As Chief Executive of Bayside Health’s Peninsula Care Group, Helen Cooper oversees 7,500 staff. She leads the development and execution of the care group’s strategy and goals, including the clinical integration work across Bayside Health service.
Helen was the Chief Executive of Peninsula Health until the merger to form Bayside Health took effect on 1 January 2026, while from 2019 to 2024 she was Executive Director Operations at Peninsula Health. Helen spent almost four years with Murrumbidgee Local Health District as Director of the Wagga Wagga Health Service and Executive Director of Clinical Operations. She has also held senior roles with Gold Coast Hospital and Queensland Health. As a Registered Nurse Helen is an experienced health service leader with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry, and is skilled in healthcare, governance, leadership and performance improvement.
She has a Master of Business Administration from Central Queensland University and is a Graduate from the Australian institute of Company Directors. Helen is an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. Helen is also an experienced Board Director holding hold Non-Executive Director positions on a number of Boards
