The Group Chief Operating Officer of St John of God Health Care, Ben Edwards, has been appointed as the next Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Queensland, commencing 12 January 2026.
Ben will succeed Acting CEO Cathy Thomas, who stepped into the role following the departure of Craig Barke in June after eight years at the helm. Cathy will return to her position as Group Executive Aged Care and Community Services (BlueCare).
Bringing more than a decade of leadership experience at St John of God Health Care, Ben has served as Group Chief Operating Officer since April 2023. Prior to this, he was CEO of St John of God Murdoch Hospital, a 511-bed private hospital in Perth’s southern suburbs, from 2017 to 2023.
UnitingCare Queensland is one of the state’s largest health and community service providers, operating across Queensland and the Northern Territory under its key brands: BlueCare, UnitingCare, ARRCS, Lifeline Queensland, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.
