Community Health Navigator Forum 2025

Susan Pearce AM is Secretary, NSW Health, appointed in March 2022. In this role, Susan is responsible for the management of the NSW health system - with over 142,000 FTE and a budget of over $30 billion - to ensure the provision of world-class, patient-centred care to the people of NSW.

Prior to her recent appointment, Susan was Deputy Secretary, Patient Experience and System Performance Division, a position she has held from November 2015. In that role, Susan had responsibility for the oversight of front-end service delivery and system performance and management across NSW Health, and improving patient experience.

Susan was also the Controller of the State Health Emergency Operations Centre (SHEOC), responsible for directing and overseeing NSW Health’s operational response to the pandemic. From February 2021, Susan led the NSW Health vaccine rollout program, establishing over 40 NSW Health vaccination clinics and more than 100 mobile, outreach and pop-up locations across the state to contribute to the high vaccination rate that have been achieved amongst the people of NSW.

Susan began her career as a registered nurse more than 30 years ago in Broken Hill and has continually worked to serve the communities of NSW, including working in number of Local Health Districts and subsequently as the NSW Chief Nurse. Susan has qualifications in Law and was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW as a solicitor in September 2019.

Susan was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in April 2023.

RN PhD 
Co-Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems

Professor Patricia M. Davidson has served as Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong and dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore in the United States. Her work focuses on person-centred care delivery and the improvement of the lives of people living with chronic and complex conditions.  She is particularly focussed on how social determinants of health moderate health outcomes and is nationally and internationally recognised as a leader in nursing, health and medical science. In 2021, she was the recipient of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Distinguished Leader Award. This honour celebrates her exceptional contributions to the advancement of global health.

Associate Professor Michael Wright a general practitioner (GP), health economist and health services researcher based at the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Michael’s research interests include evaluating the value of primary care within the broader health systems, the impact of primary care funding and policy on health outcomes. Michael is currently national President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Paula Kruger is an accomplished media leader and communicator with more than 30 years of experience. She has worked in various roles, including broadcast journalist, radio presenter, manager, trainer, recruiter, and talent development.

Most recently, Paula served as the Managing Director of Sydney radio station 2SER, where her leadership grew the audience and revitalised volunteers while providing career pathways for young people entering the industry. Before that, she enjoyed a long career with the ABC, working in management, editorial, and on-air roles in Sydney, Canberra, and Perth.

Paula is passionate about journalism and ensuring that the people who have the privilege of telling our stories reflect Australia’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. Her life has celebrated this diversity; she grew up in both Australia and Fiji and takes immense pride in her Australian, Indigenous Fijian, and Indian Fijian heritage.

In the early 1990s, fuelled by a desire to embrace the call for Australia to “engage with Asia,” she ventured to the vibrant city of Bangkok, where she began her media career. There, she spent four transformative years working with journalists and media professionals from Thailand and around the world, enriching her understanding of industry disruption and diverse perspectives.

Liz is foundation director of CHETRE (Centre for Health Equity Training Research and Evaluation in Liverpool LHD) and HERDU (Health Equity Research and Development Unit in Sydney LHD).  Her main research interest is in health equity, health impact assessment and unemployment and health.  She is retired but continues to be involved in research in Community Health Navigators.

Fiona brings extensive experience in nursing and rural health service management to her work. Her research focuses primarily on rural and remote health and social care challenges. She is particularly passionate about developing strategies that help individuals with complex health conditions and difficult life circumstances navigate fragmented health and social care systems to achieve their best possible health outcomes.