Linda Addison
Georgina McKenzie
Georgina’s formal training includes the completion of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course, Prince2 Practitioner – Project Management, a Masters in Business Administration, the completion of the Chartered Accountants Program leading to the title of Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.
Georgina is committed to giving back to the ACT community as demonstrated through her previous volunteer work as Director/Treasurer on the SIDS and Kids ACT Board (a not for profit organisation) and as a current board member on the ACT Public Cemeteries Authority (ACT Government).
John Angley
“I have joined the Co-op’s Board so I can work with the Board and with Co-op members to offer a range of services that meet our members’ needs and serve the communities in which we live.
I recently finished a long career in the Australian government so I have a range of experiences which I think will be useful to the Board’s work in leading the Co-op: health policy (funding and systems); ‘how government works’ (decision processes, influencers, program design, funding); finance and budgeting; management and team leadership (big program budgets, large and dispersed teams); stakeholder relations; marketing, communications and brand promotion.”
Katy Balmaks
Katy has a strong commitment to supporting people to manage their own healthcare needs, and access to affordable primary care is a key element in enabling this.Katy brings a strong mix of clinical health and senior management experience. She has had a diverse nursing career working in both the public and private health care sectors across three states and the ACT, in acute care and community settings. Following this, she had a broad Commonwealth Public Service career spanning the Departments of Health and Ageing, Education, Human Services and Finance with over 10 years working at the Senior Executive Service level. Katy is currently the General Manager, Diabetes Australia, responsible for managing the National Diabetes Services Scheme. This scheme assists people across Australia to manage their diabetes through access to subsidised products and support services. Katy’s extensive senior management career in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors has helped her to develop strong strategic governance skills and experience that she brings to the National Health Co-op. Katy’s Board experience spans a number of years from being the Chair of a number of Community Advisory Boards informing rural health workforce initiatives through to being a member of the Department of Finance’s Executive Board in 2018. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course, and has Registered Nurse, Midwifery and Maternal and Infant Welfare qualifications and a Master of Health Administration and Informatics. |
Tony Gargan
“My strongest area of interest and experience is in the human factors in health and social services delivery. In particular I am interested in how well organisations support their people, and I have conducted research into effect of culture and people management in driving organisational performance. I have also conducted work on Health program performance and patient and economic value in healthcare. I have developed and implemented allied health assessment programs for the Commonwealth. I believe that the future of healthcare involves growing opportunities in the use of data and technology, and growing challenges in respect of privacy and patient autonomy.”
Rosemary Kennedy
“As a strategic leader, I am conscious of the challenges facing the health care system and the need to consider consumers of the NHC, in developing strategy and governing. A major strength of the Co-Op is that it is owned by the members, thus providing empowerment, access and partnership throughout the health care journey. As a health leader and member of the NHC, my focus is on quality and safety assurance in both the clinical and corporate arena to best serve the members and the continued growth of the organisation.”
Jude Burger
Jude is the founder/director of Think Act Relate, a small business offering consultancy services in digital transformation, change management and coaching, as well as data management services, principally to government agencies. She leads transformative change, whether focused on organisational or personal transformation. Think Act Relate supports public and private organisations undergoing significant transformation, whether organisational integration, cultural or business driven change.
Michael Rigo
Michael along with his wife set up the first private ambulance service of the modern era in Australia and saw it grow to a national company. He is passionate about ensuring that quality healthcare remains affordable to all in the community.
Michael is an Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Authority Registered Paramedic and has a practising certificate as an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic. He also holds a Diploma of Paramedicine (Ambulance), an Advanced Diploma of Paramedicine (Ambulance) and a graduate Diploma of Sport Science (Coaching).
Michael is a full member of the following professional bodies having met the required professional standards:
- Member Australasian College of Paramedicine (M ACP)
- Member International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics (M IAFCCP)
- Member Safe Airway Society (M SAS)
- Member Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners (M ACPP)
Craig Thomler
Craig Thomler has had a long association with the NHC as a member, which he joined with his family in 2010 shortly after moving to Canberra. Professionally he has over 25-years’ experience in digital and innovation strategy and delivery, working within government, corporate, not-for-profit and entrepreneurial sectors at senior and board levels.
His interest in health practice grew from developing and implementing the digital component of the National Health consultation in 2010 and subsequently leading the digital communications practice for the Australian Department of Health, more recently consulting to the Australian Digital Health Agency. He currently advises the UN Development Program in the implementation of digital transformation in South-East Asian nations and is a co-founder of an AI-focused start-up.
His previous experience on Boards includes leading roles on Advisory Boards for several not-for-profits and as an Executive Director on the board of a public unlisted petroleum exploration company. He is currently undertaking the Australian Institute of Company Directors Company Directors Course to support his effectiveness on the NHC Board.
Craig brings to the Board a strong business strategy and innovation background, with a commitment to the effective use of digital platforms to improve the delivery of health services. His passion for the NHC stems from his family’s experiences as members and his strategic roles in developing and communicating health policy for the Australian Government.
Alison Wright
With over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles, Alison has a wealth of diverse industry and business expertise. She has served as a change and crisis leader with global businesses and worked for small, medium and large organisations.
Prior to joining the National Health Co-op, Alison was the Assistant Director of the National Gallery of Australia, shaping and delivering major strategic initiatives for the nation’s largest visual arts institution for five years. Her broad portfolio included communications, customer service, marketing, philanthropy, Government relations and ICT. She spent almost eight years working in China in two different roles and commenced her career as a journalist with the ABC. She has also served as a Board Director with the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service.
She commenced at the National Health Co-op in December 2019 as interim CEO and was officially appointed in March 2020.
Our Board
The NHC is overseen by a Board of nine Directors elected by members along with Executive Director and CEO Alison Wright.
Directors govern on behalf of the Members. All Directors must comply with basic legal requirements under the Co-operatives National Law (ACT) Act 2017 which specifies a duty to act in good faith and honesty, act with care and diligence, avoid a conflict of interest, not to abuse a corporate opportunity or misuse information, and not to trade while insolvent.

Linda Addison
Board Chair

Georgina McKenzie
Chair Audit and Risk Committee

John Angley
Director

Katy Balmaks
Director

Tony Gargan
Director

Rosemary Kennedy
Director

Jude Burger
Director

Michael Rigo
Director

Craig Thomler
Director

Alison Wright
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Our cooperative structure allows members to contribute to governance of the NHC
We’re proudly member-owned and our cooperative constitution ensures that we operate for the benefit of members.
A core benefit in joining the NHC is owning a part of the cooperative structure. At a time when our society has made healthcare unaffordable for many people, this is your chance to give back and contribute to an essential service. As a member you can vote in the Board election, which is held each year at our Annual General Meeting. The elected Board Directors are responsible for setting the strategic direction, establishing effective governance, evaluating performance and assuring financial sustainability for the business.
Full details on membership entitlements are included within the NHC Rules.
Annual Reports
As a member-owned cooperative and a registered charity we provide full transparency on our financial and business performance. This included in our Annual Report, which is presented to members each year at the Annual General Meeting.

2019-20 Annual Report

2019-20 Financial Report

2018-19 Annual Report

2018-19 Financial Report

2017-18 Annual Report

2016-17 Annual Report

2015-16 Annual Report
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