2026 HITH Society Board Elections: Meet the Candidates

Four Board positions are open for election. Voting closes Monday 16 November 2026 at 5:00 pm AEDT.

The Hospital in the Home (HITH) Society of Australasia is pleased to introduce the eight candidates standing for election to the Society's Board in 2026.

As the peak independent organisation representing Hospital in the Home across Australasia, the Society relies on the dedication of its volunteer Board to guide its strategic direction, support members and advocate for the ongoing development of hospital-level care at home.

We encourage all eligible members to take part in this year's election and help shape the future of the Society.

About the HITH Society Board

The HITH Society is governed by a Board of nine elected Directors, each serving a two-year term. Elections are staggered, with approximately half of the Board positions becoming available each year. This approach provides continuity while creating regular opportunities for new perspectives and expertise.

Board positions are voluntary and unpaid. Directors are responsible for the financial and operational oversight of the Society, setting its strategic priorities, supporting education and research, strengthening professional networks and advocating for Hospital in the Home across Australasia.

Following each election, the positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary are appointed from within the elected Board.

The current nine Board members are:

• Dr James Pollard, President

• Sue Henning, Treasurer

• Voni Leighton, Secretary

• Dr Iftah Amith

• Dr AnnMarie Crozier

• Dr Karyn Cuthbert

• Narelle Hawkins

• Laureen Hines

• Dr Michael Young

You can learn more about our current Board and its work on our About the Society page.

In the 2026 election, four Director positions are available, with eight candidates seeking election. We thank each candidate for their willingness to contribute their time, experience and expertise to the Society.

How to Vote

Voting is open to eligible financial members of the HITH Society of Australasia.

Voting opens: Monday 2 November 2026 at 5:00 pm AEDT

Voting closes: Monday 16 November 2026 at 5:00 pm AEDT

All eligible members should have received an individual voting invitation from Vero Voting, the independent election provider, sent from support@verovoting.com.au.

If you have not received your voting invitation, please check your junk or spam folder.

If you are still unable to locate the email, please contact us at admin@hithsociety.org.au so we can follow up with Vero Voting.

Please remember that:

• Each eligible member can vote only once.

• Once submitted, your vote cannot be changed.

• Only votes submitted before the closing deadline will be counted.

Meet the 2026 Board Candidates

The following candidates are presented in alphabetical order by surname. Their candidate statements are reproduced from their election nominations to give members an opportunity to learn about their experience, perspectives and priorities for the Society.

Dr Cloe Benz PhD

Allied Health Coordinator, HITH, Perth Children's Hospital | Western Australia

Candidate Statement

My name is Dr Cloe Benz PhD, I am the Allied Health Coordinator HITH at Perth Children’s Hospital and I am seeking election on the Australasian HITH Society Board as a dual representative of Allied Health and Paediatric HITH professional groups. I have had the privilege of working in HITH as a senior paediatric physiotherapist and now Allied Health Coordinator over the last decade. My academic qualifications include a PhD in allied health service design and digital health, a Research Masters assessing telehealth effectiveness during HITH admissions and a Physiotherapy degree.

My professional career has included significant periods of clinical work in HITH services as well as two HITH service expansions for allied health across three quaternary paediatric hospitals. I have successfully led award winning innovations, acquired grants to research HITH and presented nationally and internationally on growing the utilisation and integration of allied health in paediatric HITH services. I am an established clinician researcher with a strong publication record and enthusiasm for disseminating findings to support knowledge sharing.

I am an active participant in the HITH Society including the Executive Committee as the Shadow Treasurer, the Allied Health Special Interest Group as the Research Lead, the Research Special Interest Group representing Allied Health and the 2027 Conference Committee as the Co-Chair.

My goals if successfully elected to the board are to support increased contribution from paediatric and allied health perspectives in society decisions; raise the profile of allied health and paediatric initiatives; and drive collaborative research and initiatives for both groups. My vision is to promote opportunities for collaboration between specialist and generalist services to promote equitable access to evidence based high-quality care. I am motivated to bring a new perspective to the board, contribute and empower others, and learn from established board members. Thank you for your consideration.

Dr AnnMarie Crozier

Medical Director, Hospital in the Home, Sydney Local Health District | New South Wales

Candidate Statement

It has been an honour to be a director/member of the HITH Society Board for the last 3 years and I hope to continue working with the Board on the various goals and focus of the HITH Society and its members via the Board in the future if I am elected.

By working clinically and as a manager in a large HITH service currently I believe I have a core understanding of the needs of HITH as a subspeciality and how to innovate, develop and grow in the future and assist other HITH services in Australia to which our members belong.

Working with my state Ministry of Health on a number of committees gives me a broader understanding of various HITH services and their strengths and needs which I can continue to bring to the Board.

Ongoing liaison with global HITH bodies and involvement in international HITH conferences and education also enables me to bring different perspectives and ideas to the Board for the future growth of the HITH Society , its members and directions of HITH care.

Fiona Hinchliffe

Executive Director, Health Integration and Community Care, Mater | Queensland

Candidate Statement

HITH has an increasingly important role to play in the future of Australasia’s health systems, but its full potential will only be realised through sustainable funding, consistent standards, a capable workforce and stronger system integration. I am genuinely passionate about the contribution HITH can make to patient care and am keen to help the Society shape its next phase of development.

For more than a decade, beginning as Director of Mater at Home, I have led the design, implementation, evaluation and expansion of Mater’s HITH services for publicly funded and privately insured patients. Today, as Executive Director, Health Integration and Community Care, I lead a statewide portfolio spanning HITH, virtual care, allied health, pharmacy, multicultural and refugee health, and First Nations health equity.

My experience includes securing recurrent funding for HITH expansion, developing sustainable arrangements with private health insurers, implementing an integrated digital platform and developing Mater’s Virtual Care Strategy. I have also advocated at state and federal levels for greater recognition of HITH and its role within contemporary healthcare.

Concurrently, I lead Mater’s strategic partnerships within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, working across health, research, education, government and industry. I am also developing Mater’s Connected Care Beyond Hospital Walls Strategy, informed by leading national and international models. My allied health and research background brings a complementary perspective to HITH leadership.

As a Director, I would bring strategic insight, constructive challenge and a strong commitment to collaboration, evidence and system-level change. I would welcome the opportunity to work with fellow Directors to strengthen the Society’s influence and help ensure HITH is embedded as a sustainable, high-quality and integral part of contemporary healthcare across Australasia.

Laureen Hines

Executive General Manager, Operations and Partnerships, Hospital in Your Home | Queensland

Candidate Statement

Laureen Hines is a health executive, registered nurse and nationally recognised Hospital in the Home leader with more than 26 years of healthcare leadership experience and nearly 20 years dedicated to HITH.

She established HITH services in Metro North, led Queensland's statewide HITH portfolio for 14 years, authored Queensland's first HITH Clinical Guidelines and led major statewide reforms including the HITH public-private partnership and the Commonwealth GEM HITH expansion.

Laureen is currently Executive General Manager, Operations and Partnerships at Hospital in Your Home, where she leads operations and strategic health service partnerships across South East Queensland as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

She is also contributing to the development of a stackable Master's program in Hospital in the Home and the HITH Society Executive Leadership Program in partnership with Griffith University, helping build the future workforce and leadership capability of the sector.

A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, ISQua Fellow and current HITH Society Board Member, Laureen brings extensive expertise in governance, quality, strategy, policy, partnerships and large-scale health system transformation.

She is committed to advancing safe, innovative and sustainable acute care-at-home services and strengthening the Society's leadership role across Australasia.

Voni Leighton

Co-Founder and Clinical Director, Vitalis Healthcare at Home | New South Wales

Candidate Statement

I am pleased to seek renomination to the Board of the Hospital in the Home Society Australasia and to continue serving as Company Secretary.

Having been involved with the Society's Executive Committee since 2018 and serving as a Board Member and now Company Secretary since 2022, I remain strongly committed to advancing the recognition, development and sustainability of Hospital in the Home as an essential component of Australia's healthcare system.

As a Registered Nurse with more than 35 years of clinical and healthcare leadership experience, and Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Vitalis Healthcare at Home, I bring a combination of clinical expertise, executive leadership, commercial experience and practical knowledge of developing and delivering innovative acute care-at-home services.

My experience across public and private healthcare has reinforced my belief that HITH must be recognised not simply as an alternative to hospital admission, but as an integral part of a modern, accessible and sustainable healthcare system.

I believe the Society has an increasingly important role in influencing national policy, advocating for equitable funding and access, supporting consistent clinical standards, and strengthening the professional recognition of HITH clinicians and services.

If re-elected, I would continue to focus on strengthening the Society's governance and strategic direction, expanding its engagement with government and healthcare stakeholders, and promoting collaboration across public, private and community sectors.

I am particularly passionate about ensuring that the Society represents the diversity of HITH services and professionals across Australasia, while supporting innovation, workforce development and the next generation of clinical leaders.

I would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing my experience, energy and commitment to the Board and to the important work of advancing Hospital in the Home nationally.

Dr Erik McClain

Clinical Lead, Northern Region HITH Services and Chair, HITH Society New Zealand Chapter | New Zealand

Candidate Statement

Kia Ora, I am Dr. Erik McClain. I have made a career in medicine testing, trialing, and testing again the tools and models that will help us modernize medicine delivery. HitH is one of those models in New Zealand.

As the current Chair of HitH Society Australasia, NZ Chapter, I have dedicated myself to developing and growing HitH in New Zealand. We have had many successes in an extremely challenging environment.

We could not have done it without the support and educational resources of HitH Society Australasia. I would like to give back by serving on the board.

Rajni Nair

Clinical Governance Lead, Virtual Emergency Care Service | Queensland

Candidate Statement

I believe deeply in the value of care delivered through Hospital in the Home (HITH), having witnessed its positive impact on patient outcomes and workforce experience. I have led one of Queensland’s largest HITH services and now lead clinical governance for Queensland’s statewide Virtual Emergency Care Service.

My PhD at Griffith University examines work design in HITH, reflecting my commitment to building the evidence needed to support sustainable, high-quality care.

Within the Society, I serve on the Executive Management Committee, co-lead the Research Special Interest Group, co-chaired the 17th Annual Scientific Meeting, and helped establish our inaugural joint research symposium with Griffith University.

As HITH evolves within an increasingly hybrid healthcare landscape, I would bring three key contributions to the Board.

First, I would advocate for sustainable multidisciplinary workforce models, including clearer career pathways and capability development for HITH nursing.

Second, I would strengthen research partnerships and support the translation of evidence and the Society’s priorities into policy, service improvement and better outcomes.

Third, I would draw on my statewide policy, virtual care and international experience to strengthen the Society’s connections and influence with governments, health services and international partners.

I bring a Queensland public-sector perspective, an appreciation of culturally diverse healthcare contexts, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the Society’s work.

I would be honoured to contribute to the Board and help shape a strong, sustainable future for HITH.

Dr Sandra Peters

Medical Leader, HITH and Virtual Care | Queensland

Candidate Statement

I am nominating for a director position with the HITH Society of Australasia as a clinician with a little more than 4 decades of experience in delivering direct clinical care. I am a passionate advocate for shifting healthcare to the left where it can be integrated with social services and community supports to provide a more person-centred approach to health and wellness.

In recent years I have focussed my professional development to further develop my skills in clinical governance and leadership, strategic planning (with risk management embedded at all stages of planning) and stewardship to support sustainability.

As the Society enters its next strategic planning horizon it could be timely to consider how the opportunities and risks posed by generative AI and other technological advances might impact the members and how keeping abreast of this rapidly evolving field aligns with the Society’s mission to support them in providing excellence in patient care.

We are already seeing that clinicians and consumers access and rely increasingly on resources provided by generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI). As a peak industry body, the Society is well placed to support its members with resources and educational opportunities to help facilitate the safe implementation of clinical decision, administrative and logistical support tools powered by these solutions.

The legislative environment and governance surrounding the use of genAI, digital tools and virtual modalities to deliver healthcare in Australia is struggling to keep pace in this rapidly evolving space.

Whilst not an expert by any means, I believe I have the curiosity and enthusiasm to continue exploring how the use of AI and other digital tools could (and should) be harnessed to accelerate the delivery of high quality, safe, person centred care at home.

I would appreciate the opportunity to bring that perspective to the Society as a director.

Have Your Say in the Future of HITH

The HITH Society continues to grow through the contributions of its members, volunteers and leaders from across Australia and New Zealand.

Our Board plays an important role in advancing education, research, clinical standards, workforce development and advocacy, ensuring that Hospital in the Home continues to develop as an integral part of modern healthcare.

We sincerely thank all eight candidates for nominating and for their ongoing contributions to the HITH community.

If you are an eligible member, please make sure your vote is submitted before 5:00 pm AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026.

Your participation helps shape the future of the HITH Society of Australasia.

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