St John of God Health Care announces resignation of Group CEO Dr Shane Kelly

25 Nov 2022

His resignation will be effective from 9 December.

Dr Kelly who has more than 35 years’ experience in the health care sector, 20 of which have been in public and private CEO roles, took over as Group CEO in April 2018.

It has been his second term serving at St John of God Health, having previously held the role of CEO St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Making the announcement, the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO thanked Dr Kelly for his significant contribution to St John of God Health Care and particularly praised his achievements in leading the organisation through the turbulent period of the pandemic and the ongoing challenges that have resulted.

“Shane has been an outstanding Group CEO and has led the organisation exceptionally during the challenges of COVID-19, which tested everyone world-wide, but particularly impacted health care and health care workers.

“Under his leadership, St John of God Health Care remained a steady ship and he worked closely with government and other health care organisations to ensure that staff, patients, clients and visitors were kept safe while implementing the complex changes required to deal with the pandemic.

“Notwithstanding the challenges of COVID-19, he has also driven an ambitious five year organisational strategy, progressing many important initiatives and importantly driving an agenda of patient-focussed care and clinical excellence, the two fundamentals of outstanding health care provision.

“Under his stewardship, we have put in place excellent initiatives to continue to improve clinical governance and safety, as well as a focus on research.”

While the economy has experienced some turbulent times over the past few years, thanks to prudent and careful stewardship, St John of God Health Care has retained a strong balance sheet. More recently, under Dr Kelly’s leadership, St John of God Health Care has been in a positon to commence or to progress a number of large capital developments at St John of God Subiaco, Murdoch, Richmond and Ballarat Hospitals.

Dr Kelly said that it had been a career highlight to work as Group CEO at St John of God Health Care and thanked the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO and the Board for the excellent support during his tenure.

“This is a great organisation with a wonderful history, and dedicated and professional caregivers and doctors, who are deeply committed to providing exceptional and compassionate patient-centred care.

“I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved together. We have made great progress with our strategy and I feel that with the challenges of COVID hopefully starting to recede it is a good time for the organisation to transition to new leadership, as well as the right time for me personally.”

The Hon Kerry Sanderson ACO CVO said that the Board and the whole St John of God Health Care community wished Dr Kelly well as he moves to the next phase of his career.

The Board will commence an extensive recruitment search for the next Group CEO. Chief Operating Officer Hospitals Bryan Pyne will be Acting Group CEO in the meantime.