Christine Bessell

Dr Christine Bessell was appointed to the Austin Health Board in July 2016. She was appointed interim Chair in March 2020.

Christine is an experienced obstetrician and medical executive who brings a passion for and experience in the provision of effective, safe and patient centred public hospital care. She has previously practised obstetrics in the private and public sectors in metropolitan Melbourne and has been the Director of the Labour Ward at Monash Medical Centre, Clinical Director of Women's Health at Southern Health, and the Director of Medical Services at the Angliss Hospital and at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. She was Chief Medical Officer at the Royal Women's Hospital from 2004 until 2014. She has recently provided consultancy advice in obstetrics, maternity services, clinical governance and patient safety to the Chief Executive of Djerriwarrh Health Service (Bacchus Marsh) and to other regional and rural health services across Victoria. She is a member of the Victorian Board of the Medical Board of Australia.

Dr Bessell is chair of Austin Health's Primary Care & Population Health Advisory Committee and a member of the Clinical Safety & Quality Committee and Community Advisory Committee.