MOYNE Health Services (MHS) has appointed a new chief executive, Katharina Redford, who has been serving as the interim chief executive since Jackie Kelly’s resignation in December last year.

MHS board chair, Brian Densem, said Ms Redford was chosen after an extensive and extremely competitive selection process.

“Katharina has 30 plus years’ experience as a clinician, manager and leader in the public healthcare sector with the last eight years being at an executive level,” he said.

Mr Densem said Ms Redford has a long working relationship with MHS and in her last three roles, had been responsible for delivering numerous projects, overseeing significant budgets, successfully consulting with a broad range of stakeholder groups and reporting to a Board of Directors.

“In selecting Katharina for the position, the Board believes that she has the necessary skills, depth of experience, natural leadership capabilities and community presence to perform well in the role and lead the MHS team to deliver the strategic priorities of the health service,” he said.

Commenting on the appointment, Mrs Redford said she was honoured to be selected for the role.

“MHS has a long history of serving the Port Fairy and Koroit communities and I am excited to work with the Board and staff to ensure that continues,” she said.

“The strategic priorities present an opportunity for MHS to continue to engage with our communities and stakeholders to further enhance service provision across the region. I am looking forward to leading MHS in embracing these challenges.”

Moyne Health Services encompasses Victoria’s oldest hospital, the multimillion-dollar Port Fairy Hospital established in 1849, as well as a campus at Koroit, employing over 220 people in total.