Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, It was a pleasure to attend the 2025 Exceptional People Awards at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Across eleven categories, we celebrated staff and volunteers who are delivering exceptional care, driving innovation and strengthening connections with our patients, families and communities. I was privileged to present Associate Professor Brian Burns with this year’s Chief Executive Commendation for his leadership in emergency medicine and trauma research. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a colleague or team. We had a record 265 nominations this year which is a true testament to the extraordinary work taking place every day. You can see all the photos from the night, as well as view videos about our winners on the intranet here: https://bit.ly/EPAs-2025. I was thrilled to present NSLHD eServices librarian Katie McKnight with the district’s very first Emblem of Kindness. The Emblem of Kindness program launched across NSW Health celebrates the small acts of kindness happening across the health system. Katie is known to many staff members and visiting researchers as someone who constantly goes above and beyond to help others and make a positive impact – congratulations Katie.
In other great news, the district announced that Jennifer McConnell has been appointed permanently to the position of General Manager of Ryde Hospital. Jenny has held a number of senior leadership roles throughout the district and has been acting as the General Manager of Ryde Hospital since 2023, where her commitment to staff and patient care have shone through. Jenny will continue to help guide the hospital through the incredibly exciting $526.8 million redevelopment, which will be a major benefit to the Ryde community. The ‘Raise It’ public awareness campaign has been launched to help promote and support the implementation of a statewide phone number (1800 777 333). ‘Raise It’, formerly known as REACH, empowers patients, carers and family members to speak up if they notice concerning changes in a patient’s condition. It offers a clear and consistent process for all NSW public hospitals and health services, helping ensure concerns are escalated quickly and the right care is provided without delay. I would like to thank the team involved in assisting with the implementation of ‘Raise It’ across our health services and sharing the new materials with our patients and their loved ones. Warm regards, Anthony Schembri Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 6| 10 APRIL 2026
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