RN · FAICD · FCHSM · Certified Chair · Certified Health Executive

Healthcare governance
and leadership that works
in practice.

Forty years across hospitals, health networks, primary care, aged care, disability and government health systems. Board chair, non-executive director, interim executive and strategic adviser, with active roles spanning South Australia, New South Wales and the ACT. Trusted by public, private and PE-backed organisations across Australia.

About

Governance that supports execution, not the other way around.

Michele Smith OAM is a Registered Nurse, Certified Chair, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for services to medical administration. Her career spans founding chair appointments, CEO roles with material revenue growth outcomes, and sustained board leadership across complex health and social services organisations. She works at the intersection of clinical governance, commercial strategy and organisational culture, with engagements ranging from PE-backed primary care groups to government health networks and social impact organisations. Particular depth in primary care, rural health, private hospitals, aged care and the disability sector. She is known for honest assessment, practical governance, and the ability to move between the boardroom and operations without losing either perspective. Her work on Aboriginal health and reconciliation is a consistent thread across her career.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
King's Birthday Honours, 2023
Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors
FAICD
Fellow, Australasian College of Health Service Management
FCHSM
Certified Chair
AICD
Certified Health Executive
ACHSM
Member
Chief Executive Women, 2025
Registered Nurse
AHPRA
Graduate Certificate, Health Management

40
Years in health leadership
5
Active board roles
7
Years in inaugural Board Chair, EFNLHN
2023
Awarded the OAM
Current board portfolio

Active board and advisory roles.

Eyre Far North Local Health Network
Governing Board Chair

Ministerial appointment. Inaugural Chair, reporting directly to the South Australian Minister for Health. Seven years of service across rural and remote health reform.


Ochre Health Group
Non-Executive Director

PE-backed national primary care group. Former Interim CEO during the transaction to private equity. Board member through founder-to-institutional transition, governance maturity and executive leadership change.


Unity Housing
Non-Executive Director

South Australia's largest community housing provider. Board oversight through organisational merger, scale transition and sector reform.


Austral Allergy
Independent Chair

Joint venture between Ochre Health Group and Genesis Capital. Clinical allergy and immunology services. Governance architecture for a growth-stage clinical business.


Hireup
Non-Executive Director

Technology-enabled disability support services. Non-Executive Director since August 2025. Governance and strategy at the intersection of workforce, disability and digital care models.


Services

Advisory and consulting for organisations that need more than a framework.

Available for board appointments, interim executive engagements and strategic consulting.
Strategic Health Consulting

Operational restructuring, service model redesign, public-private partnership development and commissioning strategy. Deep knowledge of Medicare structures, primary care reform, rural health sustainability and PE-backed healthcare growth.


Board Appointments

Available for non-executive director and chair appointments across health, housing, aged care, disability, community services and related sectors. Brings clinical background, commercial experience and deep sector networks to board contribution.


Executive Coaching

One-to-one coaching for incoming CEOs and senior health executives. Grounded in operational experience rather than theory. Focused on the first 90 days, board relationships, clinical workforce dynamics and sustainable executive performance.


Aboriginal Health and Reconciliation

Governance and partnership support for organisations progressing reconciliation commitments and Aboriginal health outcomes, in partnership with Aboriginal leadership and expertise.


Interim Executive Leadership

CEO and executive director engagements during transition, turnaround or leadership change. Experienced in stepping into organisations under commercial pressure, regulatory scrutiny or cultural disruption, and stabilising quickly without losing momentum.


Governance Advisory

Board effectiveness reviews, governance maturity assessments, committee design and charter development. Particular depth in clinical and operational governance integration, and in health organisations where clinical risk and commercial risk are not being governed together.


Testimonials

What people say.

Michele's experienced and steady hand, strategic vision and unwavering commitment to quality patient care and staff wellbeing ensured the business continued to thrive. She brings clarity and confidence to the organisations she leads.
Elizabeth Crouch AM
Board Chair Ochre Health Group
"Michele quickly gained an accurate feel for our business and its people and provided incredibly valuable insights we had already begun acting upon. The team responded to her respectful, friendly style."
Ross Lamplugh
Chair - Ochre Health FACRRM, FRACGP, GAICD November 2023
"Our engagement with Michele drew on her strengths in stakeholder engagement and strategic relationships to support growth in key aspects of our business. I would recommend her advisory and consulting services without hesitation."
Cara Miller
CEO North Eastern Community Hospital January 2023
"Michele really listens. She hears what stakeholders are saying, and combined with her ability to think long term, she delivers clear recommendations to address complex situations."
Debbie Martin
Executive Director Rural Support Service SA Health April 2023
Contact

Direct enquiries welcome.

For board appointments, consulting engagements, interim executive discussions or speaking requests, contact Michele directly. She responds personally.
LOCATION
South Australia · Available nationally