PCV Board Members 2024

She holds a Master of Nursing and Master of Business Administration and an Adjunct Associate Professor role at Monash University in clinical practice.

With broad strategic, operational and management experience within complex environments, her experience includes being the General Manager Specialty Medicine, cancer and critical care at Monash health, commissioning Casey Hospital at its exception and leading elements of the expansion, Director of Nursing at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital and Director of Nursing and Operations with donate Life Victoria. 

With strong leadership skills illustrated by the ability to create significant change with positive business outcomes, she engages with the workforce to align strategic outcomes and keeps individuals as core to her decision making. As a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has Board experience in the health, education and not for profit sectors, including Chair and committee membership. 

She has a strong governance, quality, safety and risk management skills demonstrated in her experience assessing against national and state accreditation frameworks as an Assessor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards for over a decade. 

Kelly has held a Board position with PCV for two years and was elected Chair at the February 2022 meeting. She is also Chair of the Governance committee. Her Board role includes supporting the CEO to deliver the strategic directions and to involve the membership in developing the direction of PCV in the future. Kelly is passionate about raising the profile and opportunities for Palliative care across all settings and ensuring consumers of palliative care services remain pivotal in policy and funding decisions. She looks forward to supporting PCV as the Victorian peak body to develop and implement the strategies that improve services for our community.

Kate has a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Genetics and Psychology), a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology and recently graduated with an MBA and Master of Leadership.

Since arriving at MND Victoria, Kate has facilitated the development of the strategic and business plans, the re-architecture of the organisation’s IT infrastructure and the selection and implementation of a new client and customer management system. Over the last 18 months she has ably led MND Victoria through the challenges of COVID restrictions, ensuring that people with MND in Victoria and Tasmania have continued to receive the high-quality services and supports they require.

MND is a rapidly progressing, life limiting neurological disease with no effective treatment and no cure. Average time from diagnosis to death is 27 months. Kate ensures that people living with MND in Victoria and Tasmania are well supported, informed and have access to services, including palliative care, throughout their MND journey.

Through her work at MND Victoria and in previous roles, Kate has developed an excellent understanding of the importance of high-quality palliative care and clear communication around the benefits and broad range of palliative care supports. She brings an understanding of the needs of a group of significant users of palliative care services, with a specific range of needs.

Kate has been a member of the management committee of Knox volunteers and the Board of Extended Families and has a keen interest and depth of experience in governance, strategy, leadership and change management.

Kate sees her role as a PCV Board member is to support delivery of the strategic plan, through good governance and innovation, and to ensure that the development and delivery of PCV’s services are responding to the needs of the community it serves.

Arunesh has significant experience in strategy, operations and governance, which was gained working within commercial, finance, risk, regulation, compliance and IT functions of various organizations. 

In addition to the Treasurer role Arunesh is Chair of the Finance, Risk & Compliance Board Sub-Committee. He has worked with Board committees of various NFP and corporate organisations with a broad focus on finance, risk, audit, treasury and strategic oversight and is well versed in the governance processes. 

With his keen eye for detail and big picture thinking he assists the PCV Board in meeting its objectives.

Sandeep is a fellow of the RACGP and Palliative Medicine Chapter of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and an associate fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. Currently, he heads up the palliative care unit at Peninsula Health and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Peninsula Clinical School (Monash University). He also chairs the End of Life Care committee, which aims to improve care of the dying in any setting.

Sandeep has served as a member of the City of Monash's Disability Advisory and Multicultural Advisory Committees for four years. He was board director and deputy chair of Gippsland Education and Training in General Practice, board director with Link Health and RACGP Victoria Faculty including chair of their New Fellows Committee.

Recognizing a need to improve health literacy, especially amongst multicultural groups, Sandeep is a regular volunteer health reporter for various Hindi and Punjabi radio channels in Victoria.

Sandeep is committed to the vision and values of PCV and to improving the role of palliative care especially for those with non-malignant and chronic incurable illnesses such as advanced heart disease, airway diseases and terminal dementia.

Sandeep is also an active Australian Army reservist (Lieutenant Colonel). Formal military health command, management and leadership training and overseas deployment as an Australian Army Officer, together with his health services governance experience have placed Sandeep well to serve the PCV Board with excellence.

Angie is the Director of Clinical Care at Heathcote Health. Her previous roles included General Manager Service Delivery and Improvement with Very Special Kids in Malvern, an organisation providing support for children and their families through community programs, hospice respite, end of life care and bereavement work, and Director of Nursing / Community Health at Peninsula Health.

Angie is responsible for quality and governance within Very Special Kids and ensuring best practice in all areas including adhering to the National Standards. Her role also includes extensive collaboration and negotiation with regulatory bodies and Department of Health for funding and accreditation purposes. Financial literacy is another key component of the role ensuring organisation obligations are met and a secure financial environment is achieved. 

As a member of the Palliative Care Clinical Network within Safer Care Victoria, Angie engages with peak bodies and Department of Health in relation to policy changes, reform and risk and contributes to the wider vision of the Palliative Care Clinical Network. 

Angie utilises her research and analytical skills to find solutions to difficult problems and brings passion, drive and enthusiasm to her role as Board Member and Chair of the Governance Committee of Palliative Care Victoria.

Jennifer established and led the palliative care service at the Alfred Hospital, and subsequently consultancy palliative care services at St Vincent’s Hospital. This involved developing productive working relationships with acute services (oncology, respiratory etc) and community and inpatient palliative care services to facilitate best care of patients. At St Vincent's, she established outpatient clinics in cancer, respiratory, cardiology and renal services to enhance equity of palliative care delivery. 

Jennifer has also established vibrant clinical research programs with a particular focus on developing and testing innovative, flexible models of palliative care delivery, clinical trials and equity in care. Her research interests in equity focuses upon those experiencing social disadvantage such as people in prison or who use illicit drugs. She has also worked to develop evidence-informed tailored models of palliative care for people with non-malignant illnesses. Currently Jennifer chairs the Health Equity Steering Group of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre overseeing multiple programs to improve care.

Her current leadership roles facilitate mentorship of clinicians, educators and academics in the field of palliative care. Jennifer leads clinical trials programs focused on building research informed practice, establishing clinical trials capability and access across community palliative care services and in regional centres.

Jennifer's influence upon policy development is evident in the Triage in palliative care tool and establishing targets for palliative care in cancer care.

Jennifer has governance experience with recent roles on the Eastern Palliative Care Clinical Governance Committee and Committee of Management and is involved, (some as chair) in a number of Health services (eg. WCMICS advisory committee), University (Promotion committees, PhD Advisory Committee) and Research Program committees

Janet has held senior management roles across multiple health environments, including public, private and community settings. During this time, she has achieved successful outcomes in leading teams and developing positive work cultures. Janet’s focus is on delivering person-centred services and she is outcome focussed. Janet has an authentic and energetic style that has led to strong partnerships with key stakeholders.

Janet is socially driven, and a passionate advocate for high quality palliative care service provision that is accessible to people with life-limiting illnesses. Her previous roles include General Manager MCM Palliative Care, Chair of Clinical Governance Committee MCM, Communications Facilitator for Cancer Council Victoria and Melbourne University.

Janet is currently the CEO of Peninsula Home Hospice and has shown strong leadership in executing a new Strategic Plan with positive clinical and business outcomes. She has experience in clinical governance, strategic planning and change management.

Janet has been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nursing Practice at Monash University since 2022 and the Chair, Southern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium for almost 4 years, developing  a 3-year Strategic Plan with the members.