Our Executive Team

Richard commenced as Chief Executive position of HNECC PHN on 1 July 2015. Additionally, Richard is a founding Director on the Governing Board of the NSW Regional Health Partners (NSWRHP) Centre for Innovation in Regional Health, and sits on the Aboriginal Health Committee of the Hunter New England Local Health District Board.

Previously, Richard was CEO of Central Coast Medicare Local, and before that Central Coast Division of General Practice. He was an Executive Director on the Board of the Bridges After Hours subsidiary of the Medicare Local, and Chair of the NSW Medicare Locals CEOs group.

Richard’s university training includes a Bachelor of Science at the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) at the University of Sydney, and a Master of Health Administration at the University of New South Wales. He is also a Graduate of the Company Directors Course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Richard initially trained and worked as a Physiotherapist, and worked in public and private settings. He was appointed the Area Physiotherapy Manager for CCLHD in 2002, and subsequently covered a range of roles including Director of Allied Health, Director of Corporate Services, and Divisional Manager for Surgery, Anaesthetics and ICU.

Lorin holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (Accounting & Finance) and has been a Chartered Accountant (CA) since 1993. She started her career as an Undergraduate with Price Waterhouse in Sydney completing her studies and her (CA) qualifications. After eight years, Lorin moved to the hospitality industry working for a national hotel chain, the Touraust Group, as their internal auditor. Lorin then moved into the health and wellness industry working for Mannatech, an international network marketing organisation, where she held roles as Finance and Administration Manager, Company Secretary, and HR and Compliance Manager.

During this time, Lorin and her young family moved to the Central Coast to pursue a more relaxed lifestyle. She also decided to follow her passion and commenced studying a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (UNE) part-time online. In 2019, Lorin completed a Bachelor of Social Science Degree with Honours in Psychology, at the same time undertaking accreditation with Lifeline as a volunteer Telephone Crisis Supporter, working with them for nearly three years until 2022.

In 2012 Lorin moved into the Not-For-Profit sector commencing a new role as Business Manager with the Newcastle Anglican Schools Corporation (NASC). There she managed a small team and worked closely with the Principals and Boards of each of the Diocese’s four schools. Lorin commenced as the Executive Manager Corporate Services with the PHN in October 2018. Since that time the PHN has grown and matured substantially as an organisation. Lorin’s current role holds responsibility for people and culture, risk and compliance, grants and business development, IMIT, and the PHN’s marketing, engagement and communications activities. She is passionately interested in people and the culture of organisations.

Catherine trained and worked as a Registered Nurse before moving into Health Service Management. Catherine has extensive experience in leading large scale change management projects within clinical settings and in implementing policy to drive improvement within clinical practice. These projects cover a range of settings including Community Health, Anaesthesia and Surgery, Rural Health, Aged Care, and After Hours Primary Care. Catherine has worked at both the Hunter New England and Central Coast Local Health Districts and has an interest in advancing clinical practice, using a Right Place, Right Care and by the Right Person philosophy. This has included assisting all clinicians to work at the peak of the scope of their practice, including implementing a number of Nurse Practitioners roles and challenging all Health professionals to work in a way which enables genuine integration of care.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Nurs) degree as well as a Masters in International Health Management and Grad Certificates in Health Science in Clinical Data Management and Education and qualifications as a Registered Midwife

John has a clinical background trained as a nurse, holds Certificates in General and Geriatric Nursing, a Bachelor of Health Science (Nurs) degree as well as a Master of Health Management, in 2003 John undertook a fellows Management Program for Nurse Executives at the University of Pennsylvania.

John previously has held a number of senior health management positions, including CEO of Hunter Medicare Local during the transition from Medicare Locals to the Primary Health Network, CEO of a community aged care organisation, John has been a Director of Nursing in the NSW public system in, urban rural and regional health services, in both private and public organisations, in addition to a period as regional manager for Disability Services in the Hunter and Central Coast of NSW.

As Director of Primary Care, eHealth and IT at Hunter Medicare Local, John led the team deploying the Primary Care eHealth project in Hunter Valley of NSW, providing support to health providers across the rural and urban parts of the Hunter Medicare Local Regions. In total John has in excess of 40 years’ experience in the public and private health and disability services at an operational and strategic level.

Dr Ali Koschel has an extensive background in health research and population health planning with expertise including qualifications in epidemiology, biostatistics, nursing and health promotion. Her PhD, Secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease in general practice through the University of Newcastle started a passion for primary care. Ali is responsible for population access and performance at the HNECC PHN and is passionate about First Nations health, equitable access to health services, and rural health.

Darren began his career as a junior accountant in a steel foundry in Sydney with Bradford Kendall, which later became Bradken. He moved with Bradken to Newcastle and then Brisbane before answering the call of the travel bug. He spent three years in Hong Kong working as the accountant for the University of Hull (UK) in their Hong Kong branch before travelling to London and joining the banking sector with Chase Manhattan Bank and Lloyds TSB. He re-met his (eventual) wife in London before returning to Australia in 2000 following travels through Africa, South America, UK, and Asia.

In 2000, Darren started with the NSW government in Hunter Health as a business manager for Drug & Alcohol, Aged Care Assessment Teams, and Dental. He transferred to TAFE which included a two-year stint in Abu Dhabi with NSW TAFE International on the ADVETI project as the Finance and Administration Manager. He then transferred to NSW Ageing, Disability & Home Care (ADHC) and worked closely with state and federal agencies in the NSW pilot and eventual transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). He completed his time with the NSW government as the Director for Business and Transformation within the Hunter New England and Central Coast (HNECC) Family and Community Services (FACS). Darren’s most recent role has been as the Corporate Services Manager with Castle, a not for profit which provides NDIS and disability employment support in the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

Darren is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and has completed several other qualifications to support his career including, a Bachelor of Computer Science (Accounting), a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, and a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. He is also trained in PRINCE2 project management.