Our People

Who We Are

Behind every achievement is a team of people who care. We are colleagues, collaborators and problem-solvers who bring energy, expertise and fresh ideas to everything we do.

Our culture is grounded in kindness, inclusion and trust. We listen, communicate openly and treat people fairly. We learn from our successes, take responsibility for our challenges and encourage one another to grow. Together, we create a workplace where people feel respected, valued and empowered to make a difference.

Board of Directors

Melita Ryan – Vice Chair

MBA BSc OT GAICD

Melita is an occupational therapist, specialising in hand and upper limb therapy before moving into management consulting. Originally from Perth, Melita grew up on a farm and whilst currently located in Melbourne, she fully understands the challenges and opportunities of rural life. She joined the Omeo District Health board to share her experience and giving back to local rural communities.

Ryan Brown – Treasurer

Mr Brown has served as a director, non-executive director within the non-for-profit, public health and local government sectors for over 20 years. He has a passion for driving change and innovation to maximise both service delivery outcomes and commercial return for the community. More recently, Mr Brown has fulfilled roles as Director, Public Relations, Northern Health, Executive Director, Northern Health Foundation and currently the Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Other roles and board positions have included: Gippsland Primary Health Network, Councillor at the City of Monash, non-executive Director, AMAZE (Autism Victoria), non-executive Director, Monash Gallery of Art and advocate for people living with a disability.

Marianne Shearer – Board Director

Marianne is an experienced director and senior executive in health and education governance, risk and information management and commercial law. She is a consultant supporting community engagement, primary healthcare and rural health services, and is also Chair of Community College Gippsland and Director of Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria. Previously she was the CEO of Gippsland Primary Health Network and a Director of the Latrobe Health Assembly. Marianne joined the Omeo District Health Board to share her extensive experience in collaborative change management to design sustainable health systems and benefit the local communities.

Ann Ferguson – Board Director

Ann has an extensive background as a Financial and Commercial Manager, Civil Construction, Labour and Agri Business Companies in Victoria. She also has extensive experience as a Board member in the aged care sector. She was born in Melbourne but has lived most of her life in Longford, in Gippsland. Ann joined the Omeo District Health Board as a local land owner wanting to give back to the community and sharing her interest and expertise of aged care and integrated health services for the benefit of the community.

Harry Thomas – Board Director

Harry is an experienced IT executive with an extensive career in technical, sales and marketing. He holds a variety of Board positions and was the former Chair of Beechworth Health Service. He joined the Omeo District Health Board, sharing his extensive experience in health finance, risk, governance and regulation.

Olivia Rofe – Board Director

Olivia contributes extensive health-sector leadership and governance experience to the Board, underpinned by more than two decades in senior clinical and operational roles within the public health system.

A qualified pharmacist with postgraduate qualifications in clinical pharmacy and health services management, Olivia has also served as a non-executive director and completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course. She brings strong capability in clinical governance, strategic planning, medication management and healthcare operations, supporting informed Board oversight and meaningful outcomes for the community.

Anna Barry – Board Director

Anna brings a unique combination of nutrition, hospitality and wellness expertise to the Board. As a registered accredited nutritionist with a Master of Human Nutrition, she supports individuals through proactive, personalised, science-based strategies.

 She also draws on 15 years' experience as a private superyacht and high-performance chef, strengthening her commitment to informed decision-making and positive community outcomes.

  Anna joined the Omeo District Health Board to share her expertise and commitment to improved health outcomes for local communities. She has a passion for accessible, consumer-centred healthcare, as well as positive engagement and collaboration between partners. Anna comes from a generational farming family with deep roots in the Omeo region, giving her a genuine understanding of rural living and community needs, and a personal investment in the region's future alongside her professional contribution to the Board.

Executive & Management Team

(Individual images & profiles)

Chief Executive Officer MHA, MBA, BSc HIM, AFACHSM - Daniel Cziperle

Daniel Cziperle is an experienced healthcare executive with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable healthcare services for rural communities. He provides strategic leadership across Omeo District Health, working closely with staff, clinicians, community members and partners to ensure accessible, person-centred care and positive health outcomes for the region.

He is passionate about strengthening rural health services, supporting workforce development, and fostering strong partnerships that benefit the local community.

Director of Community Health & Partnerships - Darren Fitzpatrick

Born and raised in the Omeo region, Darren Fitzpatrick has dedicated much of his career to supporting the health and wellbeing of his local community. As Director of Community Health & Partnerships, he works closely with community members, healthcare providers and partner organisations to strengthen local services, improve access to care, and support positive health outcomes across the region.

Darren is passionate about rural healthcare and community development, bringing a strong understanding of local needs and a commitment to building lasting partnerships that benefit the communities Omeo District Health serves.

Director of Nursing – Anne-Marie Gielis

Anne Marie Gielis is an experienced Registered Nurse and healthcare leader with more than 10 years of clinical and management experience across rural, remote and regional health services throughout Australia.

She has extensive experience in emergency care, urgent care, acute nursing, aged care, mental health, Aboriginal health services and remote area nursing. Anne Marie has held senior leadership positions including Director of Nursing, Health Service Manager, Clinical Manager and Nurse Unit Manager, leading multidisciplinary teams and supporting high-quality, patient-centred care.

Anne Marie has a particular interest in rural and remote healthcare, workforce development, clinical governance, quality improvement and aged care services. She has worked extensively within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and remote communities across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Director of Medical Services – Delia Wong

As Executive of Medical Services/Chief Medical Officer, Dr Delia Wong provides strategic leadership and oversight across medical workforce planning and management, medical education and training, and clinical support services including pharmacy, pathology, and medical imaging. Delia also serves as Director of Medical Services at Omeo District Health and Orbost Regional Health. She is dedicated to delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care through robust governance and meaningful clinician engagement.

Previously, Delia served as Deputy Executive Medical Services at BRHS for two years and has held a range of senior leadership positions across both public and private healthcare settings. Her prior roles include Director of Medical Services at Cabrini Health and Interim Director of Medical Services at Barwon Health, where she led key quality and safety initiatives and drove continuous improvement in service delivery.

Delia is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA). She completed her undergraduate degrees in Medicine and Medical Sciences at University of Southampton (UK) and holds master’s degrees in health management and public health from the University of New South Wales. holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Medical Sciences from the University of Southampton (UK) and a Master of Health Management and Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales. She has a strong interest in digital health solutions and is a Certified Health Informatician Australasia (CHIA) through the Australasian Institute of Digital Health. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). 

Join Our Team

We welcome passionate, skilled and community minded people who want to make a difference. Board Director opportunities are recruited annually, providing an opportunity to contribute your expertise, perspective and leadership to our organisation.

For current vacancies and other opportunities, visit our Careers page.