STEVE RUSSELL BOARD MEMBER Steve is a lifelong health consumer and an active health consumer advocate for over 40 years. His professional experience includes social justice and human resource program manager with the Commonwealth Government in the ACT, NSW and QLD, a community development consultant to all levels of government and community sector and an elected local government councillor. He has held numerous positions as member and chair of Public Sector advisory and consultative committees on health and environment matters. He has been Chair of both Innisfail District Health Council and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Health Community Council. He is currently a Director of the Board of Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. He operates a small tourism business in Far North Queensland in partnership with his wife and is an aspring recluse. Why am I here As a long term health consumer I have been fortunate to be able to actively participate in the management of my particular health needs. It became very obvious that not all health consumers are so fortunate and many have great difficulty navigating the health system. I am hopeful that through Health Consumers Queensland I can share my skills and experience to enable consumers to more actively manage their health needs and shape the health system. OUR STAFF We have a small, dynamic team with diverse experience across consumer representation, consumer engagement, health promotion, population health, public affairs, communications, community mental health and community development. MELISSA FOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Melissa leads the organisation to support consumers and health providers to collaborate together to improve the safety and quality of health services. Melissa believes that consumers being involved in decision-making at all levels is essential to achieve consumer-centred care and to improve health services. She is a consumer representative on the Queensland Clinical Senate and the Nursing and Midwifery Executive Council and a board member of Consumers Health Forum (CHF). Melissa has been a part of the journey of Health Consumers Queensland; she was an original member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee that later became the independent organisation
STEVE RUSSELL BOARD MEMBER Steve is a lifelong health consumer and an active health consumer advocate for over 40 years. His professional experience includes social justice and human resource program manager with the Commonwealth Government in the ACT, NSW and QLD, a community development consultant to all levels of government and community sector and an elected local government councillor. He has held numerous positions as member and chair of Public Sector advisory and consultative committees on health and environment matters. He has been Chair of both Innisfail District Health Council and Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Health Community Council. He is currently a Director of the Board of Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. He operates a small tourism business in Far North Queensland in partnership with his wife and is an aspring recluse. Why am I here As a long term health consumer I have been fortunate to be able to actively participate in the management of my particular health needs. It became very obvious that not all health consumers are so fortunate and many have great difficulty navigating the health system. I am hopeful that through Health Consumers Queensland I can share my skills and experience to enable consumers to more actively manage their health needs and shape the health system. OUR STAFF We have a small, dynamic team with diverse experience across consumer representation, consumer engagement, health promotion, population health, public affairs, communications, community mental health and community development. MELISSA FOX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Melissa leads the organisation to support consumers and health providers to collaborate together to improve the safety and quality of health services. Melissa believes that consumers being involved in decision-making at all levels is essential to achieve consumer-centred care and to improve health services. She is a consumer representative on the Queensland Clinical Senate and the Nursing and Midwifery Executive Council and a board member of Consumers Health Forum (CHF). Melissa has been a part of the journey of Health Consumers Queensland; she was an original member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee that later became the independent organisation