Our Board

Jacinta is an experienced business lawyer having practised in corporate (including M&A, governance, risk and compliance), commercial, litigation, regulatory and property (real and intellectual) law. She is also a governance professional, bringing over ten years of experience delivering company secretarial support services to the IHF Board.

Jacinta holds many professional accreditations and memberships, including Legal Practitioner of the Queensland Supreme Court (2005) and the High Court of Australia (2006), member of the Queensland Law Society, member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Chartered Secretary / Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute, and Approved Advisor (Advisory Board Centre).

Jacinta loves solving challenges and improving processes. She is a lifelong learner, with a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and a Master of Laws. Jacinta is the founder of Abledale Law, a local Ipswich firm, and is enjoying the opportunities open to her as a business owner to be more active in her community and to network and connect with those within her network. A fourth generation Ipswich local, Jacinta joined the Board in December 2022.

Mr Lalor has over 15 years’ experience in strategic-level fundraising and marketing execution, from corporate partnership roles at the Children’s Hospital Foundation, to National Sponsorship Manager and Director roles at Australia’s largest event series to date – The Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Mr Lalor led fundraising programs as Executive General Manager and has advised CEOs and Boards on strategic fundraising growth, risk management and investment strategies (including social impact funds and capital campaign activities). Mr Lalor is an Ipswich resident and sits on the Fundraising Institute of Australia’s board, and has a good understand of governance process, including the financial and risk management duties required in a director role.

Lyn Birnie is a finance leader with more than 35 years’ experience in senior roles in major mining companies and Queensland Government-owned power generators. She currently serves on the boards of West Moreton Health, East Coast Apprenticeships, the Legacy Club of Ipswich, Independent Regional Advocacy Service Inc and other community organisations. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Certified Practising Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Business Administration.

Ms Bloch is the Chief Executive Officer of West Moreton Health. Ms Bloch has held Executive leadership roles in the health sector for over six years and has the capability to think strategically and to lead large and complex organisations. Her knowledge of health systems and particularly West Moreton Health, will advantage the IHF in considering opportunities to achieve the shared vision.

Ms Bloch has a good knowledge of governance and risk management systems and the importance of these in contemporary organisations. Her studies in law and business also position her well to understand the environment in which the IHF must operate. In previous roles, Ms Bloch has worked collaboratively with the relevant Hospital Foundations to understand funding opportunities and constraints, look to build supporting structures to ensure good decision making and supported collaboration across organisations to ensure appropriate expenditure of funds.

Mr Church is the Chief Executive Officer of Lockyer Valley Regional Council. He has extensive experience in leading and managing local government organisations through challenging times, including amalgamation and de-amalgamation, and through the response and recovery phases of natural disasters as the designated Local Disaster Coordinator. Prior to working with local government, Mr Church held finance roles in the private sector.

Mr Church is focused on shaping the future of the region in which he lives in a meaningful way. His driving purpose is to contribute to the community by making the region more liveable for current and future generations.

Ms Miller has a wide breadth of experience in governance and community roles in the West Moreton region and executive leadership in the health and community sector.  She has extensive experience in strategic planning, risk management, community engagement and the application of corporate governance practices as an independent consultant and as an executive manager. Ms Miller’s depth of experience within primary and tertiary health settings includes hands-on knowledge of innovative program development, partnership development and the establishment of research and evaluation strategies.

Ms Miller is Chief Executive Officer of Focal Community Services a proud Ipswich disability service and has a track record of identifying and responding to new business opportunities as well as ongoing delivery against state, federal and philanthropic contracts.

Ms Miller has completed the AICD Company Directors Course in 2021 and brings a strategic mindset and respectful approach to governance roles.

Dr. Geoff Mitchell is Emeritus Professor of General Practice and Palliative Care who retired from full time work at the University of Queensland in 2019 to return to general practice. Since retiring, he has conducted health service evaluations in the West Moreton Region. He has published over 280 peer-reviewed publications and about 40 books, book chapters and other publications. His clinical practice and research experience offer an unprecedented opportunity to influence practice at the interface between primary care and specialist practice, particularly palliative care practice.

He has worked 37 years as a GP in Ipswich, and his family lived in Ipswich for 17 years. Dr. Mitchell believes it is an honor to give back to the community that has given so much to him. In addition to his longstanding general practice role, he was Head of the Ipswich arm of the University of Queensland’s School of Medicine from 2009 until its closure in 2014, and the Secretary of the Ipswich Palliative Care Association which established Ipswich Hospice as part of an integrated palliative care service. He has served on the Boards and committees of peak primary care organisations in the district from their inception to the present day. He was awarded an Australia Day award for outstanding commitment to the Ipswich community by Ipswich City Council in 2015.

Before retirement, he held many national and international professional accreditations and memberships, including the European Association of Palliative Care Primary Care Working group, Co-chair of the International Primary Palliative Care Network, BMJ regional board of Australian Fellows, member of Therapeutic Guidelines Company, the data safety and monitoring committee of Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative, Palliative Care Stream Lead of Primary Care Cancer Clinical Trials Collaborative. Geoff joined the Board in November 2022.

Ms Olsen is the Director of Enrolments and Community Relations with Ipswich Girls' Grammar School including Ipswich Junior Grammar School. Ms Olsen is responsible for all aspects of marketing and communications at the school, as well as developing collaborative relationships and partnerships to drive initiatives that enhance the school profile to the wider community and prospective families.

Previously, Ms Olsen was the Chief Executive Officer of Mackay Hospital Foundation and worked with donors, stakeholders, volunteers, staff and professionals across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service to deliver exceptional health care for our local community. Ms Olsen has a strong background in marketing and philanthropy and has demonstrated success in engaging strategically with internal and external stakeholders to develop and execute marketing and community engagement strategies.