Our Board

Board Chair: Ms Elizabeth (Liz) Fraser

Previous work in the delivery of human and educational services has provided Liz with a wealth of experience in shaping and assessing the benefits of government programs and leading organisational change in pursuit of better outcomes. Liz’s time as Queensland Commissioner for Children and Young People and in social work advocating actively for the rights, safety and wellbeing of people as well as her senior leadership roles in government have enhanced her capabilities to provide strategic oversight and development through her role as Board Director.

Liz is currently Chair of the CWHHS Board’s Safety and Quality Committee and draws on her experience including as a practising and senior level social worker in child and family welfare; hospital and outreach mental health, emergency and rehabilitation services to inform this role.
Liz has a Bachelor of Arts/ Social Studies, Graduate Diploma in Multicultural Studies, a Royal Society of Arts Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language and is an Executive Fellow of the Australian New Zealand School of Government.

Sheryl Lawton

Sheryl Lawton has been the Chief Executive Officer of Charleville Western Areas Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Health Services Ltd. (CWAATSICH) for the past 20 years.  Previous to her becoming the CEO, Sheryl was employed in many positions of influence within Aboriginal affairs and Aboriginal Community control services, spanning Aboriginal Legal Services, Aboriginal Social Housing, Aboriginal Land Council and Aboriginal Childcare.

Throughout Sheryl’s career she has been instrumental in the establishment of the Aboriginal Child Care Agency (ACCA) of South West Queensland and importantly the ongoing development and growth of CWAATSICH. It is through her ongoing dedication, commitment and hard work that has seen the CWAATSICH expand service delivery and become the lead service provider of comprehensive primary health care within the Far South West region.

Sheryl has also been an avid representative of Aboriginal Affairs at both the Reginal, State and National levels.  Throughout this time Sheryl has been Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Regional Council – Goolburri Regional Council, held the position of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and Director of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) over a number of years.

Sheryl was also the National representative of SNAICC and has represented her people on the South West Health and Hospital Service Health Council. 

Sheryl is passionate in ensuring the future of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector and is committed to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy.

Dallas Leon

Dallas is a Kalkadoon and Waanyi man that has worked in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander field for over 20 years.  Dallas has held a number of roles across Government and non-Government, including working as an Aboriginal Health Worker, a senior health manager and working on various state based and national projects.

Dallas previously held the role of CEO for Gidgee Healing, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Mount Isa, where he was instrumental in leading the reform of primary health care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across North West Queensland and the Lower Gulf. He is currently the Director of Commercial Operations at the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH).  In addition to his employed roles, Dallas has held a number of Directorships and been an active member of relevant national level committees. 

Professor Sabina Knight

Professor Sabina Knight is an experienced remote area nurse with lifetime roots in outback rural and remote areas. A veteran of remote health in New South Wales, Central Australia and the Northern Territory, Sabina has developed expertise in clinical practice, primary health care, public health, research and education. In 1983, Sabina was one of the remote advocates instrumental in the founding of the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia, then the Central Australia Rural Practitioners Association and then the National Rural Health Alliance. She has made significant contribution to innovative service models, education and remote practice through the establishment of highly regarded short courses such as the CRANA REC program as well as post graduate programs in remote health practice, clinical guidelines and most recently through the development of student led service learning models.

From 1989 - 1997, she was a member of the original and subsequent CARPA editorial committees producing internationally recognised clinical guidelines for remote practice, taking over as chair in 1998 and continuing until 2016.

Sabina has been a key figure in the development of rural and remote health workforce policy and health reform. She has served on a wide range of ministerial advisory bodies and was a Commissioner on the National health and Hospital Reform Commission. She has been associated with University Departments of Rural Health since their inception 21 years ago and currently leads the Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University in outback Queensland. 

For her contribution to remote health and education Professor Knight was awarded the Centenary Medal as well as being recognised with the Aurora Award by CRANA for outstanding leadership and contribution to remote health.

Karen Tully

Karen was appointed a Director of the Western Queensland PHN in June 2020. She lives in Charleville in South West Queensland and has lived experience in understanding the wonderful liveability and unique lifestyle which rural communities offer.

Karen has actively sought leadership roles and representational positions where she can add value to rural communities. In addition to the WQ PHN Board role, she currently serves as Board Chair of the South West Hospital and Health Board and is Chair of the Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland.  She is also a Director with Southern Queensland Landscapes as well as serving as an Ambassador for the Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council.   

Karen is inspired by visions of ‘what could be’ and the big picture of the future of rural Queensland is one that energises her.

Karen holds a Master of Education; Bachelor of Education; Graduate Diploma of Financial Markets and is a Justice of the Peace. She is a graduate of the Queensland Leadership Program and has completed governance courses with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Clare Walker

Dr Clare Walker is a medical practitioner practicing in Longreach providing a combination of private General Practice and Senior Medical Officer work at the local hospital. This provides a valuable connection to frontline healthcare service delivery through allowing Clare to translate this connection into informed strategic planning.

Having lived, raised a family and practiced in the Central West Region for over ten years Clare has developed an in-depth understanding of the community needs of rural and remote Queenslanders. Clare is committed to continuing to make a positive difference to the health outcomes for the people in this part of Queensland and sees a unique opportunity to do this by combining her work as a practicing clinician with that of the Board Director.

Clare has a dual fellowship in General Practice with both Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM 2009) and the Royal Australian College of General Practice (FRACGP 2009), plus an Advanced Diploma of Obstetrics (2009), and qualifications in Anaesthesia through the Joint Consultative Committee (2010). Clare is working towards completing both a Diploma in Medical Administration and the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course in 2018. Clare is registered with the Medical Board of Queensland, is a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practice, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Royal Australian College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  She is also a committee member of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland.