 20 years’ experience in senior management as a Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Nursing in both the public and private health system across Australia. Ros worked in Spinal Nursing at Austin Health in the early part of her nursing career and later returned to Portland to set up and manage Quamby, Drug and Alcohol services. Ros represents PDH on a number of regional committees, including Palliative Care and Chemotherapy. Ros has a keen interest in Governance and Quality.
Executive Director Primary Care Services
Margaret Cadenhead
RN, BN (postgraduate), Grad Cert HSM (Safety and Quality) MN, MHSc
Margaret commenced her role at Portland District Health in May 2019 from the Kimberley, Western Australia. She has operational and service redesign leadership and management experience, from both the public and not-for-profit health organisations, across regional, rural, and remote Australia. Margaret understands the complex landscape of the Australian healthcare environment, and the unique challenges of delivering healthcare services across all settings, particularly, home-based and community care.
Chief Finance Officer
Julie McDonald
Bachelor of Commerce, CPA qualified
Julie comes to Portland District Health from Western Victoria Primary Health Network where she worked as Director of Finance and has strong finance, governance, and strategy experience. She has over 15 years of senior management experience, largely in the not-for-profit arena.
Executive Director of Corporate Services
Karena Prevett
Bachelor Business/Accounting
Karena commenced her role with Portland District Health in August 2017. With a Bachelor of Business/Accounting qualification, Karena has strong financial experience from both the public and private sectors. Prior to this appointment, Karena was employed in the local government sector for 13 years, most recently in the role of Director of Corporate Services. Karena has a keen interest in governance and is passionate about the delivery of quality outcomes for our community.
Acting Executive Director of Quality & Safety
Suzanne Callaway
Suzanne commenced her role with Portland District Health in 2022 after almost 19 years at Healthscope as National Quality Improvement Manager.
