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Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

Our Leadership

Paula Arnol (Gunggandji)

Acting Chief Executive Officer

Paula has more than 20 years of experience in senior executive positions within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Comprehensive Primary Health Care. The majority of senior positions held has been as Chief Executive Officer in both an urban and very remote ATSICCHOs.

She has also held Director positions and responsibilities on CRC Tropical Health, CRC Aboriginal Health, NACCHO, Indigenous Health Equity Council (Federal Ministerial appointment) and NT ACCHO Peak Affiliate directorships. Paula has experience in governance and leadership within a community control framework, community engagement, policy advocacy, strategic planning and business development and implementation; providing extensive learnings and opportunities that assists her to maintain ongoing commitment and passion to seeing increased access and equity in consistent strong community owned primary health care services across Australia, in particular remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.

David Harmer

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer

David has more than 15 years of experience in senior leadership roles in the Queensland Government. 

He has held Director positions in various policy divisions at Queensland Health, including the Executive Director of the System Policy Branch. 

David has also worked for the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

David is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. 

 

Gregory Richards

General Manager - Policy and Research

Greg has 17 years of experience in the government and Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) sector. 

As General Manager of Policy and Research, Greg manages key translational research projects, reports on key data to assist in planning and advocacy, develops and responds to policy matters and undertakes Secretariat Services for the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Partnership and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition. 

Previously, Greg has worked at Queensland Health in roles including the Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health division and Acting Director of the Community Services Funding Branch.  He has also held various roles in the Department of Health and Ageing (Commonwealth) in the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and the Allocations and Places Management Team. 

Greg has a First Class Honours in Life Science - Protein Biochemistry at QUT and a Bachelor of Applied Science - Biochemistry/Microbiology from QUT.