Council Members

Professor Diana Horvath AO

Diana graduated in Medicine from the University of Sydney in 1968, and completed her RMO years at RPAH, followed by two years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital with her husband (a fellow graduate of the same year) & two small children.

Returning to Australia, Diana set up community health services at Mt Druitt, and then spent two years running the NSW Community Health Program, before winning a scholarship to do a Masters at UNSW.

Diana returned to RPAH in a medical administrative role, where she rose to become its Medical Director and then General Superintendent. She was heavily involved in the Australian Hospital Assoc (now Aust Healthcare Assoc) and held the position of National President.

Diana became a FRACMA, FAFPHM, & FACHSE; followed by an appointment as an International Fellow of King’s Fund College in London – attending numerous international forums on health services policy & practice.

The newly created position of Director of Health Services at Eastern Sydney Area Health Service soon followed, during which time Diana became involved with the NH&MRC as AHA nominee, becoming the first woman to chair the council in a part time role. She was also made a Commissioner with the Health Insurance Commission, and was appointed a governor of Ascham School in Darling Point.

Becoming the first woman to be appointed as CEO of a NSW Health Service (Central Sydney), a role she was to hold for the next 14 years, Diana was awarded the International Hospital Federation award for Managerial Innovation.

In 1965, Diana was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for her contribution to health and health services management. She was awarded the prestigious Sid Sax Medal for her ongoing roles in public health services; the Centenary of Federation medal, and made an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. Diana was then asked to set up the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and spent two years in the role of CEO – ensuring that the full program was adopted by Health Ministers – before retiring after 40 years of a very full career in Medicine.

Diana is still very happily married to the man she met in first year Medicine. They have two daughters, one of whom followed them into academic medicine, the other is a barrister; there are (so far) 2 grandsons.