Practice Managers Forum

Cathy Baynie has career long experience in the Health Industry as a Registered Nurse and Practice Manager, having managed both general and specialist practices. Previous roles include Accreditation Surveyor and Practice Management Advisor to the NSW Australian Medical Association as well as Academic Director, Health Programs University of New England Partnerships. Cathy Past State and National President of AAPM.

Cathy is a firm believer that the Practice Management Workforce is crucial to the development of strong systems of leadership, governance and management enabling the delivery of quality care to Australian Communities.

Kylie Chown is a LinkedIn Strategist, Speaker, and Trainer, dedicated to helping professionals enhance their digital presence. As the Director of My Digital Brand, Kylie has over a decade of experience and was Australia’s first Certified Social Media Crisis Advisor. She’s trained thousands across Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, focusing on topics like LinkedIn profile optimisation, digital first impressions, and social media crisis management.

Kylie’s work has led to significant growth for attendees, with feedback praising her practical, actionable strategies. Notable clients include Lenovo, the Australian Institute of Management, and the Association of Professional Builders.

Anna-Maria Gibb is an experienced healthcare management professional and trainer with over 25 years across primary healthcare, education, and health technology. She is a recognised leader in technology-driven healthcare safety, quality, and operational excellence.

As Customer and Industry Engagement Manager at Avant Business Solutions, Anna-Maria works closely with Australian medical practices and industry stakeholders to support practice management, compliance, and the broader digital transition in healthcare. Her role spans strategic engagement across a suite of solutions designed to help practices streamline operations, reduce administrative burden, and focus on delivering quality patient care.

Craig Hong is a Director of Hillhouse Legal Partners and leads the firm’s Corporate & Commercial team, including its specialist Health & Medical practice.

Craig’s expertise spans a broad range of commercial law matters, including business structuring, intellectual property, contract advice, business sales and acquisitions, leasing and trusts, as well as wider organisational matters such as employment law and corporate governance. He brings extensive, industry-specific expertise to the health and medical sector, advising individual practitioners and specialists, medical groups of all sizes, and hospitals through to ASX-listed healthcare providers nationally. He is also a sought-after presenter within the sector.

Craig regularly supports practitioners at all stages of their career lifecycle – from interns and registrars, through to the transition into private practice, and from practice establishment and growth to succession planning and sale. He takes a flexible and responsive approach to working with busy medical professionals, enabling them to focus on patient care while he manages their legal needs. This includes clear communication and meeting clients either in person or remotely, often outside standard business hours.

Craig is well regarded for his pragmatic and commercially focused approach, particularly in contract drafting and strategic legal advisory work.

With more than three decades of experience working alongside small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Belinda is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals. She specialises in business advisory and taxation, partnering with SMEs, individuals, and not-for-profit organisations to develop tailored, long-term tax and accounting strategies that consider every aspect of their financial landscape. With extensive experience in the medical, dental, and allied health sectors, Belinda provides comprehensive advice on tax planning, service trusts, income tax, payroll tax and wealth creation — supporting both practitioners and their practices.

Vanessa James-McPhee is a trusted HR and employment law advisor to Australia’s private health sector. As Principal Workplace Consultant at HR in Health, she helps practice owners and managers navigate complex workplace laws with confidence.

With over two decades of experience, Vanessa drafts employment contracts, advises on and guides practices through dismissals, and interprets modern award and Fair Work obligations in practical, business-friendly ways. Her focus is on ensuring compliance while protecting practices and their stakeholders. Known for her pragmatic and strategic approach, she equips managers and business owners with the clarity and tools to run compliant, people-first practices.

Marko is a Senior Associate in the commercial and corporate law practice at Avant Law, based in Melbourne. Marko has broad based experience practising in law firms and in-house legal roles in the areas of commercial law, corporate and regulatory governance, and litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Since 2023, Marko has focused on working with health practitioners and medical practices, primarily on commercial acquisitions and sales, governance, dispute resolution and intellectual property matters in order to help clients achieve both their strategic and commercial objectives. In working with his clients, Marko has developed a reputation of being a trusted advisor who can bridge the gap between legal expertise and effective communication. 

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Marko completed his Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Toronto with a focus on Behavioural Neuroscience and with multiple publications in a peer-reviewed scientific journal for behavioural neuroendocrinology. Marko also attends and delivers presentations at conferences for doctors on commercial matters related to private practice. 

Noni Robertson is the General Manager of Health Practice Creations Group, bringing over 20 years of experience in the medical industry. She specialises in the strategic development and operational management of specialist practices, particularly within dermatology. Her expertise spans healthcare administration, practice setup and expansion, financial oversight, HR and recruitment, workforce leadership, accreditation and compliance, and strategic planning. Noni is passionate about aligning operational frameworks with clinical excellence and financial performance, and she is dedicated to empowering Practice Managers to evolve from administrative roles into strategic leaders.

Kendall Schutz is the Founding Director of Nexus Co Solutions, a healthcare consulting firm supporting medical and allied health practice across Australia.

With more than 23 years’ experience in the healthcare industry, including over a decade in executive leadership roles, Kendall specialises in helping practice strengthen governance, streamline operations, and build high-performing teams.

Holding diplomas in Practice Management, Accounting and Human Resources, she brings a unique blend of operational, financial, and people-focused expertise to healthcare organisations. Kendall has worked extensively across specialist and multidisciplinary settings including dermatology, orthopaedics, urology, ENT and allied health practices.

Through her work, Kendall is passionate about empowering clinicians and practice managers to build sustainable, well-structured practices that support both exceptional patient care and strong organisational culture.

Dr Ira van der Steenstraten trained as a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and systems therapist in The Netherlands and worked in a variety of medical and therapeutic settings as a consultant psychiatrist.

Currently working as an Associate Coach and Facilitator for Capstan Partners, Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider of coaching and coaching education, Ira is also the founder and director of Vitae Wellbeing Leadership and Breeze Life Coaching that specialise in personal & professional wellbeing and leadership. She is a founding member of the ‘Doctors who coach Doctors’ network.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) commissioned her to develop and facilitate the award-winning “Resilience on the Run” and “Wellbeing at Work” programs which were supported by Queensland Health. These programs empowered over 4000 interns to take better care of themselves and others.
Ira has a special interest in doctors’ health and wellbeing. She is the immediate past President of the Queensland Medical Women’s Society (QMWS) and the Vice President of Doctors’ Health in Queensland (DHQ) management committee.

Emily Swan is the Head of Practice Advisory at Avant Business Solutions. With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Emily has held practice manager positions across various multidisciplinary clinics, including cardiology, geriatrics, respiratory and sleep, and neurology. Her expertise lies in business growth and development, strategic planning, and operational efficiencies. Emily is dedicated to enhancing healthcare practices through innovative solutions and effective management strategies.

Lena Wallish is a health technology product leader whose work is deeply rooted in clinical expertise and a firsthand understanding of how care is delivered. Driven by a commitment to improving the working lives of healthcare professionals, she designs products that aim to address the real challenges clinicians face — from administrative burden to fragmented workflows. Her clinical background informs every stage of the product lifecycle, helping to ensure solutions are practical, effective, and built with the people delivering care firmly in mind. Lena bridges the gap between clinical insight and technology, translating the challenges of the frontline into tools that allow healthcare professionals to focus on what matters most: their patients.