Meet our leadership team

Ameer Tadros 

Director, Health Professional Councils Authority

BA/LLB MALP GAICD 

Ameer oversees the agency’s regulatory and corporate services for 15 health professional councils. He has worked in health practitioner regulation since 2000 at the former NSW Medical Board and Ministry for Health. Prior to 2000, he worked as a solicitor in private practice and for a statutory authority in the United Kingdom. He has also worked for an insurer, acting on behalf of TMF for health agencies and practitioners in medical negligence cases and inquests and the Rural Fire Service in litigation and inquests.He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law and a Masters of Administrative Law and Policy and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ali Shariat

Director Information and Communication Technology

Ali is an experienced executive leading digital transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, and technology-enabled business improvement initiatives. He joined HPCA in 2017 and has successfully delivered major regulatory, data, and enterprise technology programs that support organisational performance and service delivery. Prior to HPCA, Ali held Chief Information Officer and senior technology leadership roles across both the public and private sectors, including with the Parliament of NSW and the Australian Computer Society. He is recognised for his expertise in strategic leadership, governance, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery.

Angelo Kallipolitis

Director, Legal, Governance and Risk

Angelo is a senior legal, risk and governance executive. Prior to the HPCA, Angelo worked in Risk and Governance at icare NSW and at the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS). At AGS, Angelo provided legal advice and representation to government agencies, and administrative and regulatory bodies, including a Royal Commission, ASIC, the ATO, and the Tax Practitioners Board. Angelo also represented the Australian Government in high-profile litigation, receiving an Australia Award for providing litigation support and advice to the Second Sydney Airport project. At icare NSW Angelo worked in Risk and Governance, advising across icare’s schemes to ensure compliance with legal, governance and regulatory obligations. 

Dieu Koit

Director, Finance and Shared Services

Dieu has more than a decade’s experience in leading finance and related functions. Before joining the public sector, Dieu held various private sector roles, including Internal Audit Manager and Manager Long Term Network Planning (Group Strategy) at Qantas, where she was responsible for developing business cases for aircraft purchases and new international markets, and board reporting. Dieu is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ.  She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Law (First class honours, Sydney University), a Master of Commerce, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ian Reid

Director of Council Services 

BAppSc(Pod) MPod AFCHSM FFPM RCPS (Glasgow)

Ian is the Director of Council Services, HPCA. He has worked in executive roles at the HPCA since 2022. Ian is a podiatrist and prior to joining the HPCA Ian was a Director of Allied Health and has served as a Deputy President of the Podiatry Council of NSW.  

Kate Wilson

Director, Medical Council Services and Executive Officer, Medical Council of NSW  

Kate provides strategic and operational leadership to support the Medical Council’s regulatory functions and governance responsibilities. A qualified lawyer, she spent 17 years in insurance litigation, advising on complex disputes and risk matters across the insurance sector. After moving into insurance regulation, she developed extensive experience in regulatory oversight, compliance, governance, and public protection. Kate brings a strong understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making, and is committed to ensuring the protection of the health and safety of the public is paramount in the medical profession.

Alan Morrison

President, Paramedicine Council

Alan has been a paramedic for 30 years and has many years of experience in health practitioner education, tertiary program accreditation, health practitioner regulation and health service leadership.

Alison Brown

President, Medical Radiation Practice Council

Alison is the newly appointed President of the Medical Radiation Practice Council and a Radiation Therapist with Western Sydney Local Health District. She has a strong professional interest in the treatment of urological cancers and has been accredited by the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT) as an Advanced Practitioner Radiation Therapist. Alison is a passionate advocate for the radiation therapy profession and is actively involved in the Targeting Cancer campaign, working to increase public awareness of radiation therapy and ensure that all patients who may benefit from this treatment are given the opportunity to access it.

Dr Alison Wicks

President, Occupational Therapy Council

 PhD MHSc(OT) B AppSc(OT) JP

Alison commenced as practitioner member of the Occupational Therapy Council in July 2018 and has been President for five years. Currently she is Public Officer and Financial Manager of the International Society for Occupational Science. Previously Alison was Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra and Founding Director of the Australasian Occupational Science Centre at the University of Wollongong. Convening the Inaugural International Occupational Science Think Tank (2006) was a career highlight. Alison has a PhD (2004), Masters of Applied Science (1997) and Bachelor of Health Science (1987) converted from a Diploma in Occupational Therapy (1975).

Dr Christopher Burrell

President, Chiropractic Council

BSc LLB MChiro MRes 

Chris joined the Chiropractic Council, as President, in 2026. Previously, he had been a member of the Council, and the Deputy President from 2018 to 2024. A graduate of Macquarie University, Chris has worked in private practice since 1999. He has also worked in academia for most of his professional life, and is currently the Director of Education, Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University.   

Conjoint Professor Deborah Cockrell AM

President, Dental Council 

BDS FDSRCPS PhD MBA GAICD

Deb joined the Dental Council, as President, in 2023. Previously, she had provided professional advice and conducted inspections on the Council’s behalf in her role as professional officer and authorised person. A dental graduate of the University of Birmingham, Deb has worked as a specialist oral surgeon in a range of settings. She has worked in academia for most of her professional life. She has also held various leadership roles including President of the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch) and President of the Australian Dental Council. Awarded the Australian Institute of Company Directors qualification in 2018, she has worked as a director in various not-for-profit associations.

Dr Elizabeth Tompsett

President, Medical Council

MBBS Hons BMed Sc PhD FRACS

Liz is a Consultant General Surgeon and President of the Medical Council of NSW (a nominee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons). She is passionate about medical leadership, transparent regulatory processes, and ensuring that medical practice is informed by the highest standards of clinical care. Her work spans general surgical practice, with experience in all levels of clinical teaching and team leadership. She is the Head of the Department of Surgery and Chair of the Medical staff Council at Hawkesbury District Hospital. Dr Tompsett completed her PhD in 1991 on ‘Cytokines and Cellular Immunity in Clinical and Experimental Uveitis’.

Gail Purkis

President, Psychology Council

BSc (Psych) Dip Clin Psych MAPS FCCLIN GAICD

Gail was appointed President in 2018. She is a clinical psychologist with many years’ experience in both inpatient and community health services. She has expertise in working with children who have developmental delays including autism, and clients of all ages with intellectual disabilities. In her senior regional management roles in disability, she developed support policies for clients, carers and families. Her experience in NSW Health has included collaborating with oversight agencies such as the NSW Commission for Children and Young People. Gail has also worked in private practice focusing on chronic health conditions. She has previously served on Council panels and as a practitioner member for NCAT. 

Adjunct Professor Greg Rickard

President, Nursing and Midwifery Council

OAM FACN

Greg commenced nursing in Canberra in 1972 and has qualifications in Midwifery and Intensive Care and post graduate qualifications in management and undertaken leadership roles in the public and private sectors, consulting, recruiting and academia. 
Greg has a doctorate in Public Health, from Flinders University/Charles Darwin University, 2010. Greg is passionate about addressing health inequalities, recognising the needs of Australia’s First Nations’ peoples and other minority groups.  Greg was appointed to the Nursing and Midwifery Council NSW (NMC) in July 2018 and President from 2021. Greg is also Chair, Presidents’ Forum for the 15 Health Professionals Councils in NSW.

Professor Isabelle Jalbert

Deputy President, Optometry Council

OD (Montreal) MPH (UNSW) PhD (UNSW) FAAO 

Isabelle was appointed to the Optometry Board in July 2021 and reappointed for a second term in July 2024. She works full time as Associate Dean Education (Quality) and Professor of Optometry for the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New South Wales where she is responsible for the compliance and monitoring of education quality across 8 registered health programs. Isabelle has worked in private practice, clinical research and government health agencies both overseas (Canada) and in Australia. She was previously Board Member and Chair of the Examination Committee for the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand, which oversees the credentialling of overseas trained optometrists and the accreditation of optometry programs.

Jessica Knox

President, Podiatry Council

BAppSc(Podiatry) BHSc(Honours)

Jessica is a podiatrist and president of the Podiatry Council of NSW. Jessica has worked across both private practice and the public health sector, establishing her clinic in 2013.  She has worked as a sessional academic at Western Sydney University where she lectured and founded podiatry outreach clinics supervising students undertaking clinical placements. She has research published in biomechanics and electromyography and holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Podiatry).

Dr Kerrin Murnane

President, Osteopathy Council

B.App.sci (Osteo) M. Osteo

Kerrin joined the Osteopathy Council of NSW as a practitioner member and Deputy President in 2018 and was appointed President in 2021. She had previously served on a NSW Osteopathy Tribunal Panel and Impaired Registrants Panel and was an Honorary Clinical Associate Lecturer at Macquarie University. Kerrin is also Principal Osteopath and owner of a multi-disciplinary practice established in 2008. She previously worked in private practice in Sydney and Wollongong and supervised and examined osteopathy students at the University of Western Sydney. Kerrin has a Master of Osteopathy (2004) and Bachelor of Applied Science (Osteopathy) (2002) from the University of Western Sydney. 

Ms Lesa Towers

President, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Council

A Proud Gringai/Worimi/Awabakal woman from Newcastle NSW, Lesa moved to Coonabarabran 20 years ago and  is currently Executive Director Aboriginal Health & Well Being for Western NSW Local Health District. She has worked in many clinical and leadership roles across Western NSW LHD and has represented the district’s Aboriginal workforce at a State and National level. She is passionate about improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people and community and has been a dedicated strong advocate for the Aboriginal Health Practitioner profession since 2007. Her career has focused on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal communities through culturally safe, community-led initiatives and strategic advocacy.

Dr Pamela Langley

President, Chinese Medicine Council

(TCM) Ba Sc (TCM) UTS Ba (AS) ANU

Pamela is a Chinese Medicine practitioner in sole practice in Sydney, and has been President of the Chinese Medicine Council since 2021. She obtained a Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the University of Technology Sydney and has a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) from the Australian National University. She has prior experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Japan.
She has worked in the public sector on transport and infrastructure policy, intergovernmental funding arrangements, transport concession reform, Tow Truck legislative reform and enforcement, development of the national disability transport standard, review of the NSW Disability Policy Program and regional development. 

Rick Samimi

President, Pharmacy Council

Rick (Richard) is the President of Pharmacy Council of NSW. He currently co-owns several Community Pharmacies in Sydney. Rick has held several senior industry positions during his career prior to his role at Pharmacy Council. He is a past President of Pharmacy Guild of NSW and a former Guild National Board Member and Vice President. Rick is passionate about the value and accessibility of pharmacists in primary care. Rick is committed to more regular and effective communication of regulatory framework of practice of pharmacy to pharmacists in NSW as many practitioners commence their fully expanded scope of practice.

Toni Andary

President, Physiotherapy Council

Toni is an experienced physiotherapist working in public health. He has been a practitioner member with the Physiotherapy Council of NSW for 8 years. He has experience teaching entry level students across multiple universities and has current roles with the accreditation of physiotherapy programs in Australia and internationally. He is a previous chair of both the Australian Physiotherapy Council’s accreditation committee and the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s National Professional Standards Panel.