James Birch

Appointed to the Board on 1 February 2016. Appointed Chair 28 November 2019.

Jim has over 30 years’ experience in planning, leading and implementing change in health care, justice and human services.

Jim is Chair of Lifeblood (the Australian Red Cross Blood Service), Chair of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network in South Australia and a Member of the Cancer Council SA. Until recently Jim was Chair of the Australian Digital Health Agency and Deputy Chair of the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority. Prior to Jim’s current appointments he was a partner at EY Australia (formerly Ernst & Young), where he was Global Health Leader; Government and Public Sector Leader; and Lead Partner in Health and Health Care.

Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of the South Australian departments of Health and Human Services, as well as the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide; and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Justice, South Australia.

Jim was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2007 for service to the community through leadership and management roles in the health and justice systems, and in the areas of public housing and child protection services.