Our Board

Karen Riethmuller Tully (Chair)

BA(Ed), MEd, GradDip of Financial Markets, Certificate IV in Business (Governance), CertIVTrngAssmnt, GAICD, JP

Originally appointed: 18 May 2017

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030

Karen Tully is a self-employed advocacy, facilitation, leadership and governance expert. She is currently working on a number of projects for rural and remote organisations.

Karen is:

• chair of the Board's Executive Committee
• chairperson, South West Rural Financial Counselling Service
• director, Southern Queensland Natural Resource Management
• president, Charleville Arts Gallery.

Karen is a member of Breast Cancer Association of Queensland, Isolated Children’s Parents Association, and the Queensland Rural, Remote and Regional Women’s Network.

Ethan Capewell

Originally appointed:  1 April 2024

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028

Ethan Capewell is Cunnamulla-born, South West Queensland–raised, and a proud Aboriginal man with strong lived experience of the power of community, connection, and the belief that “it takes a village to raise a child.” His adolescent and adult life has been shaped by building meaningful relationships across South West Queensland, giving him a deep understanding of the strengths, challenges, and opportunities facing rural and remote communities.

Ethan is a member of the South West Hospital and Health Service Board, where he also serves on the Safety and Quality Committee and the First Nations Health Equity Committee. He is a Board Director with the Western Queensland Primary Health Network, chairing the Consumer Advisory Committee. Through these roles, Ethan brings a grounded community perspective to strategic decision‑making, with a strong focus on culturally safe care, prevention, health equity, and improved outcomes for First Nations peoples and rural communities.

His professional background spans youth support, social and emotional wellbeing, Aboriginal community‑controlled health promotion, and regional leadership. This includes roles with Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health (CWAATSICH) and the Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health (CACH) through Deadly Choices. Ethan remains deeply committed to strengthening accessible, preventative, and community‑led health initiatives, while continuing to champion local leadership and the voices of young people across the South West.

Ethan also holds qualifications in business, nutrition, mental health, and fitness, reflecting his broad commitment to wellbeing at individual, community, and system levels.

Mitchell Rigby

Originally appointed:  1 April 2026

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030

Mitchell Rigby is a highly regarded clinician with deep roots in the South West region, having completed his primary and secondary education in Charleville before earning a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Queensland.

Since returning to the South West, Mitchell has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes, particularly in rural and remote communities. His work has focused on enhancing governance around medication management, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and sustainable healthcare services. As the current Chair of the South West Hospital and Health Service (SWHHS) Clinical Council, Mitchell collaborates with fellow clinicians to strengthen partnerships, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and drive innovative healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of the region.

Mitchell’s academic achievements reflect his dedication to professional excellence. He holds a Master of Clinical Pharmacy and a Graduate Certificate of Health Management and Leadership, a Graduate Certificate of Palliative Care, and is a Certified Health Informatician (CHIA). These qualifications underpin his expertise in clinical governance, health informatics, and patient-centred care.

Passionate about improving access to healthcare, Mitchell is committed to ensuring that individuals and families in rural and remote communities receive the care they need, when and where they need it.

Louise Winten

Originally appointed:  1 April 2026

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030

Louise Winten was born and raised in South West Queensland and lives with her husband and family on their family property in the Morven–Augathella district, where they operate a mixed cattle, Dorper sheep, and goat enterprise. She brings a deep understanding of rural industries, community resilience, and the realities of living and working in remote Queensland.

A passionate advocate for rural and regional communities, Louise has long been involved with the Isolated Children’s Parents Association (ICPA) at local, state, and federal levels, and is an active member of AgForce. She also contributes to several local committees, reflecting her commitment to strengthening community capability and access to essential services.

Louise is a Board Director of Southern Queensland Landscapes and a Director of Rural Business Solutions, incorporating Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland. She brings extensive experience in governance, natural resource management, rural business, and community engagement, with a strong focus on equitable service delivery and long‑term regional sustainability.

Ray Chandler

BBus(Acc), MPSM, CPA, GAICD

Originally appointed: 18 May 2017

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030

Ray Chandler has 30 years of experience in executive, corporate services, finance, human resource, infrastructure, project and operations management roles. He spent 21 years at Queensland Health, including at West Moreton-Darling Downs Health Service District. Ray is currently the National Mobilisation Manager at Medirest.

Ray is also chair of the Board's Finance Committee and a board member of Ipswich Hospice Care Inc.

Bruce Scott OAM

Originally appointed: 10 June 2021

Current term: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030

Bruce Scott spent 27 years in local government, public sector and not-for-profit boards. He was the mayor of Shire of Barcoo for 16 years and has held positions at the Central West Hospital and Health Service, Central West Remote Area Planning and Development Board, and Desert Channels Queensland.

For his services to the local government and community, he was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Order of Australia honours list.

Bruce is also:

• an advisor to the National Recovery and Resilience Agency
• a board member, of Foundation Rural and Regional Renewal
• a board member of Southern Queensland Landscapes
• a board member of Red Ridge Foundation.

Dr Mark Waters

MBBS, DRACOG, FRACGP, FRACMA, MHA, CHIA

Originally appointed: 18 May 2020

Current term: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028

Dr Mark Waters is a medical practitioner with a wealth of medical and managerial skills and experience. His previous roles include:

• Director of Patient Safety at The Prince Charles Hospital
• Senior medical officer and visiting medical officer, Cherbourg Hospital
• Principal Health Consultant, Deloitte
• Executive Director of Medical Services, Pathology Queensland
• Director of Learning and Workforce, Queensland Children’s Hospital
• Deputy Chair, Queensland Medical Board
• World Health Organisation consultant, Ministry of Health (Malaysia).

Mark is chair of the Board's Safety and Quality Committee and is also the chairperson of Ipswich Hospice Care Inc.

Dr Tonia de Bruin

Originally appointed: 1 April 2024

Current term: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028

Dr Tonia de Bruin holds a senior management role in data, analytics, performance, reporting, evaluation, ethics and research.

Growing up in a small central Queensland town and later moving to Brisbane for tertiary education Tonia has first-hand experience in the service disparity between regional and metropolitan areas. Her country roots gave her a passion for helping others and working with community. While loving her work in the fields of data, analytics, reporting, performance and evaluation Tonia is also most passionate about helping children and families who are vulnerable including those who live in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, and / or those who live with disability, and domestic and family violence or experience homelessness.

She is an Industry Advisory Board Member for the University of Queensland and has been a Board Member for Asperger Services Australia and the Morningside Panthers AFL.

Tonia holds a Doctor of Philosophy – Information Systems, Master of Evaluation, Master of Health Service Management, Master of Information Technology, Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Bachelor of Business – Accounting, Bachelor of Business – Management and is a Certified Practising Accountant.

Alison Zappala

Originally appointed: 1 April 2024

Current term: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028

Alison Zappala is an experienced Director and Non-Executive Director within the human services sector.

A Registered Nurse for over 25 years, Alison also has a Business Management qualification, an Advanced Diploma in Strategic Management and has served on Government advisory bodies.

Alison’s knowledge and skill includes clinical leadership, governance and driving improved performance outcomes in the Home Care, Residential Aged Care and Retirement Living sectors.