The leading network of Health, Human Service and Public Sector Leaders.
Our Executive Search & Recruitment network is unrivalled, and by engaging HG we connect our clients to the best talent from around the world. As the competition for talent intensifies, domestically and globally, our clients trust in our ability to secure a successful and timely appointment, the first time, every time.
Recent Key Appointments
Organisations trust HardyGroup
to find great talent to deliver on their mission.
Andrew McSweeney
Chief Executive | Otago Polytechnic
Dr Deon Gouws
Chief Medical Officer | Momentum Clinical Research & Pacific Clinical Research Network.
Lisa Smith
Divisional Director, Nursing and Midwifery | Women’s and Children’s at Northern Health.
Julia Cooper
General Manager of Health Roundtable | Beamtree
Lindsey Webber
Chief Executive | Comcare Trust.
Andrew McSweeney
Chief Executive | Otago Polytechnic
HG is delighted to announce Andrew McSweeney as the new Chief Executive of Otago Polytechnic.
Andrew brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience across public and private sectors, including roles as Deputy Chief Executive at Te Pūkenga, CEO of ServiceIQ, and most recently General Manager, Safety Risk and Resilience at Citycare Property. He has led major transformation programs, strengthened stakeholder partnerships, and delivered measurable improvements in financial performance, service delivery, and learner engagement.
Holding a Bachelor of Applied Management (Distinction) and as a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors (NZ), Andrew is committed to innovation, equity, and sustainability. His leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of vocational education at Otago Polytechnic.
HG congratulates Andrew on this appointment and looks forward to his continued impact.
Dr Deon Gouws
Chief Medical Officer | Momentum Clinical Research & Pacific Clinical Research Network.
HG is delighted to announce Dr Deon Gouws as the new Chief Medical Officer at Momentum Clinical Research & Pacific Clinical Research Network.
Deon began his career as a basic scientist before pursuing clinical medicine. He holds additional qualifications in law, business and critical care medicine. This combination has enabled a diverse career at the intersection of science, medicine, commerce and governance. He has held various physician executive roles ranging from human resourcing to pharmaceuticals, consulting and the federal public service.
He has a well-developed understanding of the pharmaceutical research and development process, clinical trial programs and projects, working closely with diverse stakeholders and building highly effective teams. The appointment with Momentum Clinical Research & Pacific Clinical Research Network is an excellent fit and will allow further opportunity to deliver impactful research; develop high quality data; and advance much needed therapeutic options.
HG congratulates Deon on this appointment and looks forward to his continued impact.
Lisa Smith
Divisional Director, Nursing and Midwifery | Women’s and Children’s at Northern Health.
HG is delighted to announce the appointment of Lisa Smith as Divisional Director, Nursing and Midwifery, Women’s and Children’s at Northern Health.
Lisa brings over 20 years of experience in women’s and children’s health, with a strong track record in executive leadership, clinical governance, operational management and strategic service development.
Most recently Divisional Director at Western Health, she led maternity, neonatal, paediatric, and women’s health services, overseeing a $132M budget and over 750 FTE. Her achievements include commissioning innovative service models such as Public Fertility Services and Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs, implementing divisional governance frameworks, and driving cultural transformation programs that improved workforce engagement. Lisa facilitated the optimisation of maternity and newborn services between Joan Kirner and Bacchus Marsh, including the expansion of Midwifery Group Practice. Her dedication to evidence-based care is further evident in her development of continuity-of-care pathways, enhanced antenatal services, and culturally responsive maternity programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies.
HG is thrilled for Lisa as she steps into this role with Northern Health.
Julia Cooper
General Manager of Health Roundtable | Beamtree
HG is delighted to announce the appointment of Julia Cooper as General Manager of Health Roundtable at Beamtree
Julia is a dynamic health executive with more than 20 years’ experience spanning frontline clinical practice, executive health service leadership, and senior consulting roles with top-tier firms. She combines clinical credibility with system reform expertise and commercial acumen, enabling her to translate benchmarking and analytics into strategies that deliver measurable improvement, member value, and sustainable growth.
Julia has partnered with Boards, CEOs, and government leaders across Australia and New Zealand to rebuild trust, embed reform, and deliver outcomes that align closely with Health Roundtable’s mission of cross-member learning and collaborative innovation.
HG congratulates Julia Cooper on her appointment with Beamtree.
Lindsey Webber
Chief Executive | Comcare Trust.
HG is delighted to announce Lindsey Webber as the new Chief Executive of Comcare Trust.
Lindsey is a highly experienced leader with more than two decades working across the health, community care, and social services sectors. Her previous roles include Chief Executive of the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation and Deputy Chief Executive of Hauraki Primary Health Organisation, where she guided major service developments and strengthened equity outcomes.
Lindsey brings a strong background in governance, clinical leadership, and strategic planning, supported by postgraduate qualifications in health and executive leadership. Known for her values driven approach, she is committed to improving outcomes and fostering collaborative, innovative practice.
HG congratulates Lindsey on this appointment and looks forward to her ongoing contribution to the sector.
HG’s Panel Partnerships
HG is a trusted advisor and provider of permanent and interim recruitment solutions for clients across Australia and New Zealand. In circumstances which require it, HG can also be your partner of choice by engaging us through the following government panels.
WA Country Health Service Panel
SA Recruitment Agency Services Panel
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Panel
Executive Recruitment Panel
Central Australia Health Service Panel
All of Government Talent Acquisition Services (TAS) contract.
NSW Government Talent Acquisition Scheme
LGA Procurement – Labor hire and recruitment Services
Recruitment and Immigration Agency Panel Primary Agency – Canberra Health Services
Local Buy Pre-qualified Supplier
The Management Advisory Services (MAS) Panel
Industries we serve
Public Health
Private Health
Primary u0026 Community Care
Aged Care
Disability Services
Public Sector
Meet our Principal Consultants
HG’s Principal Search Consultants have held Chief and Senior Executive roles within the industries we serve. Their extensive leadership profiles enable them to swiftly establish trust and rapport with both clients and candidates, clearly understand the roles they have been asked to recruit to and importantly, the organisational and environmental context in which they exist.
Our evidenced based search methodology, extensive networks and talented team have led to the successful placement of 4,000+ executives.
Lynette Taylor
Executive Director, Search & Recruitment
A senior executive leader with experience in private and public sectors across health, logistics and human resource sectors. With nearly two decades of experience as a senior executive in a multinational company, Lynette brings a comprehensive global and commercial perspective to her role, focusing on the attraction, retention, and development of executive-level candidates.
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Ingle is the Chief Executive Officer of HG. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, he conducts senior executive and board recruitment assignments and facilitates HG’s Executive Learning Sets. Paul has been a Chief Executive in both the public and private sector for over 20 years, having worked in New Zealand, the UK and Australia. He brings a wealth of experience in supporting organisational leadership, reform, employee wellbeing, and cultural transformation.
Christine Leahy
Executive Director Leadership and Learning
Christine Leahy is a seasoned executive Human Resources specialist with over 25 years of experience in prestigious national and international corporations. Armed with a Bachelor of Commerce, she has played pivotal roles in HR, aiding companies in recruiting and retaining top-tier talent, thereby enhancing organizational culture and business performance. In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Christine conducts senior executive recruitment assignments and facilitates HG’s Executive Learning Sets.
Sarah Buckler
State Manager, Queensland
Sarah Buckler has an extensive background and in-depth understanding of the public sector in Australia and New Zealand. She has over twenty-five years of experience in executive leadership roles and appointments to advisory and governing boards across public, private and quasi-government boards and authorities. Sarah is a recipient of the Australia Day Honours and was awarded the Public Service Medal for her contributions to regional development, investment attraction, public sector administration, leadership, and governance.
David Price
National Manager, New Zealand
David Price is the National Manager of HG New Zealand. He is an internationally experienced senior leader and healthcare innovator known for pioneering system design, co-design, and patient experience reform across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.
Liz Hlipala
Principal Search Consultant
Liz Hlipala has an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the healthcare sector in Australia today. She brings more than three decades of experience working in the healthcare sector at senior executive levels to any consultancy she undertakes. Liz has participated as an Executive Director of the governing boards and senior leadership teams of large health networks and the department of health in South Australia, given her an understanding of these complex organisations’ leadership and performance requirements.
Dr Karen Bridgewater
Senior Researcher
Karen is an academic researcher with experience investigating, designing, recruiting, conducting and reporting. Through her career, Karen has not only finely honed her academic and population-relevant research skills, but also forged relationships in the public and private health sectors, multiple universities, and non-government organisations. Consequently, Karen brings to HardyGroup a unique combination of established research excellence, and industry-relevant, highly valuable interpersonal relationship insights and skills.
Janine Hammat
Principal Search Consultant
Janine is a versatile senior human resources executive with many years’ experience at the executive level in both the public and private sectors. She is a proactive leader of people strategy and cultural alignment in diverse and complex organisations. Her knowledge across all facets of human resources and her ability to partner with other senior executives and staff, and to translate organisational strategy into pragmatic and operable outcomes, enables her to deliver quality results.
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