AGPN Board of Directors

	Dr Emil Djakic AGPN Chair Tasmania Dr Djakic is a registered medical practitioner, working in the North West region of Tasmania. A graduate of the University of Tasmania, he has shown his commitment to general practice over the past ten years, working as a full-time GP, and practice principal and owner. At state level he has served on the Board of the Tasmanian General Practice Divisions for three (3) years, and was the Board representative on the Information Technology / Information Management Systems Sub-committee. Read Board Nomination
	Dr Tony Lembke Director New South Wales “The current reform process is a unique opportunity to make sure that the health system supports a model of care with general practice and primary care at its core. Any successful models for a Primary Health Care Organisation (PHCO) will need to build upon the relationships, skills and resources that exist in general practice and in our current division network”.
	Dr Arn Sprogis Director New South Wales In over 20 years in the GP policy arena I have worked with Commonwealth and State governments, Area Health Services as well as multiple private sector and non government organisations. When CEO I worked with every health minister from 1992 to 2007 (including the two currently vying to be PM) and have been an active participant in the ‘Network’ from its inception. I have a strong record in corporate governance while CEO and on the board of GPA in a large division with significant financial turnover and complex clinical activity. I am a Fellow of the AICD, on the board of NIB Foundation and an active member in my community.
	John Kastrissios
	Dr Karen Stringer Director Northern Territory “I believe in team based care, that GPs should have a lead role in clinical governance and that general practice is fundamental to effective primary health care. I believe the Network must evolve to enable better integrated and expanded primary care services with resultant improvements in access, service quality and accountability for our patients”.
	Dr Michael Nolan Director Victoria “General Practice is the heart of our primary health system. For too long it has sat outside with limited voice in improving delivery of better health to our community. Divisions have started to give it that voice and it is important that this voice be at the forefront of primary health reform”.
	Jill Downie Director Western Australia Prof. Jill Downie is Pro Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences and Prof. of Nursing at Curtin University. Prof. Downie is an established national and international researcher with numerous grants, publications and conference presentations. Prof. Downie's main areas of interest are in teaching and leaning, ageing, Indigenous maternal and child health and community health nursing. She is a non-Executive Director on the Boards of the Perth Primary Care Network and Bethanie Inc.
	The Hon. Jim McGinty Director Western Australia Jim McGinty is Chairman of Health Workforce Australia. During a 19 year term as Member for Fremantle in the Western Australian State Parliament, Jim held the positions of Minister for Health (2003 – 2008), Attorney-General (2001 – 2008) and Leader of the Opposition (1994 – 1996). As Health Minister, Mr McGinty was responsible for developing and implementing a health reform plan for WA’s hospital and primary health care sector. Jim is also on the Boards of Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Australian General Practice Network and a volunteer with Fremantle Sea Rescue.
	Paul Geyer Director Victoria Paul Geyer is a State Manager at the Australian Institute of Company Directors [AICD] – Victorian Division. Paul Geyer’s professional background in the health sector has included CEO of the Australian Practice Nurses Association Inc; GM Australia Intrahealth Ltd; and CEO Central Bayside Division of General Practice. Paul Geyer established the first health care directors’ special interest group at the AICD which is now rolled out across multiple states. Participants include primary care, secondary care, aged care, biotechs and research institutes across the not-for-profit, government and private sectors. Paul is also a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Merri Community Health Services, a 300 staff primary care provider.