Emily Kenworthy earns top honour in Leadership WA program

Emily received the prestigious honour at the program's graduation ceremony on 3 September, after completing the six-month leadership development program alongside emerging leaders from across Western Australia.

Nominated by St John of God Health Care Chief Technology and Corporate Services Officer, Sidone Thomas, and supported through an SJGHC-funded professional development scholarship, Emily was selected to participate in the highly regarded program designed to develop the next generation of leaders.

The experiential program combines leadership workshops, self-reflection, mentoring, collaborative learning and community impact projects, helping participants strengthen their leadership capability while creating meaningful change in the community.

Emily said the experience challenged her to think more deeply about leadership and the impact leaders can have on others.

"I started the program wanting to learn and be challenged, and I finished with a much clearer understanding of the leader I want to be," she said.

Since joining SJGHC, Emily has built a career spanning project management, major organisational change initiatives and health information management. She has progressed from WA Health Information Manager to her current role as National Health Information Manager.

She said the support and opportunities provided by SJGHC have played an important role in her leadership journey.

"Being nominated to undertake this course and receiving the scholarship from SJGHC gave me the push I needed," Emily said.

"SJGHC has given me opportunities to take on challenges that have stretched me professionally and personally, and I've been fortunate to have leaders who have trusted me and supported me along the way."

As part of the program, Emily worked with fellow participants on a community project supporting foster carers across Western Australia. The experience reinforced the value of listening, understanding diverse perspectives and developing practical solutions to community challenges.

For Emily, effective leadership is built on authenticity, trust and creating environments where people feel safe, respected and empowered to contribute.

"Leadership is much less about having the right answers and much more about how you create the conditions for other people to contribute," she said.

Being named Valedictorian came as a surprise, but one that Emily says she will always cherish.

"It was a really special way to finish the program and something I'll be very proud of for a long time."

Emily's achievement reflects St John of God Health Care's ongoing commitment to developing exceptional leaders who embody the organisation's values and make a positive difference within their teams, communities and the broader health care sector.