Board of Directors

The functions of the Board of a public health service are prescribed by the Health Services (Governance and Accountability) Act 2004. The Governor in Council, on the Minister for Health's recommendation, appoints the DHSV Board of Directors. Members reflect a mix of qualifications, skills and experience, particularly in the areas of dental health, community welfare, finance and business.

David Stevenson (Chair)

BBus(Mgt) and GAICD

Appointed to the Board in July 2018

Chair:  People & Culture Committee
Member: Finance Committee

David has over 20 years’ experience as a CEO and Senior Executive, both in Australia and internationally. He has worked with iconic brands such as Nike, and Foot Locker in the consumer goods and retail sectors.  In the sport sector, is currently the CEO for the National Basketball League, formerly CEO of the Western Bulldogs and General Manager Operations for the AFL. He is also founder and partner of Bold Works, a company that helps businesses develop their Bold future or execute bold ideas. David is passionate about developing people, setting a Bold vision, developing a strong strategic plan and focusing on execution to deliver results.

David is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Bachelor of Business (Management) from Monash University.

Nicole Bartholomeusz (Deputy Chair)

Dip Appl. Sci. (Dental Therapy), GDCH, MBA, GAICD

Appointed to the Board in July 2020

Chair: Population Health Committee
Member: Population Health Committee, People & Culture Committee

Nicole Bartholomeusz has worked extensively in public health and government in executive and non-executive roles for over 20 years and is currently the Chief Executive of cohealth, a leading Victorian community health service.

Nicole is deeply committed to providing high-quality healthcare to people who may otherwise miss out and is also passionate about addressing the social determinants of poor health such as poverty, housing and education.

Nicole’s background as a clinician, combined with a Masters in Business Administration and experience delivering public health services, puts her in a unique position to provide leadership within the health services sector.

Prior to her appointment to the Dental Health Services Victoria Board in July 2020, Nicole served as a non-Executive Board Director for Macedon Ranges North Western Metropolitan Medicare Local and Western Health. Nicole is also Chair of the Australian Health, Housing & Homelessness Network and a Council member with the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association.

Nicole has a strong interest in health policy and health system redesign, together being a trusted and collaborative partner to deliver high quality, outcome based, population health models.

Sue Banks

FCCA, MBA, GAICD

Appointed to the Board in July 2019

Chair: Finance Committee
Member: People & Culture Committee and Audit and Risk

Sue has over 20 years of board level executive and non-executive director experience across a wide range of service sectors with a recent focus on organisations with a strong community purpose.  Her current boards include: Vision Australia, where she also chairs the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee; The Bridge Inc., a significant Melbourne based disability services provider, where she is Deputy Chair and member of the Safety and Quality Committee; and South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.

Sue is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a qualified accountant and MBA.

Candice Charles

B App Sc, MBA, MPH, GAICD

Appointed to the Board in July 2022

Member: Finance Committee, Community Advisory Committee and Population Health Committee

Candice Charles has had a career in the financial, health and community sectors. She has a deep commitment to the human service sector, and in particular ensuring these services are accessible and effective for people in our community who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage.

Candice has held senior leadership positions in the financial services sector at National Australia Bank and Transport Accident Commission, and in health and community service organisations including Good Shepherd Microfinance and Breast Cancer Network Australia. Candice has also run her own consulting business. She is currently Chair of Aruma Services, one of Australia’s largest providers of disability support services. She was previously Chair of The Tipping Foundation, Deputy Chair of the North Richmond Community Health Centre and has served on the board of several other community organisations.

Candice has a Masters Degrees in Public Health and Business Administration from the University of Melbourne. She has a strong interest in clinical governance and health policy.

John Gavens

BCom (Hons), M.Acc., GAICD

Appointed to the Board in July 2019

John is an experienced board director having held directorships in water, education, coastal asset management, professional services and the disability sectors. He has experience chairing or as a member of audit, risk management, customer advisory, executive performance and remuneration, environmental advisory and reconciliation action plan committees. He is an independent member of several audit committees. John provides strong strategic thinking capability combined with sound technical skills.

John has a background in auditing, risk management and internal audit, specialising in the public sector and local government. He is currently a Disciplinary Tribunal member and Quality Practice Reviewer for Chartered Accountants ANZ. John was a Registered Company Auditor and was a member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. He has been a volunteer member of CAANZ Advisory Group for over 20 years and navigation sports.

Catherene Pham

M.S, Adv. Grad. Specialist Cert. (Prosthodontics), BDS, BSc (Hons), GAICD, FGIA

Appointed to the Board in July 2024

Member: Audit & Risk Committee and Community Advisory Committee

Catherene’s diverse background as a Specialist Prosthodontist Dental Surgeon in Australia and internationally, and as a business executive and technology visionary with over 25 years of experience, puts her in a unique position to provide leadership within the health services sector. She is passionate about equitable accessibility to the highest standard of healthcare, legal resources and education for all socio-economic communities, empowering domestic violence victim-survivors, data cyber protection and clinical governance.

Catherene is the Founder and current CEO of BioPhamTech Group, an IT and Biotechnology consulting company.

Catherene is a current Board Director of the Holland Foundation, and has previously served as Company Secretary of The DV Collective and Treasurer and Finance Audit Risk Committee Member for Georgina Martina Inc.

Catherene is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a Certified Community Director of the Institute of Community Directors of Australia, and a Tableau Certified Consultant.

Charles Power

BEc (Hons) LLB

Appointed to the Board in July 2020

Chair: Audit and Risk Committee
Member:  Safety and Quality Committee

Charles is a legal practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in workplace relations and safety law.  He has been partner of the law firm Holding Redlich since 2002.  His board experience includes service on the Committee of Early Learning Association Australia between 2014 and 2018.

Charles is accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria as a workplace relations specialist.

Katherine Stevens

BN JD

Appointed to the Board in July 2021

Member: Safety and Quality Committee and Community Advisory Committee

Katherine has worked extensively in public health as a nurse, lawyer, and leader for over 20 years at a variety of public health services across Victoria. Katherine has advised on matters of governance, the law and Board operations.

She has also been responsible for the translation of strategy into innovative policy and responsive legal frameworks. In previous roles, Katherine has been responsible for a wide range of matters across operational and structural change, strategy development, and the delivery of major capital developments.

Antony Tobin

MBBS, FRACP, FCICM, DTM&H, MEpi, MHM

Appointed to the Board in July 2018

Chair: Safety and Quality Committee

Member: Population Health Committee,

Antony is the Chief Medical Officer at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. He trained in respiratory and intensive care medicine and has worked as a consultant in the intensive care unit at St Vincent’s since 2003.

Antony chairs a number of quality and planning committees within the hospital and has research interests in clinical outcome analysis.  He has post graduate qualifications in epidemiology and health management.