The Board

The Board's role is to:

  • provide strategic leadership and direction for CareFlight;
  • set management's goals and approve the annual budget;
  • progressively monitor and review the Company's risk management strategies including the integrity of internal control and management information systems.

The Board monitors and reviews the Company's compliance with its statutory obligations, not only to meet the Company's legal obligations, but also to provide assurance to the thousands of generous CareFlight supporters that their decision to support CareFlight is making a difference to the community.

The Board also appoints and monitors the performance of the Chief Executive Officer, who is accountable to the Board for the management of CareFlight within the policy and delegated authority levels approved by the Board.

Directors are expected to act with the highest ethical standards, having regard to CareFlight's mission and values, its charitable status and its community service ethos. The Board supports and observes the Code of Conduct for Directors issued by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Non-Executive Directors serve in an honorary capacity and receive no remuneration for their services as Directors. The two Executive Directors receive remuneration in their roles as salaried officers.

The Corporate Governance Statement appears in full in the Annual Financial Report.

The Directors

Dr Andrew Refshauge

The Hon Dr Andrew Refshauge MBBS, FAICD

  • Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Chairman of the Board

Andrew was the Deputy Premier of NSW from 1995 until 2005 and has held the portfolios of Health, Planning, Housing, Education, Training, Treasury, State Development and Aboriginal Affairs. He currently maintains a Leadership Coaching practice with Executive Central Group and also runs his own Consultancy. Andrew is a Director of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and Chairs the Investment Committee of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. Andrew has been a Director since December 2007.

Ian Badham

Ian Badham OAM, BSc

  • Executive Director
  • Manager Media Relations
  • Member of the Audit Committee

Ian was a co-founding member of CareFlight. A journalist for 30 years, Ian has extensive corporate administration experience and has been involved in the development of civil helicopter rescue services in Australia since 1971. He has served on the board of the Australasian chapter of the International Society of Air Medical Services, and in 2006 was invited onto the Board of Directors for the US-based Association of Air Medical Services. Ian has been a Director since May 1986.

Sean Beehan

Dr Sean Beehan MB, ChB, FANZCA

  • Independent Non-Executive Director

Sean is a specialist anaesthetist in the public hospital system, private practice and retrieval medicine. He is an experienced operational CareFlight crew doctor, having joined CareFlight in1989. Sean has been a Director since July 2002.

David Bowen

David Bowen BA, Dip Law

  • Independent Non-Executive Director
  • Nominee Director of the MAA

David is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lifetime Care and Support Authority. Until recently he was General Manager of the NSW Motor Accidents Authority (MAA), a position he held since December 1998. Before that, David was with the Attorney General’s Department for more than 10 years, as Assistant Director of Policy and Legislation and Director of Community Relations. He is a member of the Government Agency Road Safety Committee and the Road Safety Taskforce. David has been a Director since December 2007.

Derek Colenbrander

Derek Colenbrander BA, LLB

  • Executive Director
  • Chief Executive Officer

Derek has had a long career in private legal practice as a corporate and commercial lawyer. A former partner of a Sydney law firm, he was legal advisor to CareFlight for many years. Derek has been a Director since December 2003 and was appointed CEO in December 2004.

John Szangolies

John Szangolies FAICD, FCIA

  • Independent Non-Executive Director

John has wide experience in marketing and corporate administration and the hospitality and catering industry. He is the founder and Managing Director of Lowenbrau Keller. John has been a Director since August 2004.