Christine Bennett Ao

Appointed to the Board in March 2018, Christine is a specialist paediatrician with over 30 years’ health industry experience in clinical care and governance, strategic planning, executive management, teaching and research. Emeritus Professor Christine Bennett is a leading health policy expert in Australia and was Deputy Vice Chancellor of Enterprise & Partnerships and Head of the School of Medicine, at The University of Notre Dame Australia. Christine is also Convenor of the Champions of Change Coalition Health Group and joined the Telstra Health Board in July 2020.

Previously, Christine was a Group Executive and Chief Medical Officer at both MBF Limited and Bupa Australia, a Partner in the KPMG Health and Life Sciences Practice, CEO of Westmead Hospital, Chair of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and Non-Executive Director of Digital Health CRC Limited.

From 2008 to 2010, Christine was Chair of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission to provide advice on a long-term plan for the future of the Australian health and aged care system.

Christine was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her distinguished service to medicine and health care leadership in 2014.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney and a Master of Paediatrics from the University of New South Wales. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.