Our Leadership
Meet our Executive Leadership Team
Our executive leadership team shares a profound commitment to health equity. With diverse expertise across healthcare, community services and organisational management, their collective vision drives North Richmond Community Health to deliver transformative care that enhances lives and strengthens community.
Simone Heald
Chief Executive Officer
Simone has extensive healthcare experience, developing expertise in clinical and healthcare management across quality control, risk management, policy formation, and strategy.
Read more …
With a strong track record of leadership in diverse and challenging healthcare settings, Simone has created environments for community-led services to flourish, including the Family and Child Hub and HomeBase in Mildura. Under her guidance, the evidence-based Canadian CP@Clinic model was pioneered in Victoria, successfully integrating it into the state’s healthcare system.
Simone is passionate about influencing health and community sector change that improves people’s lives. She leads a non-hierarchical culture where people are respected for their contributions while challenging frameworks that disempower vulnerable community members.
Simone is proud of NRCH’s position as a leader in addressing health inequities through innovative, community-focused solutions that provide targeted support to those with the greatest needs.
Read less …
Adrian Carmody
Chief Corporate Officer
Adrian brings over twelve years of expertise in accounting and business management across diverse industries and government sectors in Australia.
Read more …
An analytical professional with a keen eye for detail, he combines strong communication skills with collaborative leadership to achieve strategic outcomes at all levels of the organisation.
Adrian approaches financial management with a commitment to professional excellence and continuous development. His problem-solving techniques translate complex financial concepts into practical solutions that support NRCH’s mission-critical services.
He values the opportunity to contribute to NRCH’s social impact by ensuring sound financial stewardship and effective corporate systems that enable the organisation to sustainably serve the North Richmond community.
Read less …
Phil Chen
Quality & Risk Manager
Phil career trajectory spans multiple healthcare settings, progressing from health information management to leading the South East Public Health COVID-19 Response in Victoria.
Read more …
Formative experiences in Monash Health’s High-Risk Pregnancy Unit and various strategic advisory roles have shaped his understanding of how quality systems directly impact patient outcomes and organisational success.
Phil combines analytical precision with empathetic leadership to develop frameworks that elevate service quality while managing risk effectively. His approach emphasises engagement with staff, clients, and communities as essential to meaningful healthcare improvement.
At NRCH, he finds purpose in creating systems that ensure both compliance and continuous improvement, contributing to better health access and outcomes for vulnerable populations in the North Richmond community.
Read less …
Laura O'Shea
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse
Laura has over 20 years of experience across clinical and service delivery management in complex acute and community health environments.
Read more …
She joined NRCH in 2011, bringing valuable expertise from her background as a critical care nurse and has successfully led operational management of essential community health services, including Victoria’s only supervised injecting facility.
Laura is passionate about the human story, leading teams and supporting ongoing change to ensure healthcare systems meet the dynamic needs of communities. She specialises in multi-agency collaboration and developing community-centred approaches to care.
Laura is proud of NRCH’s ability to create innovative, place-based solutions that improve outcomes for the diverse North Richmond community, particularly during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read less …
Belinda Bravo
Head of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Belinda has extensive experience in public policy, having led state-wide mental health, drug reform and education initiatives for over 17 years. She also holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Melbourne.
Read more …
She leads North Richmond Community Health’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Program, including the Medically Supervised Injecting Room, with a focus on improving support for individuals who experience discrimination and stigma in accessing mainstream health services.
Belinda is passionate about improving access to healthcare for individuals who have experienced discrimination and stigma accessing mainstream health services. She believes all Victorians should participate in decision-making about their health without judgment.
Belinda is proud of NRCH’s commitment to addressing health inequities through collaborative, evidence-based approaches and community-led solutions.
Read less …
Kelly Naess
Principal Lead, Research Evaluation & Health Equity
Kelly holds a PhD in Human Movement Studies and brings extensive expertise in health research and evaluation across education and healthcare settings.
Read more …
Kelly’s international experience includes roles at Malmö University in Sweden and as a research scientist at ASPETAR Qatar.
At NRCH, she applies systems thinking and research translation to drive evidence-based approaches to community health, ensuring programs are both effective and responsive to community needs.
Read less …
Helen Lesirge
Chief People Officer
With extensive leadership experience across healthcare and corporate sectors, Helen brings strategic vision to people and culture at NRCH.
Read more …
Her background combines organisational development, strategic workforce planning, and building high-performance teams that thrive in complex environments.
Helen champions workplace cultures where diversity is celebrated and staff feel empowered to deliver their best. Her approach balances organisational goals with creating supportive environments where people can grow professionally.
At NRCH, Helen takes pride in strengthening the connection between organisational strategy and people development, ensuring the workforce reflects and understands the diverse community it serves.
Read less …
Hannah McVean
Manager Community Engagement
Hannah brings over two decades of experience in social planning, community development, and strategic engagement across the not-for-profit, education, and government sectors.
Read more …
Prior to her role as Community Engagement Manager at NRCH, Hannah led community development initiatives that strengthened social cohesion and participation at the City of Whittlesea, including a Community Leadership program. Her work has consistently demonstrated her ability to develop innovative, high-impact programs that address complex community needs.
Hannah is passionate about promoting equal access and addressing the social determinants of health and wellbeing. She approaches her work with a collaborative mindset, bringing together diverse stakeholders to co-design solutions that truly reflect community needs and aspiration.
At NRCH, Hannah applies her expertise in community engagement with strategic thinking to create meaningful connections between NRCH and the community it serves.
Read less …
Zak Tilley
Associate, Chief Executive
Zak’s career spans community services, education, and youth development, with significant experience working alongside populations facing barriers to accessing services in urban and remote settings.
Read more …
His background includes coordinating arts-based programs for First Nations young people in the Northern Territory and leading youth action initiatives at government level, building expertise in community engagement and advocacy.
Zak excels at connecting diverse stakeholders and translating strategic priorities into actionable plans. He brings a unique perspective to NRCH through his firsthand experience with community-led approaches to social change.
Working closely with the executive team, Zak takes satisfaction in supporting NRCH’s efforts to address critical health inequities and create meaningful pathways to better health outcomes for the North Richmond community.
Read less …