ACT Voluntary Assisted Dying Oversight Board

Ms Cox is an experienced advocate, executive, and board director. She has been active in the health consumer movement and community sector since the late 1990s and been the Executive Director of Health Care Consumers' Association since 2008. Ms Cox has extensive skills and experience in consumer engagement, health literacy, clinical and corporate governance, policy and research, and regulation of the health workforce. She has a long-standing interest in improving the quality and safety of heath care and the delivery of person-centred care and has contributed to the work of the Australian Medical Council, Australian Commission for the Safety and Quality of Health Care, Ahpra, National Prescribing Service and the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Mr Farrugia is a retired nurse, with 40 years’ experience in clinical, management and governance roles including Executive Director Clinical Governance and Manager of Clinical Practice Improvement for Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, and Director of Nursing at Wollongong Hospital. Since retiring, he has served as Community Representative on numerous boards including the Occupational Therapy Council of NSW, the Health Professionals Councils Authority and the NSW Ministry of Health Committees of Review. Along with his nursing qualifications, Mr Farrugia holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Health Services Management.

Ms O’Neill has over 30 years’ experience in clinical nursing and management roles in the health sector, including 10 years with Canberra Health Services (CHS), where her most recent position was Deputy Director-General, Hospital Projects. Prior CHS roles include Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director Cancer & Ambulatory Support. She is a board member of the Canberra Hospital Foundation and was previously a Board Director and Chair at Canberra College. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Health Management and was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2023.

Dr Bourke is a registered dentist and former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) with extensive experience in health advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He also has broad board and governance experience including as immediate past Chair of the Australian Dental Council, Co-Chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council, Remote Area Health Corps board, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advisory Group for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Co-Chair of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Research Ethics Committee and President of the Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia. He is currently Director of Indigenous Science and Engagement at the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Dr Bourke holds a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Soo has worked as a Canberra-based general practitioner for over 30 years and has extensive experience working with disadvantaged and marginalised communities. She also has broad experience on numerous professional boards and advisory panels, including the Expert Advisory Panel to the Department of Health on the Review of General Practice Incentives and After-Hours Care, Australian Professional Association for Transgender Health (AusPATH), the ACT Faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Opiate Treatments Advisory Committee to ACT Health. Dr Soo has a Master of Medical Science in the Medical Sciences Tripos, a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and a Graduate Diploma in Population Health.

Ms Parker has 15 years’ experience providing advice in healthcare law, working with a range of medical and non-medical stakeholders. She is currently a senior lawyer involved in retrospectively reviewing medical practitioners’ conduct against prescribed legislation. Ms Parker holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Masters of Government and Commercial Law.

Dr Whiting has over 20 years’ experience as a psychiatrist. She is currently working with a private practice with colleagues from psychiatric, general practice and psychology backgrounds. She is a member of the ACT Voluntary Assisted Dying Clinical Advisory Committee, Convenor for ACT Peer Review Group and Chair of the Bi-National Family Violence Committee with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).