Management team

Colman O’Driscoll - Chief Executive Officer, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals and Group Lead Mental Health Strategy

Colman is the Chief Executive Officer of St John of God Burwood and Richmond Hospitals, having started in the role in January 2019. Colman has over 20 years’ experience across the health system, including senior leadership roles within the government, not-for-profit and private sectors. His experience includes working as the Chief of Staff in the NSW Government where he was responsible for driving significant reforms within the NSW Mental Health system, including the establishment of the NSW Mental Health Commission.

Colman is a psychiatric nurse having trained at St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin, and holds a Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Nursing (Mental Health Nurse Practitioner). He moved from Dublin, Ireland to Sydney in 2003.

Cindy Foot - Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, St John of God Burwood Hospital

Cindy has been the Director of Nursing since 2014, following roles as the hospital’s Deputy Director of Nursing and as a nurse unit manager. Cindy has strong involvement in the improvement of our services including revision of nursing care practice and the introduction of the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) service.

Cindy completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) in 1993 and has worked in nursing for over 20 years in Australia and the United Kingdom in mental health and acute care hospitals. 

Rachel Bowes - Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, St John of God Richmond Hospital

Rachel was appointed Director of Nursing and Patient Experience in February 2022. Rachel is a mental health nurse with has over 20 years’ experience, both in the UK and Australian mental health systems across acute inpatient, rehabilitation, alcohol & other drugs, mental health intensive care and community mental health settings. She has held a number of operational and clinical governance leadership roles outside of traditional healthcare environments including with Medibank and Lifeline Australia.

Rachel has considerable experience in the delivery and practice of digital mental health care, service co-design with lived experience consumers and building relationships across the Australian mental health sector.

Vacant - Director of Allied Health and Programs, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals

David Burns - Director of Finance and Performance, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals

David has a wealth of experience having worked in a variety of finance roles for the past 20 years in Australia and England. His experience includes working at banks, insurance companies and various superannuation and investment management companies.

He is now responsible for all aspects of the operational finances and corporate services of the hospital as the Director of Finance and Corporate Services for the past ten years.

Nehme Khattar - Director of Mission Integration, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals

Nehme was appointed Director of Mission Integration in May 2022. Nehme has extensive mission and formation experience and has worked across a variety of sectors, including education, mental health, youth ministry and aged care. Nehme holds a number of important qualifications in theology, commerce and education. His diverse background and experience is an asset to the Burwood and Richmond teams, as well as the broader Mission network across St John of God Health Care.

Karen Burns - Director of Strategy & Engagement, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals

Karen commenced as Director of Strategy and Engagement in July 2019. She has an extensive background in nursing and psychology and has held a number of senior roles within the mental health sector, including leading not for profit organisations to achieve expansion and growth.

She has previously been appointed as the Chairperson of the NSW Mental Health Coordinating Council, Board member of Community Mental Health Australia, the inaugural Chairperson of the NSW Mental Health Commission Community Advisory Council and most recently as the Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health for NSW. Karen also held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Uniting Recovery for 14 years.

Dr Lavinia Schmidtman - Medical Director, St John of God Richmond Hospital

Dr Lavinia Schmidtman was appointed Medical Director in 2005. Prior to this Dr Lavinia worked for 10 years at St John of God Richmond Hospital as a consultant psychiatrist/staff specialist with interest and area of practice in posttraumatic stress disorder. Dr Lavinia graduated from New South Wales University with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1986 and completed her psychiatry training at Cumberland and Westmead Hospitals in Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry.

Carole Rodden – Clinical Lead and Patient Experience Manager, St John of God Burwood Hospital

Carole has worked at St John of God Burwood since 2008 in a number of roles including Nurse Unit Manager, Quality Manager and Clinical Operations Manager. Carole has previously worked in various management and clinical positions in NSW Health and Justice Health.  She has a strong interest in Perinatal Mental Health, Quality in Healthcare and improving the physical health of mental health consumers and has recently completed the ACHS Quality Improvement Lead Training Program.

Vacant - Clinical Lead and Patient Experience Manager, St John of God Richmond Hospital

Rachael Mulley – Manager Quality and Clinical Governance, St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals

Rachael joined the team in 2021 as Manager, Quality and Clinical Governance after working in Public Mental Health Services for 19 years. Rachael is a Registered Nurse with a passion for working with caregivers to deliver safe and high quality mental health care to consumers.