Elizabeth Koff, secretary of NSW Health, is set to resign from her post to move to Telstra Health, the digital health arm of listed telecommunications firm Telstra corporation. 

Telstra Health announced today that Koff will succeed Mary Foley as their managing director effective from 1 July. Foley is retiring from her executive roles but will still serve as a special adviser and a non-executive director of the Telstra Health Board.

WHY IT MATTERS 

Koff has spent more than three decades in the state health department. Over the past six years, NSW Health, which manages 228 hospitals and around 127,000 staff, went through significant changes under her leadership, such as the system's digital transformation through data and analytics reform, development of value-based healthcare at scale, and the implementation of flexible work practices. 

She will be most noted for leading the health system through the COVID-19 pandemic. "She has led and supported the most outstanding executive health team and broader health teams at times of great pressure," said NSW Health Minister Bradley Ronald Hazzard in a separate statement.

Commenting on her appointment, Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said: "Elizabeth possesses a deep understanding of the nation’s health system and the need for it to be further digitised and integrated".

Penn also emphasised that Koff is "well connected within the health sector at a critical time for the continued growth of Telstra Health".

Prior to her post, Koff served as NSW Health's deputy secretary for strategy and resources and the chief executive of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. 

Koff will be leaving NSW Health on 4 March and will join Telstra Health on 19 April for a measured transition.

Meanwhile, Penn recognised the contribution of their outgoing managing director over the past five years, especially in overseeing Telstra Health's international expansion. "I am incredibly proud of Mary’s achievements and of her foresight in preparing this period of transition of leadership in the business to ensure continuity and the realisation of our significant growth aspirations," he said.

THE LARGER TREND

The NSW government has set aside A$30.2 billion ($22.8 billion) for NSW Health's budget in 2021-2022. Among funded items, the Single Digital Patient Record system project, which seeks to unify the geographically separated health record systems across the state, is getting A$141 million ($106.3 million). 

In other NSW Health news, nurses and paramedics across public hospitals are preparing to go on strike for better work conditions and pay. The strike, happening tomorrow, will affect 150 hospitals, according to the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. 

Meanwhile, Telstra Health has been making recent acquisitions and bagging contracts as part of its goal to grow the business to A$500 million (over $350 million). It has made deals to buy practice management software provider MedicalDirector and Adelaide-based health tech provider PowerHealth.