Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) has today announced the appointment of Mr Nick Loukas as Board Chairperson following the resignation of Dr Vladislav Matic.

Founder of the Alive Pharmacy Warehouse brands, Mr Loukas is a local pharmacist with business interests in Cairns, Cooktown, and Gladstone. He has served as the Chair of the James Cook University Pharmacy Advisory Committee since 2011 and is an Adjunct Associate Professor. Mr Loukas joined the NQPHN Board in November 2019. 

“I am excited to take on the role of Board Chairperson and I am looking forward to continuing to work with our stakeholders and staff to achieve better health outcomes for our community,” Mr Loukas said.

“On behalf of the Board and staff of NQPHN, I thank Dr Matic for his stewardship of and contribution to the organisation and wish him all the very best with his future endeavours.”

Mr Loukas noted the significant contribution of Dr Matic, who has been a Director of NQPHN since it was established in 2015 and Board Chairperson since December 2017. In particular, he noted the significant milestones that NQPHN achieved during Dr Matic’s term as Chairperson, including:

• formalising NQPHN’s commitment to reconciliation and closing the gap with a Reconciliation Action Plan
• establishing a Clinical Governance Committee and broadening its membership base to include the Northern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, Check UP, and Council of the Ageing – Queensland.

Dr Matic said there was a great deal to look back on positively when he reflected on his years on the NQPHN Board.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Board since its inception and am confident that NQPHN will go on to fulfill its vision of helping Northern Queenslanders to live happier, healthier, longer lives,” Dr Matic said.

The NQPHN Board appointed Dr Richard Malone to the role of Deputy Chairperson, formerly held by Mr Loukas. Dr Malone is a local general practitioner, a senior examiner with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the President of the Mackay Leukaemia Foundation. Dr Malone has served on the NQPHN Board since October 2015 and is the Chair of the NQPHN Clinical Governance Committee.