Executive Personnel
Ms Fiona Brew
Chief Executive
Fiona Brew RN, Perioperative Certificate, Grad Dip Acute Care Nursing, MACN, MBA, GAICD
Fiona commenced with Colac Area Health in June 2019. Fiona brings extensive regional and rural experience working across a variety of health regions in senior executive roles. She has held portfolios across both the clinical and corporate domains influencing health outcomes for local communities.
Fiona has represented the sector on numerous working groups and through ministerial appointments. Recognising that staff are the greatest asset for any organisation, drives her passion in developing opportunities for people to learn and grow. Fiona is a values driven leader and believes a safe and just culture leads to a high performing organisation.
Samantha Soggee
Executive Director of Clinical Services
Sam Soggee, RN, MN
Sam has experience working in public, private, and the not-for profit healthcare sectors. Sam has held senior leadership and management positions in the public and private sector and more recently as the Interim Executive Director of Nursing at Colac Area Health. Sam has previously been the Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Barwon Health which included a six-month secondment as Acting Director Medical Workforce Unit.
Sam has been an MDS Foundation Nurse Leadership Advisory Board (USA) member and is a past President of the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand Nurses’ Group. Sam has presented at national conferences and pioneered support services across Australia
for people with rare blood cancers (MPNs) with the Leukaemia Foundation Australia. Sam has a Masters in Nursing (Cancer/Palliative Care) and has one unit left to complete her MBA in 2025.
As Deputy COO, Sam has chaired the Aboriginal Health Improvement Initiative across the Barwon Southwest region and is committed to working with First Nations communities in improving the delivery of healthcare services. Sam is passionate about organisational redesign, culture and staff wellbeing and how this translates into excellence
in healthcare delivery.
Kay Widdicombe
Executive Director – Community Health
Kay commenced at Colac Area Health as Allied Health Manager in January 2013 with over 35 years’ experience as a Psychologist and Social Worker in the Education, Health and Welfare fields. Having established expertise in a range of clinical areas including sexual assault, educational psychology, early childhood development, and organisational development, Kay has developed service development, leadership and program management skills within the early years’ sector and more recently in the delivery of health and wellbeing services.
Kay was appointed as Executive Director Community
Health in October 2022 and is committed to providing innovative ways to provide
quality, accessible care and support for rural communities that improve health
and wellbeing.
Trevor Olsson
Executive Director – People and Culture
Trevor commenced with Colac Area Health in January 2023.
Trevor is a Human Resources Professional with a career spanning public health, local government and private sector industries over an extensive period of 35 years. Trevor has a Bachelor of Business degree and is a chartered member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Trevor brings senior executive experience together with his previous Board Director roles in the Education sector. He is passionate about developing and maintaining a high performing, culturally diverse, workplace culture that delivers safe, equitable and healthy outcomes for the Colac and the broader region
Dr Ken Cheng
Executive Director – Medical Services
Ken was appointed Executive Director Medical Services in March 2023. Ken returned to the Barwon Southwest area after brief practice at Barwon Health around 2008/09. Ken has since pursued Medical Administration, Management and Executive roles in metropolitan, regional and rural sectors, in Australia and internationally.
Ken’s role will involve providing direct support to
Colac Area Health and forging collaborations and partnerships with health
services in the Barwon Southwest region more broadly with respect to medical
workforce management, clinical services planning and clinical governance.
Ian MacKay
Clinical Director – Medical Services
Ian was appointed Clinical Director Medical Services in 2022 after serving in the role of Director of Medical Services since 2018 in a part-time capacity and remains the Director of Perioperative Services long side the Clinical Director role.
Having lived and worked in Colac for the last 30 years, he is a long standing member of the local community bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked as a GP at the Corangamite Clinic and Anaesthetist at Colac Area Health.
Ian’s role incorporates key responsibilities including effective management, leadership and support in the provision of quality care and services at Colac Area Health, and continuing to deliver care to patients in his practice.
