The QAIHC Board oversees the work of the QAIHC Secretariat and taskforces, makes recommendations on issues concerning Membership and taskforce appointments, identifies and clarifies policy issues, and oversees the QAIHC Strategic Plan. The membership of the Board consists of:
Matthew Cooke
Chairperson
Matthew Cooke is a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander from the Bailai (Byellee) people in Gladstone, Central Queensland. Matthew has a background in serving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector as both a Director and CEO over the past 15 years. Mr Cooke is currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Gladstone Region Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service Limited t/a Nhulundu Health Service and Executive Chairperson of the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation.
Matthew is actively involved in all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs at national, state, regional and local levels. In 2007 he was named Young Leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, in 2008 received the Deadly Vibe Young Leader Award and in 2011 received the Australian Institute of Management 2011 Young Manager of the Year Award - Gladstone.
Mr Cooke is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Director of the Institute for First Nations Governance Professionals.
Rachel Atkinson
Deputy Chairperson
Rachel is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who has dedicated her working life to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Rachel has extensive lived experience in working in rural, remote and regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This includes over 25 years’ experience as CEO of large community-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations delivering health and social services. She has been CEO of PICC since its incorporation in 2007, and has overseen its growth to become the larger service provider and employer on Palm Island.
Rachel is currently Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, a board member and community representative of the Queensland First Children and Families Board, Co-Chair of Family Matters Queensland and a Director of the SNAICC National Executive. She has previously served as the President of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), and is currently serving as the Deputy Chair of QAIHC.
Dorothy Smith
North and Northwest Queensland Director
Dorothy Smith has been a director of QAIHC since April of 2023. She comes to QAIHC via her position as Director of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service where she was elected to the board in July of 2020. Dorothy holds a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences from James Cook University. Dorothy is currently the Coordinator of the Women’s Healing Service for Palm Island Community Company. She is the Vice President of Kindergarten Headstart; member of the Townsville University Hospital Indigenous Advisory Council; and founding member and Vice Chair of the First Nations Reference Group for Qld Police Service and worked in the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health and Child Safety sector for the last 15 years. Dorothy represented Australia and Indigenous Australia in Oztag.
Renee Blackman
South East Queensland Director
Renee is a proud member of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) nation and actively advocates for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Her career began with the role of Aboriginal Health Worker in the early 1990s in Brisbane. She gained a Bachelor of Nursing from Australian Catholic University in 2000 and has worked in urban and remote settings ever since as a Registered Nurse. Renee has over 30 years’ experience in operational health care, management and leadership roles across the health service system which includes primary health care, acute care and community health. In 2016 Renee was the Health Services Director at ATSICHS Brisbane and is now the Chief Executive Officer for ATSICHS Brisbane.
Andrew Malcolm
Far North Queensland Director
Having grown up between Yarrabah and Palm Island, Andrew has a deep-rooted connection to community and firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities in Indigenous health and well-being.
Andrew previously served on the Boards of Wuchopperen Health Service in the early 1990s and the Okola Corporation, bringing close to 20 years of governance experience across place-based and regional organisations. His leadership spans Board Directorships, Senior Management, and Executive roles, where he has applied his in-depth governance knowledge to strengthen organisational leadership and decision-making. Passionate about serving community through transparent, respectful, and equitable governance, Andrew leads with a strength-based, innovative, and collaborative approach.
As Chairperson of NATSIHA, he is focused on enhancing culturally responsive healthcare, integrating community knowledge with evidence-based practices, and driving sustainable, community-led health solutions. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing NATSIHA’s mission to create lasting, generational change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well-being.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Andrew is a qualified carpenter and registered builder who has worked across local government, community-controlled organisations, and private enterprise. His expertise in governance, infrastructure, innovation, and environmental health has been key to his leadership roles, including the Chair of the Gindaja Board of Directors and representing Gindaja on the NATSIHA Board.
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