Executive team

Timothy Dugan

Chief Executive Officer

Timothy has had more than 20 years experience in diverse roles in health and research management in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors including clinical roles, senior management and business development.

Mr Dugan has an MBA from the Melbourne Business School (Melbourne University), a Bachelor of Applied Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Grad Diploma in Corporate Governance. 

Apart from his role as CEO and a Director of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA, Mr Dugan is also a Director of two private companies.  His past positions include Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, member Stakeholder Board, Australian Stem Cell Centre of Excellence and Commercial Manager, Mayne Nickless Radiology, NSW and Queensland.  He was appointed to the Board of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA April 2009.

Michael Boyer AM

Chief Clinical Officer

Michael Boyer, has been a medical oncologist for more than 15 years, specialising in the treatment of thoracic and head and neck cancers. He is actively involved in research, focusing on the testing of new anticancer drugs for the treatment of lung cancer. Michael was the Director of the Sydney Cancer Centre and formerly the Area Director of Cancer Services for the Sydney South West Area Health Service. A clinical professor within the Central Clinical School of the University of Sydney,

In 2010 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for his work as an educator, a clinical trials researcher and for his involvement in the development of integrated care facilities for people suffering with cancer.

Brent Cubis

Chief Financial Officer

Brent Cubis CA commenced as the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in October 2009.  He has worked in various senior finance roles in a number of leading Australian companies across a broad range of industries including PBL Media (CFO at Nine and prior to that the sister company ACP Magazines), Bankers Trust, Westfield and Sheraton Hotels.

Mr Cubis qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte which included a 12 month transfer to the USA firm.  After more than 25 years in the corporate sector, he moved to the not-for-profit sector in October 2009. He is a member of the ASB Alumni Advisory Board, UNSW Alumni Leader and plays an active mentor role for Can Too Cure for Cancer.

Catherine Murray

Director of Clinical Operations

Catherine Murray has over 25 years healthcare industry experience in both clinical and managerial roles. These roles have been in inpatient units, ambulatory care and community health in the public health sector. Her clinical expertise covers paediatric and maternal health as well as palliative care and cancer service delivery.

From 2005-2009 Catherine held the position of Clinical Manager for Cancer Services Sydney South West Area Health Service. She was a member Quality and Clinical Effectiveness Committee for the NSW Cancer Institute and  a member of the  Clinical Advisory Committee for the Cancer Institute for the same period.

Anne Marie Hadley

Chief Information Officer

Anne Marie Hadley joined Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in August 2010. Prior to that Anne Marie was the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service. Anne Marie has held a number of senior executive management roles in both the public and private sectors in NSW and Queensland Health. Anne Marie is actively involved in the Health Informatics Community and was a past senior VP of the Health Information Management Association of Australia. Anne Marie is a surveyor for the Australian Council for Health Care Standards (ACHS) and a lecturer at Sydney University.

Anne Marie has been closely involved in the commissioning of new facilities such as the Children's Hospital at Westmead and more recently the redevelopment of the Royal North Shore Hospital. She has written extensively and presented widely on the implementation of the electronic medical record and the “digital hospital”. Anne Marie is passionate about the innovative use of information and technology to improve patient outcomes.

David Ahern

Director of Human Resources

David was appointed to the role of Director of Human Resources in September 2010. During his career he has worked in a number of senior roles across a diverse range of sectors both within HR and in broader leadership and consulting positions. Previous organisations he has worked with include the Ford Motor Company, Westpac and AMP. In his most recent role at AMP David was accountable for all Group HR services across the company with specific capabilities in Change Management, Leadership and Talent and Employment Relations.

David is a Fellow of AHRI, possesses a Graduate Diploma and Masters of Human Resources and completed leadsership programmes at Stanford University and London Business School. He is an active mentor and coach in Human Resources and supports a number of not-for-profit organisations.

Ariane Gallop

 Fundraising Manager 

Ariane brings a wealth of marketing, fundraising and event management experience to The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA.  In 2003 she was appointed the Business Development Manager of The Sydney Cancer Centre Foundation and, after 6 years in this role, became the Fundraising Manager of The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in 2009.  Ariane’s excellent stakeholder management skills have ensured sustained growth of fundraising revenue and a strong, growing supporter base for the organisation.   Ariane joined the not for profit sector after holding a variety of roles in Public Relations and Public Affairs over 15 years.  Ariane has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.  

Fiona Forbes

Director of Patient Experience, Marketing and Communications

Fiona joined the Lifehouse team in 2009 and brings over 25 years experience specialising in Communications; Internal/Transition communications; Change Management Strategy design through to implementation.

Fiona has worked in a variety of industries (private and public sector) with a focus on design/implementation of widespread organisational change and customer communications. Key roles have included Change Manager for Community Health Services including District Nurses, NHS in Surrey UK, accountable for implementing a pilot electronic health record; Office Manager/Public Relations, Health Promotion at Western Area Health Service; Communications Manager and Head of Change Readiness at Bupa/MBF. Fiona is passionate about the 'people issues' and design/implementation of programs to facilitate employee engagement within organisations undergoing significant change.  

Gary Wall 

Director of Facilities 

Gary Wall commenced as the Director of Facilities for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at RPA in July 2011. Gary has over 20 years experience in healthcare and research as a facility manager more recently with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute commissioning the $80M Lowy Packer Building.

Prior to this Gary held a management role at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and also senior management roles with one of Australia’s largest private hospital operators managing facility operations and capital development for its portfolio of 17 NSW hospitals.