Our Team

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Our Team

Linda Cutler – Executive Director

The NSW Director General of Health Robyn Kruk announced the appointment of Linda Cutler as the Executive Director for the Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching in early January, 2006. Ms Cutler was the Director of Clinical Operations for Greater Western Area Health Service at that time and commenced her new role in March 2006.

"Linda will provide excellent leadership to the Institute as she has extensive clinical and health management experience over 25 years. Linda has worked in a variety of roles in the health sector, having started her career as a nurse in Canada," Ms Kruk said at the time of Linda’s appointment.

Ms Cutler holds degrees in nursing and nursing administration. Linda has first hand knowledge and experience of the particular challenges of working in health services across rural and remote NSW. She will bring a depth of understanding of health service delivery that will promote effective strategy development by the Institute.

Linda's previous senior roles in Area Health Service management will also ensure that partnerships with clinicians and Area Health Services maximise the potential of the Institute.

Well known as a rural advocate, and having spent her entire life in a rural environment, Linda is finding the role of Executive Director both a stimulating and challenging one, utilising all of her knowledge of the rural and remote healthcare sector to progress the aims of the IRCST, and offering new and exciting programs to our rural and remote workforce.

CAREER HISTORY

Jan 2005-Feb 2006 Director of Clinical Operations, Greater Western Area Health Service
July 2004 – Dec.2006 Deputy Administrator, Greater Western, Far West Division
March 2004 – July 2004 Chief Executive Officer, Far West Area Health Service
Nov. 2001 – March 2004 General Manager, Lower Hunter Sector, Hunter Area Health Service
March 1998 – Nov. 2001 General Manager, Upper Hunter Sector, Hunter Area Health Service
March 1997 – March 1998> Executive Officer/Director of Nursing Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone, Hunter Area Health Service
Sept 1978 – March 1997 Various nursing positions in Tasmania, Queensland and rural and remote Areas of NSW

 

Jenny Preece – Rural and Remote Health Project Officer

 

Jenny Graduated as a Registered Nurse from Royal North Shore Hospital in 1975 and worked in the rural areas of Kempsey and Tamworth, NSW. 

For the last 20 years Jenny has been a generalist community clinical nurse specialist based at Dorrigo Multi Purpose Service and has completed post graduate certification in Rural and Remote Nursing, Generalist Nursing Advanced, Adolescent Health, Community Health, Palliative Care and Health Promotion.

Jenny’s work as a generalist community nurse has enabled her to specialise in health promotion utilising a community capacity building approach to build proactive preventative health measures. The significant health outcomes facilitated by Farm Safety and Physical Activity programs has brought Jenny to the NSW Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching.

Jenny previously undertook the role of Rehabilitation Rural Clinician Network Support Project Officer. The project involved engaging rural clinicians (medical, nursing and allied health) and developed sustainable recommendations for trial and implementation; it established a structured framework for a rural clinician network for rehabilitation clinicians across rural NSW.

 

 

 

Jan Dent - Facilitator Clinical Team Leadership (Part-time)

Jan has qualifications in speech pathology (Bachelor Applied Science in Speech Pathology, University of Sydney) adult education (Graduate Diploma in Adult Education and Training, University of Southern Queensland) and business administration (Masters of Business Administration, Southern Cross University).

She majored in leadership and human resource management during her MBA. She has worked as a speech pathologist, adult educator, and manager and project manager over her 28-year career in rural health.

Jan has extensive experience of the pains and pleasures of managing/leading people in health teams, as well as managing/leading her own career. She has designed and presented workshops for regional, state and national forums, since the late 1980s.

Jan has also undertaken Coach the coach Accreditation Processes in Leadership Coaching with AnD Consulting.She has a passion in helping people improve their management and leadership skills - to improve work effectiveness and job satisfaction for individuals, as well as to improve the culture and effectiveness of organisations.

Emma Webster - Rural Research & Executive Support Officer (Part-time)

Initially trained as an Exercise Physiologist, Emma Webster comes to the NSW Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching with a twelve-year history in public health (health promotion). She brings a sound and varied research background in both social and empirical research techniques that she has applied to the areas of physical activity and the environment, tobacco control and fall injury prevention.

Emma has always worked in a rural area and understands the opportunities and constraints this context can offer. Her particular passion is developing the professional skills of local people to enhance their ability to contribute to solutions in their own communities.

Currently studying a Doctorate in Public Health at Flinders University, Emma plans to complete this in the next two years. Emma is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Rural Health (The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine).

 

Anne Field - Rural Research & Executive Support Officer (Part-time)

Anne has over 20 years experience in the health industry; all in rural NSW, and predominantly in Dubbo. After several years as Accountant, then Business Manager at Dubbo Base Hospital, Anne moved into Area roles: firstly as Health Improvement Manager, then Health Service Development Manager for the former Macquarie Area Health Service.

Anne acknowledges the difficulties of working in rural and remote settings, but recognises the many innovations that have come out of this environment.

Having completed a Master of Health Services Management (Charles Sturt University), Anne has experienced the challenges of balancing study with a career and a young family.

This position coordinates the Building Rural Research Capacity Project, as well as providing management support for the Executive Director of the Institute.