Australian Digital Health Agency appoints new CTO

The Australian Digital Health Agency has appointed Dr Malcolm Thatcher as its new Chief Technology Officer. Dr Thatcher’s previous roles include Chief Health Information Officer (CHIO) for Queensland Health and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Mater Healthcare Group in Brisbane.

“I am joining the Agency at a time when digital health has proven how integral it is to meeting the nation’s healthcare challenges and supporting improved healthcare outcomes. What really impresses me is the Agency’s core focus on building the digital skills of healthcare providers and consumers so they can maximise the benefits of technology,” Dr Thatcher said.

Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole said Dr Thatcher will bring deep technical skills, a long history in a range of public and private health environments, and a passion for leadership to the Agency.

“I look forward to his contribution to the National Digital Health Strategy and a better connected healthcare system that enables healthcare providers to access and share important patient information such as pathology and diagnostic imaging results, current and past prescriptions, and medical history,” Cattermole said.

Dr Thatcher has a doctoral degree (PhD) from the Queensland University of Technology with a focus on digital risk and governance. In 2010, he completed a certificate course in Leadership Strategies in Information Technologies at Harvard University and in 2016 he was recognised as one of the Top 50 CIOs in Australia by CIO Magazine Australia.

“Dr Thatcher will also bring his skills and experience to support the key role of digital health in Australia’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cattermole said.

Dr Thatcher is the first senior appointment by Cattermole since she started at the Agency in September 2020; Dr Thatcher will start in the role on 8 February 2021.

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