Former NAB chief replaces HammondCare CEO

Former NAB chief Andrew Thorburn has been named the new chief of aged care provider HammondCare.

Replacing former NSW Premier and current chief Mike Baird, Mr Thorburn will start his role in mid-June.

HammondCare chair Kok Kong Chan said Mr Thorburn's extensive business and leadership experience would help the provider respond to "growing challenges" and "wonderful opportunities".

"This appointment positions HammondCare well for the sweeping changes underway in the care of older Australias following the Royal Commission, Covid, and far-reaching regulatory and compliance reform," Mr Chan said.

"Aged care is a complex business with great opportunities in the years ahead for HammondCare to help even more people through its Mission to improve the quality of life for people in need."

Mr Chan said the selection committee was impressed with Mr Thorburn's 'heart for service', stemming from his "deep faith".

Mr Thorburn said he was committed to building on Mr Baird's investment in leaders, people and relationships while also bringing new skills and experience.

"I am honoured to join HammondCare, an organisation who has been working with people in need for more than 90 years," Mr Thorburn said.

"I am inspired by HammondCare’s great history of responding to needs in areas as diverse as dementia, palliative care, homelessness, and the fast-growing area of care in the home.

"Serving alongside the remarkable team, motivated to care for all people unconditionally, will be a privilege."

Mr Thorburn noted there was "plenty of work ahead" as evidenced by the numbers in the Intergenerational Report, which forecast the number of older Australians will triple, and dementia prevalence nearly double by 2054.

"As a nation, we will need to do more to do to address complex ageing issues like rising levels of dementia, mental health and life challenges like loneliness that will come from this shift in the ageing population," he said.

"The aged care sector could benefit from new funding sources, greater employment of
technology and continued innovation to resolve workforce shortages."

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