Farewell and thank you - Debora Picone AO

30 August 2022

Farewell and thank you – Debora Picone AO

Dear friends and colleagues,

On behalf of the Board and staff of the Commission, I extend our congratulations to Adjunct Professor Debora Picone AO on her retirement.

We are deeply grateful to have had the great benefit of her knowledge and expertise over this past decade as our Chief Executive Officer - for the work achieved under her guidance and her generous support for colleagues.

We also celebrate her remarkable 40-year career contributing at all levels of our Australian health system. While many of those years were spent at the highest levels of decision-making, Professor Picone would be the first to remind us that her early experience in nursing was always front of mind; a driving force in her efforts and achievements throughout her career.

Patients are safer in health care settings in Australia through her efforts. Professor Picone’s legacy is remarkable for its breadth and depth of impact. Among her achievements, too many to be listed here, she led significant change in safety and quality standards, clinical governance, infection control, open disclosure, informed consent, monitoring and measurement for improvement.

As we farewell our leader, colleague and friend, it is also my pleasure to advise you that Mr Chris Leahy, the Commission’s current Chief Operating Officer will act in this role while the Commission undergoes recruitment for our next Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Leahy has extensive experience at the Commission and in operations within the healthcare system and enjoys the full confidence of the Board and Commission staff. We are grateful for his acceptance of leadership at this time, allowing the Commission to seamlessly continue its work supporting safety and quality improvements.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Villis Marshall AC
Board Chair, Commission