April 2, 2026
Current Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board member Merrilyn Strohfeldt has been appointed Chair of the organisation.
The appointment was announced on Thursday by Darling Downs Health.
She replaces Dr Dennis Campbell who took over the role in March 2024 following the resignation of long-serving Chair Mike Horan AM.
Ms Strohfeldt, the former Darling Downs West Moreton PHN CEO, joined the Board at the same time as Dr Campbell and was appointed to the Finance Committee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
The new-look Board has been pared from nine members to seven.
They are:
- Merrilyn Strohfeldt – term extended to March 2030
- Dr Ross Hetherington – current until March 2028
- Emeritus Professor Julie Cotter – reappointed for a two-year term to March 2028
- Professor Maree Toombs – current until March 2028
- Dr Brodie Quinn – new appointment to March 2030
- Professor Victoria Brazil – new appointment to March 2030
- Brendan Baulch – new appointment to March 2030
Dr Ross Hetherington has been named as Deputy Chair.
Retiring Board members are Trish Leddington-Hill (appointed 2012), Marie Pietsch (appointed 2012), Terrence Kehoe (appointed 2022) and Dr Stephen Harrop (appointed 2022).
Ms Strohfeldt has previously held other government leadership roles, including Deputy Director-General of the Department of Communities, Child Safety, Disability Services and Office for Women.
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board is responsible for delivering Queensland Health services throughout the Darling Downs Health region, which includes all public hospitals in the South Burnett.
Board Members are usually appointed on a staggered basis so that all terms do not expire at the same time.
