Debra Bourne has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Northern Health.
In early August 2024, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced the establishment of a new agency titled Hospital’s Victoria, appointing former Northern Health Chief Executive Siva Sivarajah as the inaugural chief executive.
During the transition, Ms Bourne served as the Northern Health interim chief executive while the Northern Health Board searched for a permanent replacement.
An accomplished healthcare executive with operational and clinical expertise, Ms Bourne has worked in large, complex organisations across metropolitan, regional, and remote healthcare settings.
She holds dual qualifications in nursing and midwifery, a Master’s in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), a Bachelor of Education, a Critical Care Certificate, a Graduate Diploma in Health Management, and boasts a fellowship with the Australian College of Health Management.
Ms Bourne started her nursing career at The Alfred before moving to Mercy Health to work as a midwife. She later became nurse unit manager at Seymour Health and worked as a nurse practitioner in remote Western Australia.
In 2016, she joined Northern Health as the operations director for women’s and children services, later taking on additional leadership roles including general manager access, and surgical services.
She was appointed chief nursing midwifery officer in 2020, and chief operating officer in 2021.
Northern Health Board Chair Jennifer Williams AM congratulated Ms Bourne on her appointment.
“Debra’s broad skill set and deep understanding of the healthcare landscape uniquely position her to lead Northern Health in achieving our mission of delivering exceptional care to our communities,” she said.
“Her collaborative leadership style and alignment with our values—safe, kind, and together—will be instrumental as we continue to enhance our services and foster a culture of openness and continuous improvement.
“We are excited to have Debra Bourne at the helm of Northern Health and are confident that her vision, expertise, and commitment will drive the organisation forward.”
