Management team

Alex Demidov - Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Regional Victoria

Alex brings extensive experience in private health care service provision, including working for Healthscope, Ramsay Health Care and Evolution Healthcare as CEO as well as not for profit healthcare organisations, Sydney Adventist Hospital and St Vincent's Private. He commenced his early career studying law at Harvard University and working as a lawyer in New York prior to moving into nursing, working as a Director of Nursing and Director of Perioperative Services, before taking on a range of management roles. Alex holds a Master of Business Administration (University of New England), Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing (University of Technology Sydney), Bachelor of Nursing (University of Sydney), Juris Doctor cum laude: Harvard University.

Leanne McPherson - Director of Clinical Services

Leanne has been Director of Nursing at our hospital since May 2009 after working over 10 years in nursing and management roles within our perioperative (theatre) department, with extensive experience across public and private health care. Leanne has acted in the role of Chief Executive Officer at St John of God Warrnambool Hospital when required and holds a graduate certificate in leadership and Catholic culture, Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Nursing and a Graduate Certificate in Management.

Dr John Gallichio - Director of Medical Services

Dr John Gallichio recently joined St John of God Ballarat and Warrnambool Hospitals as the Director of Medical Services in March 2022. He is a medical graduate from the University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital Clinical School, Melbourne. With a successful career and background in general practice, John also has 35 years of extensive experience in senior medical administrative positions throughout Australia, including metropolitan teaching hospitals and in many regional, rural and remote health settings. He is also known to the Ballarat medical and clinical community through his previous role as Director of Medical Services at Ballarat Health Services. John’s most recent roles have included medical advisor to the Chief Medical Officer and as Acting Director of Medical Services at Goulburn Valley Health and EDMS roles at Echuca Health, Wimmera Health in Horsham, and Chief Medical Officer Western Health (Footscray/Sunshine in Melbourne). In addition to his medical degree John holds an MBA (Monash) and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and Assoc. Fellow of the Aust. College of Health Service Management and Member of RACGP. John’s special interests include medical workforce planning, clinical quality improvement and patient safety and the introduction of new medical technology including how information technology can assist clinicians in the delivery of optimal clinical care. 

Mark Medina - Director of Finance

Mark is a seasoned finance executive who has recently joined St John of God Ballarat and Warrnambool Hospitals, having previously worked at St John of God Bendigo Hospital as Director of Finance.

Prior to joining St John of God Health Care, Mark held a number of key leadership roles in different multinational companies gaining an extensive experience across all aspects of finance function. A motivating leader skilled in creating high performance teams. Highly regarded for delivering strong financial and business performance management results based on extensive leadership, business partnering skills and promoting continuous process improvements and good governance. 

Mark completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy and graduated Magna Cum Laude prior to becoming a Certified Public Accountant and CPA board examination topnotcher in the Philippines

Felicity Barker - Director of Mission Integration

Felicity was appointed as Director Mission Integration in March 2018 and has an extensive background as a pastoral care practitioner, having worked for almost eleven years at Mercy Place Warrnambool, caring for aged care residents and their families. Felicity also previously worked as a pastoral care associate at this hospital. Felicity has studied social science, has completed two units of clinical pastoral education, a Graduate Diploma in Ageing and Pastoral Studies, a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture, and holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment together with experience in teaching at Mercy Health and Holy Family Services.

Paul Johnson - Maintenance Engineer

Paul, with over 30 years' experience in the health care sector, is a valued member of the hospital management team and appointed as maintenance engineer of St John of God Warrnambool Hospital in 1994.