Lifeblood board and executive

Meet the Lifeblood Board

We’re governed by a board of ten non-executive members and the Chief Executive. The Lifeblood Board reports to the Australian Red Cross Board, which has overall responsibility and oversight. They appoint all non-executive board members.

Along with the generic skills most boards need, our Board also needs to understand the health sector, transfusion medicine, manufacturing in a highly regulated environment, and government relations and policy. Members are generally appointed for a three-year term, but may be eligible for reappointment. 

Our Board plays a vital role in ensuring the good governance of Lifeblood. It's responsible for the organisation’s efficient operation and takes the lead in setting the culture of how we operate. It oversees strategic direction, financial and operational activities and risk management.

Professor Brendan Murphy AC (Chair)

Prof Brendan Murphy has a wealth of experience in clinical, management and public health policy areas as well as extensive Board experience. Brendan previously worked as Secretary of the Department of Health and Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government, where he led the initial national COVID-19 response. He brings diverse experience from several senior roles, including CEO of Austin Health and Director of Nephrology at St Vincent’s Health.

Brendan is currently a Director of the Australian Red Cross Society, Kidney Health Australia and is Chair of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and of the Aspire (Australian Spine Registry) Advisory Committee. He previously been a member of many other Boards, including the Centenary Institute for Medical Research, Australian Digital Health Agency, Australian Sports Commission and was a Member of the Governing Council, International Agency for Research in Cancer (WHO/UN).

Brendan’s qualifications include MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FAHMS, FRACMA (Hon), FACHSM (Hon). He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds academic appointments at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and ANU, and was awarded ACT Australian of the Year in 2021.

Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen AM – Chief Executive Officer

Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen is a proven health sector leader, with demonstrated success across public, not for profit and private organisations. In his position as Chief Executive Officer of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, he is a member of the Alliance of Blood Operators and the Asia Pacific Blood Network. He is also a member of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Global Advisory Panel, and its Regional Coordinator for Asia Pacific. Other governance experience includes his current position serving as a Director at Bank First and his previous role as Trustee Director of HESTA.

Stephen’s previous executive experience includes various roles at Mercy Health, most recently as Group Chief Executive Officer, and prior to those, Director Clinical Services South Canterbury District Health Board New Zealand.

Stephen’s qualifications include BN, MHA, Grad Cert Lead & Cath Cult, PGDipSI (Oxford) and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Lance Emerson

Dr Lance Emerson is an accomplished health sector executive with extensive leadership experience across government and not-for-profit organisations. He is currently CEO of the Australia New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Lance was formerly Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health Victoria and Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Agency for Health Information. Other previous roles include as Company Secretary and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, of which he was also a Board Director. Lance’s other previous governance experience includes Board of Management of The Climate and Health Alliance and Chair of the Public Health Association (ACT).

Lance has experience in health system strategy and reform across national and state health sectors, and brings strong governance and stakeholder leadership to complex national organisations. He holds a PhD, Master of Science (Primary Health Care), Bachelor of Science, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mike Ferraro

Mike Ferraro is an experienced Non-Executive Director with current roles including Australian Red Cross Society Board Member, Chair of CEO Circle Group, and Non-Executive Director of Firmus Technologies and Citywide Solutions Pty Ltd. He has also previously had board roles in the travel/leisure and resources sectors.

Mike has extensive executive experience in global resources, manufacturing and legal services. He was former CEO of an ASX 100 company, Alumina Limited, involved in bauxite mining, alumina and aluminium production on a global scale. Mike’s former roles include chief legal counsel of BHP, managing partner and member of executive committee of the global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills as well as investment banking in Australia and London.

Mike was born in Melbourne to migrant Italian parents. He studied Bachelor of Laws (Hons) at Melbourne University and undertook leadership programs at Stanford University and Australian Graduate School of Management. He has lived in London, commuted between Sydney and Melbourne and spent considerable periods responsible for teams in over 20 locations globally.

Kul Kargil

Kul Kargil is a strategic leader overseeing customer platforms, product and engineering which includes a growing SaaS and subscriptions portfolio. He is also a passionate leader, committed to building and developing a diverse, high performing team. Kul is the Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at REA Group, and has held various leadership roles in both Australia and Southeast Asia since joining in 2015. Before joining REA, he held senior positions in strategy, marketing and sales within the financial services sector at GE Capital and the Healthcare sector at GlaxoSmithKline.

Kul is also a member of the Australian Red Cross Society Board, is a Board Advisory for Live Well, Have Impact, and was previously a non-executive director of ManagedApp.

Kul holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Melbourne University, a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science and Marketing from La Trobe University, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Merran Kelsall AO

Merran is a professional company director of over 25 years’ standing and chair of many boards and committees. She has expertise in corporate governance, finance, audit, risk and compliance, with industry experience in financial and professional services; health; superannuation; insurance; education; contract management, utilities and major infrastructure projects, including the water industry. Her current board roles include Chair of Dementia Australia and the IFRS Advisory Council, and Director of the Tax Practitioners Board, Medical Indemnity Protection Society and TarraWarra Museum of Art. Merran’s previous directorships across the not-for-profit, public, and private sectors, include Melbourne Water Corporation, RACV, CareSuper and Vic Super.

Merran had 20 years in practice as a professional accountant and is a long-standing leader of the accounting profession in Australia and globally having served in numerous roles (for bodies such as the Australian and International Auditing and Assurance Standards Boards), and as former President of CPA Australia.

Merran holds a B Com (Hons) and MBA. She is a Fellow of CPA, CA and Financial Services Institute of Australasia, and is a Fellow Life member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Shehani Noakes

Shehani Noakes is an experienced Director and strategic advisor with strong commercial acumen and deep expertise in organisational transformation and customer experience across the finance, retail and telecommunications sectors. She serves as a Director of the International Women’s Development Agency, where she chairs the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee. Shehani co-founded and is a Director of Bookcycle – a peer to peer digital book exchange platform. She brings extensive experience in strategy through her advisory work with organisations across the corporate, government and non-government sectors including ANZ, PwC, ResilientCo and the Champions of Change Coalition.

Shehani’s executive career includes senior leadership roles with ANZ Banking Group, most recently as Retail Distribution Transformation Lead. She has also held senior management positions across Australia, Europe and Asia with organisations including Coles, Nokia Corporation and HSBC.

Shehani holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics from the London School of Economics, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Claire Rogers

Claire Rogers is a strategic leader with deep expertise in driving growth, innovation, and transformation across a broad range of financial services and for purpose entities.

Claire is the Australian Red Cross Society Board Chair. She is also a non-executive director of Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC), Spiire Limited, auDA Limited and Melbourne Business School (MBS Limited). Claire was formerly a non-executive director of Payton Capital Ltd, Methodist Ladies College, Kew, Australian Council for International Development and Chair of Ridley College, Melbourne.
Claire is Group Chair, CEO Mastermind and Managing Partner, Advisory Services at Mentorlist and co-founder of Oho, an accreditation management system for the care and community sector. Claire was previously chief executive of World Vision Australia and held senior leadership roles in multiple divisions of ANZ including Head of Digital Banking.

Claire has a BA from Melbourne University, MBA from Melbourne Business School and is a Fellow of the AICD and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Annette Ruhotas AM

Annette Ruhotas is an experienced company director for a range of private, government and not-for-profit organisations. She is Deputy Chair of the Australian Red Cross Society. Her other non-executive director roles include Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises Pty Ltd and The Reconnect Project Ltd. Annette also holds several ministerial appointments, including the NSW Department of Planning & Environment, Local Planning Panels, NSW Board of the Medical Board of Australia, the Medical Council of NSW, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration - Advisory Committee on Chemicals/ Joint Medicines Scheduling.

Annette is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) and a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary Science) with Distinction.

Amanda Sellers

Amanda Sellers is a highly experienced executive with deep expertise in finance, leadership, and governance across the beverages and FMCG sectors. She currently serves as Group Chief Executive Officer of Asahi Beverages – Oceania, and holds directorships with Asahi Holdings Australia and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Amanda also represents the industry as Nominee Director for DrinkWise, and was formerly a Director of Circular Plastics Australia (PET) Group Companies.

Amanda’s previous executive roles include Group Chief Financial Officer at Asahi Beverages, and senior financial positions with Transurban Group, Treasury Wine Estates and Fosters Wine Estates. Amanda brings substantial commercial acumen and strategic insight, with wide-ranging governance experience in both corporate and industry organisations.

Amanda holds a B Com and is FCA and CTA.

Professor Robyn Ward AM

Through her extensive career, Prof Robyn Ward has made significant contributions to higher education, clinical medicine, cancer research and health policy in Australia, both at a state and national level. She is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) and Senior Vice-President at Monash University. She also serves as Chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for the Commonwealth Department of Health. Previous governance positions have included Chair of the Medical Services Advisory Committee for the Commonwealth Department of Health, and Non-Executive Board Member of Telstra Health and the Cancer Institute NSW.

Robyn’s previous executive positions have included Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of Queensland and Director of Cancer Services at the South East Sydney Local Health District.

Robyn’s qualifications include MBBS, PhD, FRACP and FAHMS.

Gabrielle Hewitson – Board Secretary

Gabrielle Hewitson has had various roles across her career at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, initially in Inventory and Distribution at Victoria where she was Distribution Manager. She then joined the administration team for the transition to a national organisation. After undertaking governance studies, she then became Assistant Secretary and subsequently Board Secretary.

Gabrielle holds a BSc and Grad Dip Bus Admin, and is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and of the Governance Institute of Australia.