Faces of MePACS - Michelle

Meet Michelle, our purpose-driven leader and MePACS' General Manager.

Her career journey

Michelle began her career as a physiotherapist, spending ten years in clinical care before seeking a new challenge. Eager to broaden her impact, she completed an executive development program, which opened doors to business development, hospital commissioning, and large‑scale operational roles in the private hospital sector.

Despite enjoying this work, the public health system continued to call to her. Michelle pivoted again, taking on leadership roles in Western Health's emergency, ICU and cardiology departments. She later moved into a Performance Improvement Executive role at Northern Health — all while raising two young children.

As her daughter prepared to transition into high school, Michelle shifted into consulting. Running her own successful business offered the flexibility she needed at that time, but she eventually found herself missing the energy and impact of leading teams. This led her to Peter Mac, where she was tasked with rebuilding a struggling department and guiding a deep cultural transformation.

During this period, Michelle also navigated her own breast cancer diagnosis. After undergoing surgery and radiotherapy, she emerged with a renewed sense of clarity about what mattered most: cultural fit, integrity, and meaningful, purpose‑driven work.

So when the opportunity at MePACS appeared, it felt like the perfect alignment of purpose, people, and possibility.

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‍Leading MePACS

Michelle now leads MePACS with empathy, pragmatism and a belief that “everyone has their iceberg underneath” — a phrase borrowed from her daughter that reminds her to look beneath the surface and lead with understanding.

One of the biggest highlights of her time at MePACS has been witnessing the extraordinary resilience of the Team Leaders. Whether navigating power outages, severe storms or mobile network interruptions, they always find a way to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients. Their commitment in the face of adversity is something Michelle is consistently proud of.

She also loves seeing the organisation evolve. With MePACS expanding into new areas — including virtual monitoring — she finds it exciting to be part of a business that is growing, diversifying and shaping a sustainable future. Being involved in that journey is one of the most rewarding parts of her role.

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What inspires her

Michelle is inspired every day by the compassion she hears from the team. Listening to staff support clients through vulnerable moments reinforces the importance of the work they do. The calmness, professionalism and genuine care in their voices remind her why MePACS exists — and why empathetic leadership matters.

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Life outside of work

Outside of work, Michelle finds strength in the gym, pride in her children’s achievements and joy in the chaos of Frankie — her mischievous puppy who recently discovered the veggie patch.

And something people might not know about her? She ran the New York Marathon (very slowly, she insists!) for her 40th birthday. It was one of the most incredible experiences of her life and a reminder of what she can achieve when she commits to something big.

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What international women’s day means to her

For Michelle, International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise progress, celebrate achievements and acknowledge the contributions of everyone working toward equity. It’s a reminder that when people lift and support one another, workplaces and communities become stronger, more inclusive and more connected.