Geraldton management team

Ben Irish - General Manager Mid-West Region 

Ben Irish joined St John of God Health Care as General Manager Mid West Region and CEO St John of God Murdoch Hospital in July 2023. With more than 30 years’ nursing experience in Australia and the United Kingdom, Ben is a well-known and much respected health care executive in Perth. He was most recently the Deputy CEO at Joondalup Health Campus, after serving in the role of Director of Clinical Services for three years. Prior to his roles at Joondalup Health Campus, Ben has held other executive roles including the Clinical Lead for the Perth Children’s Hospital Project and other clinical leadership roles at both Princess Margaret and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospitals. Ben is an Adjunct Associate Professor at ECU and holds a Masters in Nursing Leadership from Leeds University, along with a number of other postgraduate nursing and management qualifications.

Phillip Balmer – Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nursing

Phillip Balmer was appointed to the dual role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nursing in November 2021. Phillip has had an exceptional career in New Zealand and internationally, holding several roles as director of nursing and in senior management positions, which has seen him emerge as a respected nursing and executive leader of healthcare services.  

Prior to this role, Phillip has worked to strengthen services delivered to poor or rural communities and to Zealand’s local indigenous Maori people and to the Pacific communities.  

He has also worked as the Director of Hospital Services at Counties-Manukau District Health Board, a large service provider in Auckland, was national Chair of the District Health Board COO group, and the NZ representative of the Board of the Healthcare Roundtable.  Phillip has extensive experience in strengthening the synergies between hospital, primary and community services and between public and private healthcare services.  

Alison Dawson - Director of Mission Integration

Alison Dawson has a long association with the Sisters of St John of God and St John of God Geraldton Hospital. Since joining the hospital in 1973, she has held several supervisory roles at the hospital and was appointed Director of Mission in 2002.

In this role, Alison is the principal resource person for caregivers in leading their understanding and participation in the healing mission of Jesus, through the mission and values of St John of God Health Care. Alison also oversees the delivery of our pastoral care and volunteer services.