Jeannette Young

Jeannette Rosita Young (born 1962/1963) is an Australian medical doctor and administrator who is currently Chief Health Officer of Queensland. She has served in the role since 2005, and is as of 2020 Australia's longest-serving current chief health officer.[2]

Dr Jeannette Young

PSM FRACMA
Young in October 2014
Chief Health Officer of Queensland
Assumed office
17 August 2005
DeputySonya Bennett (from 2020)
Preceded byGerry FitzGerald
Personal details
Born1962/1963 (age 57–58)[1]
NationalityAustralian
Spouse(s)Graeme Nimmo[1]
Alma materUniversity of Sydney, Macquarie University

Career

Raised in Sydney, New South Wales, Young attended secondary school at St Ives High School, graduating in 1980, before studying at the University of Sydney and graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She started her career as a doctor at Westmead Hospital in Sydney in 1986 before moving into medical administration at the same hospital in July 1992.[3]

She relocated to Queensland upon her appointment as Director of Medical Services at Rockhampton Hospital in December 1994. In April 1995, she was awarded a Master of Business Administration by Macquarie University. She then moved into a position similar to her role in Rockhampton, as Executive Director of Medical Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, in January 1999.

On 17 August 2005, she was appointed to succeed Gerry FitzGerald as Chief Health Officer of Queensland, a role she holds to this day. She gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,[4] holding multiple press briefings regarding the disease. Her recommendation to the Palaszczuk Government to close the state's borders, which was implemented, proved controversial as she received numerous death threats and was placed under police protection in September 2020.[5][6]

Honours

Young has been a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators since November 2004. She has also received honorary doctorates from Griffith University, in 2015,[7] and Queensland University of Technology, in 2017.

In 2015, she was awarded the Public Service Medal for "outstanding public service to Queensland Health".[8]

References
  1. Miles, Janelle (4 December 2020). "'I lost eight people in one shift': CHO's horror night". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. Lynch, Lydia (30 April 2020). "Jeannette Young: who is the woman leading Queensland's fight against COVID-19?". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  3. "BUNDABERG HOSPITAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY" (PDF). Queensland Public Hospitals. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. Lang, Kylie (5 June 2020). "Dr Jeanette Young humbled by Queenslander of the Year nomination". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. Bosely, Matilda (14 September 2020). "Queensland's chief health officer given police protection after death threats". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  6. Radford, Antoinette (19 September 2020). "Brett Sutton rose to cult status during the coronavirus pandemic. Jeannette Young received death threats". SBS News. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. Jacobson, Michael (13 August 2015). "Griffith honorary doctorates for trio of achievers". Griffith University. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. "Dr Jeannette Rosita YOUNG". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
Government offices
Preceded by
Gerry FitzGerald		 Chief Health Officer of Queensland
17 August 2005–present		 Incumbent
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