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NBA Board and Report

The NBA Board was established under the National Blood Authority Act 2003 to:

  • participate in consultations about the performance of the NBA's functions with the Australian Government Minister for Health
  • provide advice to the General Manager about the performance of the NBA's functions
  • liaise with governments, suppliers and other stakeholders about matters relating to the
    NBA's functions
  • perform such other functions as specified in a written notice given by the Minister to the chair.
a photograph of Ms Gayle Ginnane a photograph of Mr Paul Bedbrook a photograph of Adjunct Professor Chris Brook PSM
Ms Gayle Ginnane Chair Mr Paul Bedbrook
financial expert
Adjunct Professor Chris Brook PSM
state and territory representative
(large jurisdiction)
a photograph of Professor George Rubin a photograph of Ms Patti Warn a photograph of Mr Mark Cormack
Professor
George Rubin
Public health expert
Ms Patti Warn
community representative
Mr Mark Cormack
Australian Government representative

Board Members

Continuing Members
Ms Gayle Ginnane – chair
Mr Paul Bedbrook – financial expert
Adjunct Professor Chris Brook PSM – state and territory representative (large jurisdiction)
Professor George Rubin – public health expert
Ms Patti Warn – community representative
Mr Mark Cormack – Australian Government representative

Vacant
State and territory representative (small jurisdiction)

2015-16 year in review

Once again, financial sustainability was a priority consideration and focus of the NBA this financial year. The Board is pleased to see that excellent outcomes continue to be delivered against this objective. The continuing strength of NBA programs and activities in maintaining supply of blood products and addressing supply risk management, improving the appropriate use of blood products, improving supply chain efficiency and reducing wastage, and improving sector transparency through systems and data were highlights of the 2015-16 year.

The NBA Board met three times in 2015-16, and considered and provided advice to the General Manager and NBA executive across a range of priority business areas including:

  • BloodSTAR and immunoglobulin governance
  • the Patient Blood Management Collaborative Project with the Australian Commission
    on Safety and Quality in Health Care
  • engagement with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service under the new Deed of Agreement
  • preparations for negotiation of the next CSL Australian Fractionation Agreement
  • a successful multi-year blood sector systems funding business case
  • management of Australia's position on plasma and immunoglobulin self sufficiency
  • NBA programs addressing wastage of blood and blood products.

The stakeholder engagement program continues to be successful in highlighting challenges to Board members that key stakeholder groups are faced with. The Board engaged with key representatives through a series of presentations and follow-up discussions. The Board also welcomed the opportunity to meet with the new Chairman and the new Chief Executive of the Blood Service, and senior representatives to discuss current and future issues of mutual interest. The Board expects the program to continue in 2016-17.

The NBA Board also received updates and reporting from the NBA on achievement against strategic and operational planning documents, and provided advice and input for the development of further forward plans. These Board agenda items included:

  • outcome delivery against the JBC Strategic Plan 2013-15 and NBA Corporate Plan 2013-15
  • NBA 2015-16 Operational Plan
  • NBA 2015-16 Strategic Risk Management Plan
  • draft JBC Strategic Plan 2016-18
  • draft NBA Corporate Plan 2016-17 to 2018-19
  • review of the NBA's existing range of strategies.

The NBA has continued to win awards for innovation and support of patients in the sector, and in recognition of the agency's activities, staff and management. The Board congratulates the NBA for this recognition of achievements during the year. Awards received in 2015-16 include:

  • 2016 ACT iAwards Public Sector & Government category (BloodSTAR)
  • 2016 National Awards for Digital Excellence (Small Agency category – MyABDR)
  • 2016 Excellence in eGovernment Awards (Overall Excellence in eGovernment Award & Government 2.0 Category Award for ICT Professional Team of the Year)
  • iTnews Benchmark Awards, 2016 (Chief Information Officer of the Year)
  • 2016 IPAA Annual Report Awards (Bronze, Small PGPA Entity category, and Assessor's Cup)
  • 2016 Australasian Reporting Awards (Silver).

2016-17 priorities

The implementation of the next NBA Corporate Plan 2016-18 will be a major area of interest for the Board in 2016-17. The Corporate Plan identifies key objectives and outcomes required of the organisation over the next three years. A key input to the Plan will be the new JBC Strategic Plan 2016-18. We expect that the management of risk and financial sustainability will remain important themes. Specific areas where the Board expects to review and provide input include:

  • improving the supply and demand arrangements for Ig to ensure sustainability
  • further enhancements to data collection and reporting, and associated system development
  • a continued emphasis on implementing improvements for the appropriate use of blood and blood products, particularly in the area of patient blood management.

I thank all my fellow Board members for their contributions during 2015-16. It is a pleasure to chair the Board with such a distinguished and committed group of members.

The Board would like to especially recognise and thank the former General Manager Leigh McJames for his considerable contribution to the NBA during his term. He has left the organisation in a very good place.

In closing, on behalf of the Board, I also commend the staff and management of the NBA for their ongoing hard work and outstanding delivery of the agency's outcomes. The Board continues to be impressed with the professionalism and commitment of the NBA team.

signature of Gayle Ginnan Chair

Gayle Ginnane
Chair
National Blood Authority Board