Conducting an executive search to drive quality and safety improvement in state based health services
The Brief
This health agency was established as an administrative office of this government department to monitor healthcare performance across the system and search for improvement opportunities, respond to safety concerns and amplify the patient voice. Having previously successfully partnered with Future Leadership on key executive searches focused on health information and safety, the department engaged Future Leadership to undertake a targeted executive search for the new CEO. The department sought a values driven, senior clinician who would lead the organisation to create clear goals and roadmaps to achieve the Government priority of creating a whole of system ‘learning healthcare system’.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
Future Leadership™ assembled a specialised team, and an experienced research and administration team, to lead the search. Key steps included:
- Targeted Search and Talent Identification: An initial briefing with representatives of the department, including the Secretary who has been the previous and inaugural CE of the agency. With the search process being the primary vehicle for identifying potential candidates, Future Leadership reached out to known individuals in our referral network, speaking with potential candidates to garner their interest and gain further recommendations. Targeted individuals and organisations included public health executives as well as private health executives with relevant experience in the public domain, and candidates from other sectors including professional services, medical colleges and academia. The search was conducted primarily across Australia with some international engagement.
- Comprehensive Shortlisting: Future Leadership provided the department with a comprehensive short list of highly qualified candidates with experience ranging across public and private healthcare, medical education and clinical teaching, and health care and service reform, combined with a strong lens on quality and safety. The candidates presented were attracted to the opportunity on the basis of the opportunity to have greater positive impact on the health care system and the desire to be part of this systemic change.
- Panel Interviews and Reference Checking: Future Leadership coordinated all aspects of the panel interviews, including logistics and interview questions, with the lead consultant supporting the selection panel on the day. 360 degree reference checking was completed for the preferred candidate, along with completion of qualification and required probity checks
Emerging Capabilities
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships.
Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Communication and Influence
Communicates with clarity and impact to facilitate individual and collective understanding, inspire action and enable information exchange. Leverages human-centric communication and storytelling to effectively influence stakeholders across the physical and virtual realms.
Commercial Acumen
Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade-offs.
Personal Growth
Adopts a growth mindset, building self-awareness. Motivated to continuously develop personally and professionally - one's own knowledge, skills, and personal attributes and self-insight. Reflects regularly on ways to improve self, regularly evolving self, focusing on the whole person.
The Outcome
The successful appointee was confirmed by the Premiers office and commenced in August 2021. With more than 30 years’ experience as a senior executive leader, respiratory physician and senior Professor, the department heralded the incoming CEO as a welcome addition to not only to the agency but to the broader state health system. The appointee relocated to Australia from the United Kingdom where he had previously held the position of Managing Director of a leading academic health science partnership in London, and previously held positions with the Royal College of Physicians and National Institute for Health Research. As a senior clinician and systems thinker, the appointee demonstrated extensive experience in healthcare delivery and design to improve patient-centred care across primary care, community and health service settings. It was also identified they would bring insights into the challenges facing providers and educators in the health sector.
