The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is pleased to welcome Ms Kelly Schulz and Mr Geoff Southwell as new Directors of the Board, commencing 1 July 2026.
Board Chair Melanie Eagle welcomed their appointments, noting the experience and perspectives they will bring to the Eye and Ear.
Ms Schulz is the founder of KNOWABLE.Me, a national social enterprise focused on helping organisations design more inclusive products, services and systems. Mr Southwell is Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Plus, a Victorian disability advocacy agency, and serves on the boards of the Mental Health Legal Centre and Disability Advocacy Network Australia.
Together, they bring extensive experience across accessibility and inclusion, consumer engagement, disability advocacy, governance, technology, finance and operations.
The appointments coincide with the conclusion of Board terms for Mr Bruce Ryan and Mr Simon Brewin, who complete nine years of dedicated service on 30 June 2026. Over that time, both have made significant contributions to the governance and strategic direction of the Eye and Ear through their work on the Board and its Committees.
Simon has served across a number of Board Committees, including as Chair of the Primary Care and Population Health Committee, Chair of the Audit Committee, and as a member of the Digital Health and ICT Governance, Remuneration, Finance, and Quality and Safety Committees. He has also represented the hospital as a Director on the Centre for Eye Research Australia Board and has served as Acting Board Chair for the Eye and Ear on multiple occasions.
Bruce has made a substantial contribution through his Committee leadership, including as Chair of the Audit Committee, Chair of the Digital Health and ICT Governance Committee, and as a member of the Finance and Remuneration Committees.
On behalf of the Eye and Ear, we sincerely thank Bruce and Simon for their leadership, commitment and lasting contribution to the hospital, and warmly welcome Kelly and Geoff to the Board. For further information on Eye and Ear Board Directors click here.
