This morning, Northern Health hosted the Bi-Annual Awards to honour the exceptional contributions of our staff.
The ceremony, sponsored by BankVic, was hosted by Debra Bourne, Chief Executive, Linda Romano, Chief Operating Officer, and Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer.
“Northern Health has thousands of staff who work across a range of areas, departments and sites, dedicated to providing outstanding care to our community each and every day,” said Debra Bourne, Chief Executive.
“Among our award winners today are staff who demonstrate a strong and positive workplace culture, live Northern Health’s values of safe, kind and together, and show a genuine commitment to their patients.”
The ceremony celebrated winners from January 2026 – June 2026 in seven categories, with each award matched against Northern Health’s values and strategic priorities.
Plastic Surgery, Ward 19 Procedure Room Team, won the Innovation Award. The team was nominated by Stephen Goldie.
“The Plastic Surgery team’s innovative “See & Treat” Skin Cancer Excision and Minor Trauma Surgery Clinic exemplifies Northern Health’s values of Safe, Kind and Together, while directly supporting all five strategic priorities. The clinic delivers a safe, positive experience by combining consultation and treatment into a single visit wherever possible, minimising delays, anxiety and unnecessary hospital attendances.”
The Patient Experience Award was presented to Cheryl Rofe, Nurse Unit Manager, Inpatient Dialysis Unit and Northern Hospital Epping Satellite Dialysis Unit. Cheryl was nominated by Dayana Paily.
“Cheryl consistently places patients at the centre of care and leads by example in creating a welcoming, respectful, and supportive environment. She takes the time to listen to patients and their families, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed promptly.”
Karen Bryant, Manager of Narrun Wilip-Giin, won the Excellence in Leadership Award. She was nominated by Danella Webb.
“Karen consistently places patients at the centre of care and leads by example in creating a welcoming, respectful, and supportive environment. She takes the time to listen to patients and their families, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed promptly.”
The Education Award was presented to Dr Asha Krishnan. Dr Asha was nominated by Yang Yun.
“As a female consultant psychiatrist working on the inpatient unit, Dr Krishnan serves as an inspiring role model, particularly for early-career doctors who are encountering psychiatry for the first time. Her presence and leadership not only demonstrate clinical excellence but also highlight the important contribution of women in senior medical roles. She encourages reflective practice, fosters professional growth, and ensures each trainee feels valued and supported,” Yang said in their nomination.
Professor Doug Crompton and the Neurology and Stroke Team were awarded the Clinical Excellence Award. The team was nominated by Rose Thomas.
“Professor Crompton has engendered a wonderful ethos in his department of learning and curiosity. This is embodied in the Neurology Radiology Meetings, where difficult and interesting cases are approached in a collegiate manner, inviting discussion and opinion sharing. This culture has filtered through the Neurology Department and it is wonderful to observe and hear the acute stroke team’s approach to their patients. They speak kindly and clearly to the folks and families under their charge,” Rose said in her nomination.
The Excellence in Safety Award was presented to Kate Brown and Charlotte Barry, ED and ICU Equipment Nurses. Kate and Charlotte were nominated by Liz Ward.
“Kate and Charlotte play a key role in ensuring essential and specialist resus equipment is available when it’s needed. They are both highly reliable when wards escalate issues, whether it’s replacing critical stock, sourcing harder-to-find items or helping troubleshoot equipment problems. Their knowledge and willingness to step in at short notice supports safety for our patients and staff. Not only do they work extremely hard in their areas, but they contribute hugely to the organisation as a whole.”
Lastly, Ashley Cheng, Financial Accountant, took home the Rising Star Award. Ashley was nominated by Jimmy Jacob.
“Ashley quickly established herself as a trusted, capable, and highly reliable member of the Financial Accounting team. She consistently demonstrates strong technical accounting knowledge, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering accurate and timely financial reporting. Ashley shows exceptional ownership and accountability in her work, consistently meeting critical deadlines and delivering high-quality outcomes.”
Congratulations to all our award winners!