Executive Team
Aileen Thoms – Interim Chief Executive Officer
Master of Health Promotion, Grad Cert Health Education/Health Promotion, Emergency Nursing certificate, Cert 1V TAE, Diploma Life Sciences/Nursing, Registered General and Registered Psychiatric Nurse.
Aileen has more than 35 years’ experience in public hospitals as an experienced health executive with a strong foundation in nursing, health service administration, and Public health. Her career spans clinical leadership within Victoria and internationally in emergency, mental health, community nursing, and aged care, as well as senior roles in frontline management, prevention, and policy development.
As a former Director of Primary Health and Innovation, Aileen brings a strategic focus on system improvement, integrated care, and health innovation. She has built strong partnerships with the community and key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and improve service delivery.
As a passionate advocate for creating liveable communities and addressing health inequities, Aileen brings a strategic focus on system improvement, integrated care, and health innovation.
Aileen commenced as Interim CEO in November 2024, previously holding the Acting CEO role from May 2024 to August 2024.
Yasir Arfat – Director of Primary Health and Innovation
Yasir brings nearly 20 years of experience in the public health sector across WA, SA, and Victoria. His leadership in community health, primary care, and public health has driven meaningful reform in regional communities, with a consistent focus on improving access, equity, and responsiveness, particularly for disadvantaged populations.
Guided by a deep commitment to evidence-informed innovation, strategic partnerships, and genuine community collaboration, Yasir plays an important role in shaping the delivery of health and well-being services across the region. His focus is on ensuring that services are delivered strategically, effectively, and with compassion, while reflecting the needs and values of the local community.
Yasir is passionate about building strong partnerships and working with diverse stakeholders to bring together people, systems, and services to build a healthier, more inclusive future for Kooweerup and the surrounding region.
Brenda Birch – Director of Nursing
Brenda is a senior health sector leader with over 30 years of service in rural, remote and metropolitan health services. She is a Registered Nurse with additional qualifications in mid-wifery, clinical, risk and business management, education, quality and engineering.
She is passionate about ensuring safe, high quality accessible services for rural and remote communities with a particular focus on empowering healthcare staff to meet the needs of vul-nerable and disadvantaged populations.
Brenda has represented the rural and remote workforce on various national and international forums and is an active member of various professional nursing groups, including CRANAplus. She is also an Associate Fellow of Australian College of Health Service Management and the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
Ragul Karun – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
MBA, GAICD, FCMA, CGMA, BSc, FCPA
Ragul has nearly 20 years of financial management experience both at strategic and operational levels. Ragul started his career as accounts trainee with KPMG, progressed to management roles in multinational companies Shell and Aviva before moving into the Victorian public health system. Ragul has held previous positions at Melbourne Health, Mercy Health and was most recently part of the executive team as CFO at Swan Hill District Health. Ragul has extensive skills and experience in strategic financial management, business improvement planning, people development, budgeting and forecasting, performance reporting and business analytics. Ragul is passionate about consumer engagement and consumer centred care as much as finances. Ragul joined KRHS in June 2021.
