Board member Francis Sullivan becomes an Officer of the Order of Australia

Mercy Health Group Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen said the honour is a recognition of Mr Sullivan’s many years as an advocate for positive change in public health and aged care.

“Francis has been a long-time champion for social justice and legislative reform throughout his esteemed career,” Adjunct Prof Cornelissen says. “He is committed to equity and has been a recognised voice in bringing a social conscience to the political debate across many public health and aged care issues.

“Francis only recently joined our Mercy Health Board but he has already demonstrated leadership and made his voice heard.  On behalf of the Mercy Health Chair, other Board members, Executive and all Mercy Health staff, we offer our congratulations to him for conferral of the honour of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

“We are incredibly proud that Francis has been recognised for his continued commitment to the Australian community.”

Mr Sullivan was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List for distinguished service to the community, particularly through social justice and legislative reform initiatives, and to health and aged care.

Throughout his career, he has held a number of positions of influence including Chief Executive Officer at the Truth, Justice and Healing Council, Secretary General of the Australian Medical Association (AMA). He also spent 14 years as the chief executive officer of Catholic Health Australia (CHA), where he advocated for 73 private and public hospitals and more than 500 aged care services across Australia.