The National Rural Health Alliance Chair, Geri Malone, is delighted to announce that David Butt is to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer in October 2016.

“David Butt is an outstanding choice to become the NRHA’s CEO. He is an experienced, effective and capable senior executive with a demonstrated commitment to rural and remote health issues”, Ms Malone said.

David is currently CEO of the National Mental Health Commission. His previous experience includes leadership roles in Rural and Regional Health Australia, CEO of the Little Company of Mary and CEO of the Australian General Practice Network.

“David’s unique background, working at a senior level in both federal and state Departments of Health and in organisations concerned with primary care, acute care and aged care provides the NRHA with an excellent understanding of the complex environment that underlies rural and remote health.

“His strong leadership skills and extensive management experience will help the NRHA to continue with its mission to support rural and remote health.”

“It is a critical time for rural and remote health, ensuring that health reforms are implemented so that they work for rural and remote communities,” Ms Malone said.

David Butt’s Bio

David comes to the Alliance after almost three years as CEO of the National Mental Health Commission. Prior, David was Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Health, Head of Rural and Regional Health Australia, and the Commonwealth’s first Chief Allied Health Officer.

Previously David spent 15 years as CEO of three major health system organisations: Chief Executive of Australian Capital Territory Health, CEO of Little Company of Mary Health Care (the Calvary group – one of Australia’s largest not for profit hospitals and health services providers) and CEO of the Australian General Practice Network.

Preceding this, David worked as an executive in a number of positions in Queensland Health, including as Executive Director of Policy and Planning and for a brief time as Regional Director of Peninsula and Torres Strait health region.