Three top jobs up for grabs as leadership shake-up hits health, aged care and disability sectors
Leadership shake-up hits Illawarra as three major CEO roles open. High-stakes appointments in healthcare, aged care and disability sectors signal a new chapter for regional power players.
Has it been business as usual this week as we all recover from the fallout of the election?
By now, you’ll have read the analysis, drawn your own conclusions and moved on, but in case you’ve been living under a rock, here are the highlights.
Labor won a majority, and Dutton slunk off into the political wilderness with ‘graceful silence’.
It was a clean sweep for female candidates across the Illawarra, with Alison Byrnes reclaiming Cunningham, Maryanne Stuart re-elected in Heathcote, and Carol Berry elected in Whitlam.
Further south, Fiona Phillips retained Gilmore over the Liberals’ Andrew Constance - again.
As we all return to getting on with our lives, The Disability Trust must find a new CEO to replace Ms Berry. In a statement on Monday, the organisation said: “The Board has commenced what will be a comprehensive search to identify and attract a new CEO to lead the organisation.”
Good luck to all those who put their hat in the ring.
It’s not often that a CEO position comes up in the Illawarra, and now there are three in the market.
Ramsay Healthcare is looking for a CEO for Wollongong and Figtree Private Hospitals. Ramsay told us that former CEO Adrian Bautista has “moved home to Western Australia and is still working with Ramsay at one of our hospitals in WA.”
While Ross Gallagher has been announced as interim CEO at IRT after Patrick Reid announced he had stepped away from day-to-day duties.
Later today, Illawarra girls will learn more about a career in property as the Property Council of Australia launches its snappily named Girls in Property 2025 program at the University of Wollongong.
Over four weeks, students will explore the industry through site tours and mentoring and become involved in project work.
The launch event includes a panel with some of Wollongong’s female property leaders from MMJ Real Estate, Frasers Property Australia, QIC and Haben Property Fund.
In other news, the NSW Government has awarded access rights to energy companies to pave the way for wind and solar farms in the Central West.
The Central-West Orana REZ is the state’s first renewable energy zone, and 10 projects have been given rights. The projects reportedly will bring 3,200 jobs to the region during construction and 870 when they are up and running.
It raises questions about where the Illawarra Offshore Wind Zone stands now the federal election is over.
In February 2025, BlueFloat Energy said it had lodged an application for a feasibility licence for the Illawarra offshore wind area but had asked for its assessment to be paused until after the election.
We called Nick Sankey, BlueFloat’s country manager in Australia, to find out what the next steps were, but he was unavailable to discuss the issue.
What we’re listening to
The Happiness Lab from Dr Laurie Santos.
Dr Santos based her podcast on the ‘psychology and good life’ course she taught at Yale University. It’s the most popular course in the university’s history and now anyone can tune into her advice.
It’s a good listen any day of the week, but right now, she’s doubled down on parenting following 2024 advice from the then-US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, who said parenting stress is a significant public health issue.
This is worth listening to if you have children or have employees with children.
Hot Ticket
The much-anticipated production of The Dictionary of Lost Words comes to Wollongong from May 29. In advance of the two-week season at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, author Pip Williams and playwright Verity Laughton will be in conversation with ABC Illawarra’s Mel James on Monday, May 12.
The event is free but bookings are essential - and there will be a book signing afterwards.
What you might have missed from The Pulse Illawarra
More events to get in your diary
Now: Entries open for the 2025 Illawarra Business Awards. New categories are available this year as the local event aligns itself with the prestigious state awards. Entry Deadline is June 13, 2025. All the details here.
Wednesday, May 14: Destination Sydney Surrounds South’s Visitor Economy Symposium 2025. At The Pavilion, Kiama. Theme for the day-long event run by Destination Sydney Surrounds South, in partnership with Business Illawarra, will be “people, productivity & profit”. The program of events will be released soon. Tickets here.
Friday, May 16: The Illawarra’s Community Industry Group brings former Socceroo, human rights activist and sports analyst Craig Foster to town in May. Dubbed Liberty, Equality and the Australian Way, the lunch will be at Wollongong’s Sage Hotel, noon - 3pm. Tickets here
Sunday, May 18: Dress for Success Bubbles and Bargains at Ribbonwood Centre, Dapto. 10.30am-3.30pm. There are three sessions to choose from but for all those details and to nab a ticket quickly, go here.
Thursday, May 22: Business for Good Lunch at the Brewing Up A Storm Cafe, Burelli St, Wollongong. Noon-1.30pm. Organised by the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT. Networking and discussion opportunities open to local social enterprises and their supporters. Register here.
Thursday, May 22: Entrepreneurial Women's Breakfast at UOW’s Innovation Campus, iAccelereate Building. 7.30-9am. Register to attend here.