Christine Bennett Ao

Professor Bennett is a specialist paediatrician with over 40 years of healthcare industry experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Her roles have involved providing clinical care, strategic planning, and senior operational management. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine, a Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Paediatrics from the University of New South Wales. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and has an active commitment to and involvement in medical professional issues, social policy and medical research. Professor Bennett was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2014 Australia Day Honours in recognition of her distinguished service to medicine and health care leadership.

Professor Bennett is an experienced non-executive director in publicly listed, private and social enterprises. She is currently a non-executive director of ASX-listed Regis Healthcare (since March 2018), and an outgoing non-executive director of Telstra Health Pty Ltd. In December 2021, Professor Bennett retired from The University of Notre Dame Australia where she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Enterprise & Partnerships (in 2020 and 2021) and Dean, School of Medicine, Sydney for over ten years. Her professional experience has included being Group Executive and Chief Medical Officer for MBF and the Bupa Health and Care services, CEO and later Chair of Research Australia, Managing Director of Total Health Enterprise Ltd, Partner in Health and Life Sciences for KPMG Australia, CEO of Westmead Hospital and Community Health Services, General Manager for the Royal Hospital for Women and Head of Planning in NSW Health.