Chief Executive Officer

Dale Fraser MBA FCPA BBus FHSM 
Appointed July 2016

Dale has worked exclusively with regional health services for the past 23 years, including time within the Hume, Barwon and Grampians region.

Dale is currently the President of VHIA, a Director of H.P.V. and a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Services & Infrastructure and a member of the Department’s Funding & Policy Reference Group.

Bringing world class public health care to the most needy in our community, regardless of their social status or capacity to pay, is at the cornerstone of Dale’s belief system.

Outside of work, Dale is a keen collector of Australian art and he is an avid traveller, with a goal to visit all seven continents.

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Acting Chief Medical Officer

Dr Jaycen Cruickshank MBBS MClinRes FACEM
Appointed February 2016

Jaycen is our current Chief Medical Officer, with a Masters in Clinical Research and a strong interest in Medical education. Co-Author of Adult Emergency Medicine at a Glance, Editor of our free open access medical education website, and member of the #FOAMED social media community.

Jaycen has been in Ballarat since 2001 and grew up in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, so his values reflect not only the BHS values but a pursuit of equity and the direction of effort where it is most needed.

He is also now an extremely satisfied (five generations) Western Bulldogs Member.

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer

Leanne Shea RN DipProjMan AdvDipBusMgt
Appointed November 2016

Leanne is a positive role model with many years’ experience in managing and coaching employees to reach their fullest potential across the public health sector. Leanne has extensive clinical experience having worked in executive positions in public health, her own consulting practice and senior nursing positions.

Leanne believes in values driven leadership, engaging and building relationships based on trust and respect. Leanne is passionate about ensuring the patient and family experience is informed, inclusive and positive.

Leanne has a very strong sense of supporting and spending time with family and enjoys going to local community events such as art shows, festivals and markets and enjoys escaping to the beach.
She is a passionate cook and gardener and can be found most weekends in either the kitchen or the garden.

Executive Director - Acute Operations

Ben Kelly
Appointed November 2016

Ben has extensive clinical experience in mental health, acute and sub-acute public health environments. Ben’s personal leadership philosophy includes harnessing and embracing his skills and abilities as a leader to ensure service delivery excellence for the benefit of the community, and fostering a work environment of respect, pride, nurturing, and professional development for staff.

A family man, Ben enjoys the many benefits regional living provides for his family.

Executive Director – Aged Operations

Jodie Cranham
Appointed December 2016

Jodie is an energetic and enthusiastic senior health care leader with a diverse background in leadership across the health care setting. She has extensive health care experience as a clinician and as a manager of multi-disciplinary teams across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. She started her career as a Dental Therapist working in dental vans across Barwon South Western Region.

Jodie enjoys investing time in employee engagement, development and alignment to values to create a great place to work and exceptional consumer experience. 

Jodie volunteers by cooking breakfast for the homeless and is a fundraiser for River’s Gift to raise money for SIDs research. She is an advocate for women’s health and well-being and equality in the
workforce and is undertaking research in this area.

She invests time in her own health and fitness through a balanced diet and exercise, to maintain a good balance for herself and her family. She is interested in mid-century art, fashion, architecture and cars.

Executive Director - Resources and Planning

Rod Hansen BBus CPA
Appointed December 2016

Rod has extensive experience across both public and private health systems. He is an advocate for transparent decision making and a keen steward of resources. Rod enjoys working in the team environment that is essential for achieving great outcomes for our community.

Rod's proactive approach to leadership enables his colleagues to develop their strengths, thereby building a strong and positive team.

Outside of work you will find Rod enjoying the regional lifestyle benefits of various sports his three children compete in, running the lake or on the farm. These everyday life experiences keep the importance of health as a key focus.

Executive Director - People and Culture

Fiona Brew RN PerioperativeCert. GradDipAcuteCare MBA GAICD
Appointed November 2016

Fiona recognises people are our most important asset and is passionate about providing an empowering environment for them to learn and grow. We are in the business of ‘caring’ and collectively we are all responsible for our patient, client and resident outcomes.

Fiona is a values driven leader and is a strong advocate for accountability to support and empower the workforce. 

Spending time with family is important to gain work life balance.