Learn more about our CEO, Board of Directors, subject matter experts and our founder, Dr Jean Hailes.
Our people work across health information and promotion, research, clinical services and policy.
On this page, learn about our CEO, Board of Directors, clinical experts, patron and talented team.
You can also find out about Dr Jean Hailes AM, the extraordinary medical pioneer who inspired the creation of our organisation.
Dr Jean Hailes
Founded in 1992, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health reflects the enduring legacy that Dr Dorothy Jean Hailes AM made to women’s health. Jean was a passionate, caring Australian General Practitioner (GP).
Meet our team
Our dedicated team includes health writers, researchers, community engagement experts, designers, media and marketing professionals, health education providers and IT and finance experts.
Our expert clinical team includes women’s health general practitioners, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, nurses and physiotherapists.
Jean Hailes is governed by an independent Board of Directors with expertise in:
- medicine
- research
- law
- finance
- business development
- communications and marketing
- risk management
- knowledge exchange
- government relations
- philanthropy.
Leadership
Dr Sarah White
Dr Sarah White
Dr Sarah White is the Chief Executive Officer of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, Australia’s national digital gateway for women’s health information and the leading non-governmental organisation providing women’s health information and education to the general public and health professionals.
She’s a member of the Victorian Women’s Health Advisory Council and the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Women’s Health Products Working Group, and was a member of the former National Women’s Health Advisory Council.
Dr White started her professional life researching breast cancer at University College London (UK) after completing a PhD in paediatric genetics at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
She remains actively involved in research on women’s health and is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Sciences.
- Head of Quit, Australia’s most comprehensive tobacco control program
- Director of communications and fundraising at the Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne), where she also provided executive oversight of the hospital’s research portfolio
- Director of communications for the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (now Ludwig Cancer), an international institute based in New York.
Jo McConnell
Jo McConnell
Jo is an experienced executive and people leader with a career dedicated to creating the conditions for inclusion and high-performance across a range of organisations.
In her role as Chair of the Board, Jo brings this expertise gained in business to champion the organisation’s vision to create an Australia where gender has no influence on health and wellbeing outcomes.
Jo is currently the Global Chief People Officer at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, a world-leading global law firm.
Jo is excited to be part of the Jean Hailes family and is committed to advancing women’s health as the foundation for gender equity, family wellbeing, and community resilience.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Jo has worked in the mining, legal, financial services and energy sectors in Australia and overseas and brings a global and cross-industry perspective to helping complex, fast-paced organisations change, grow and thrive.
Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM
Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM
Elizabeth is a gynaecologist and the Medical Director of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.
In 2009, Elizabeth was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to medicine in the field of women’s health, particularly obstetrics and gynaecology.
As a founder of Jean Hailes, it has been important to Elizabeth to continue Jean Hailes’ legacy. She believes the power of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is its multidisciplinary structure.
MBBS, HonLLD, FRANZCOG, FRCOG
Elizabeth enjoys being a role model for younger professional women, encouraging them to find a passion in their work and provide healthcare and education for our community. She finds working with women a profound privilege.
Elizabeth visits Mongolia each year with a multidisciplinary group of health professionals to teach, give lectures and provide clinical services, including surgery. The group has established a fellowship funded by Epworth Freemasons to bring two doctors from Mongolia to Australia for three months each year. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health provides clinical attachments across our disciplines. In 2018, Elizabeth was appointed Visiting Professor, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences.
Elizabeth worked at Queen Victoria Hospital and Prince Henry’s Hospital, which merged in 1987 to form the Monash Medical Centre. There, she was appointed Head of the Menopause Unit. Elizabeth served patients for more than 30 years across the three organisations. She now consults at Jean Hailes in Melbourne CBD and also at a monthly clinic at the Foster and Toora Medical Centre, Foster.
Sally Cox
Sally Cox
Sally is a senior executive with experience in human resources, corporate affairs, organisational transformation, and change management in Australia and internationally.
She is the Vice President of Global Business Services at Orica, a leading global provider of mining and infrastructure solutions.
Sally is a Director of the Heide Museum of Modern Art and the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Melbourne Mining Club.
BA, GradDip Bus&PR and GAICD
Sally has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Business & Public Relations from RMIT and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Previously, Sally held senior roles at the multinational chemicals business BASF and with the global mining group MMG Limited.
Sarah Sorenson
Sarah Sorenson
Sarah is a senior finance professional with over 15 years of experience in accounting, strategy, and integrated business planning.
She has worked across multiple sectors as a finance leader dedicated to supporting businesses in achieving their long-term financial and strategic growth objectives, including:
- construction
- FMCG
- healthcare.
Her focus on sustainable business models ensures long-term success.
Sarah was appointed as Chief Financial Officer for Luv-a-Duck in 2024. She is excited to be part of the Jean Hailes Board, bringing her passion for women’s health and extensive financial expertise to drive organisational success and community impact.
BCom, CPA
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Monash University and is a Certified Practicing Accountant.
Sarah previously served as the Financial Controller and Chief Operating Officer for Jean Hailes, and is eager to contribute to the organisation once again.
Tom Michelmore
Tom Michelmore
Tom has more than 18 years’ experience in both industry and management consulting, specialising in operations, strategy, commercial, finance and transformation.
Tom is currently Head of Maintenance for AusNet, responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of AusNet’s electricity distribution network.
Tom is passionate about supporting the organisation that was founded in honour of his grandmother, Dr Jean Hailes. He acted in an interim management role at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (during Covid) as Chief Operating Officer in charge of the medical clinics, IT and commercial functions.
BEng (Chemical) (Hons), BCom
Tom holds a first-class honours degree in engineering (chemical) and a degree in commerce, both from the University of Melbourne.
Previously Tom worked in commercial leadership roles in the mining industry for BHP and South32 and as a strategy consultant at the global management consulting firm, L.E.K. Consulting.
Sally Coldrick
Sally Coldrick
Sally is a purpose-led transformation leader with more than two decades of experience helping organisations navigate significant change across industry and government in Australia and internationally. She is known for the energy she brings to complex challenges and her ability to turn ambition into meaningful change.
Joining Jean Hailes is deeply personal for Sally. She brings both leadership experience and real-world experience navigating women’s health issues, together with a conviction that better outcomes for women strengthen not just individual lives, but families, communities and whole economies.
Sally is currently a Client Executive at Microsoft and was previously a Managing Director at Accenture.
She brings expertise in organisational transformation, innovation and stakeholder engagement to support the organisation’s vision of an Australia where gender has no influence on health and wellbeing outcomes.
Bachelor of Commerce, Deakin University.
Sally furthered her studies in Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reflecting her passion for bringing entrepreneurial thinking to complex organisations. She also completed further studies in Sustainability Leadership at the University of Cambridge and Social Innovation Leadership at Hyper Island.
Outside work, Sally enjoys travelling, Pilates, and time in nature hiking and biking with family and friends.
Sally’s career spans government, entrepreneurship, consulting and technology, with leadership experience across mining, energy, health, retail and the public sector. She was previously a Managing Director at Accenture, founded Curiosity Matters, and began her career in trade and investment with the South Australian Government, including a role based in New York.
Janet Hailes Michelmore AO
Janet Hailes Michelmore AO
The daughter of the late Dr Jean Hailes and a passionate advocate of women’s health, Janet Hailes Michelmore has held a number of positions within Jean Hailes for Women’s Health since the organisation’s inception. Janet was instrumental in bringing to life the first national Women’s Health Week in 2013, which has seen thousands of women across Australia take part in a week of online activities, videos, resources and information each year since.
Following an early career in education, Janet has established a reputation of successfully working and collaborating with numerous stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, educators, consumer groups and governments at a national and state level. She has been a member of committees and working parties for the Australian and Victorian Governments and, most recently, as a member of the official group overseeing the National Action Plan for Endometriosis (2018).
Janet has a deep personal and professional connection to the fundamental aim of Jean Hailes – to inspire confidence to create a healthier future for all women – and is passionate about continuing the legacy of her inspirational mother.
In 2001, Janet’s contribution to the women of Australia was recognised in the Australia Day Honours when she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her services to women’s health. In 2003, Janet was awarded a Centenary Medal for her outstanding contribution to women’s health and wellbeing, in 2013 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and in 2015 she was made a Fellow of Monash University.
Janet also serves as a Director of Sugarbyhalf, a not-for-profit that encourages and educates people about reducing their sugar consumption.
BA, Dip Ed
Our story
Learn how one visionary doctor inspired the creation of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.
What we do
Learn how we provide evidence-based, trusted and accessible health information to women.
