Private Emergency Health Australia (PEHA) Private Emergency Health Australia (PEHA)
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PEHA Careers

Our Team

At PEHA, we believe great outcomes start with great people. Our team brings together deep experience, shared values and a passion for delivering better emergency care. United by purpose and driven by excellence, we’re proud to support hospitals, patients and each other—every step of the way.

Dr Philip Gaudin

PEHA Founder, Clinical Director & Townsville Site Director

Dr Philip Gaudin

PEHA Founder, Clinical Director & Townsville Site Director
Philip is a founding PEHA Director and has clinical oversight for all PEHA sites. He is also the Deputy Chair of the Private Practice Section for the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine.  Philip is a member of the PEHA Clinical Advisory Committee and is also a director of the PEHA Board. With more than 20 years of clinical experience in a wide range of medical settings, he is a capable and trustworthy leader and physician. Philip studied medicine and surgery as an undergraduate at James Cook University and worked at several public-sector sites across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote Queensland before moving to Western Australia to undertake his fellowship at Royal Perth Hospital, a centre for excellence in both trauma and medical research.

Joshua Derrington

PEHA Founder & Commercial Director

Joshua Derrington

PEHA Founder & Commercial Director
Joshua is a founding PEHA Director and works closely with our hospital partners and the commercial aspects of running PEHA. He is a director of the PEHA Board. Joshua has over 20 years’ experience in business and finance across multiple industries and geographies, and currently holds several Non-Executive Board roles. Joshua is passionate about health care innovation and believes there is a genuine opportunity to do good for the community over the long term by reducing the burden on the public health sector.

Chris Twible

PEHA CFO/COO

Chris Twible

PEHA CFO/COO
Chris is the CFO/COO and is responsible for the overall financial and operational strategic direction of PEHA. Chris has over 18 years’ experience in professional services and highly regulated, care-focused businesses. Chris is passionate about supporting and growing the PEHA team to deliver high-quality patient care to communities around Australia. In his spare time, Chris spends time with his wife and two young kids, but also likes all things food at any chance  

Andrea Cracknell

General Manager

Andrea Cracknell

General Manager

Andrea is the General Manager of PEHA, responsible for driving business performance and ensuring efficient service delivery across emergency departments. With over 25 years in healthcare, she combines clinical expertise with strategic leadership. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Radiation Technology from QUT and spent years as a clinical radiation therapist caring for cancer patients. She later earned an MBA from the University of Queensland, transitioning into healthcare management. Though no longer in direct care, her commitment to patient outcomes remains central, guiding decisions that enhance both care quality and organisational performance.

     

Chrystal Derrington

Strategic Projects Director

Chrystal Derrington

Strategic Projects Director
Chrystal provides commercial insights and guidance to PEHA’s Management Team and leads the development of PEHA’s custom in-house ED Management Tool, ED360. During Chrystal’s 20 years of experience in business, she has developed a passion for problem-solving and creating value in businesses. In her operating partner roles, Chrystal has developed hands-on experience across finance, strategy, operations, sales/marketing and project management. In her spare time, Chrystal likes to relax and enjoy a glass of wine with her husband and business partner, Josh. I get a real kick out of adding value (through growth or improvement initiatives). I also love developing win-win solutions that validate our partnership approach to business.

Rob Shergold

Corporate Development Director

Rob Shergold

Corporate Development Director
Rob is responsible for forging and maintaining hospital partnerships to expand PEHA’s network of private emergency departments. His role is to identify and secure opportunities that drive financial and strategic value, ensuring sustainable growth for the business. With a background in corporate finance, Mergers & Acquisition advisory and financial audit services, Rob has worked across London and Melbourne, specialising in healthcare transactions and operational strategy. His expertise lies in assessing viable opportunities and structuring deals that align clinical excellence with commercial success. Outside of work, Rob is an avid golfer—though you wouldn’t know it from his scorecard… Passionate about building long-term partnerships, Rob believes that “great healthcare starts with great collaboration.”  

Saran Girdwood

Financial Controller

Saran Girdwood

Financial Controller
Saran is responsible for overseeing all financial operations at PEHA, ensuring accurate reporting, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial planning to support growth and sustainability. With over a decade of experience in finance and a strong background in accounting across various sectors, he brings valuable insight and leadership. Prior to joining PEHA, Saran held a senior finance role at a high-growth ASX-listed EduTech startup, following his earlier career in Big 4 audit at Deloitte. Originally from the UK, he is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. He holds a degree in Biochemistry from Bath University and began his career in research and clinical settings before transitioning into accountancy. Passionate about strategic business support, Saran is committed to contributing to PEHA’s leadership team and long-term success.

James Gaudin

PEHA Project Manager

James Gaudin

PEHA Project Manager
As Project Manager, James is PEHA's operational lead for projects that deliver financial, clinical, and cultural benefits to the organisation and its partners. James has worked in the health care industry, spanning both the public and private sectors, for over twenty years. James has excelled in senior clinical and senior management roles and has demonstrated an ability to provide innovative & efficient solutions to health care challenges. James is passionate about developing high-performing teams, forming mutually beneficial partnerships and building a positive and productive workplace culture. James enjoys travelling and feels blessed to have recently completed a caravan lap around Australia with his wife and three children.                                                                                                                 Teamwork divides the task and multiples the success.  

Joe Kennedy

Head of Recruitment & Workforce Planning

Joe Kennedy

Head of Recruitment & Workforce Planning

With more than 10 years' experience in healthcare recruitment in Australia, Joe specialises in connecting exceptional medical professionals with meaningful career opportunities, particularly within Emergency Medicine — giving him a deep understanding of the specialty and what doctors value most in their careers.

Joe also has a unique connection with PEHA, having been its very first recruiter over nine years ago. Now back with the organisation, he's focused on building long-term relationships with Emergency Medicine doctors and growing PEHA's medical workforce.

Kristy Mehrtens

Referral Engagement Manager

Kristy Mehrtens

Referral Engagement Manager
Kristy is the Referrer Engagement Manager at PEHA, responsible for building strategic partnerships and strengthening referral networks that support sustainable growth across the organisation's emergency departments. With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, she combines her clinical background with executive leadership and commercial expertise. Kristy holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and an MBA majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and has held executive and senior management roles across a diverse range of healthcare organisations. She works collaboratively with healthcare providers, employers, community organisations, and key stakeholders to strengthen referral pathways.

Anita Cronin

Operations Manager

Anita Cronin

Operations Manager
Anita Cronin is an experienced healthcare operations leader with over 25 years experience across General Practice, Urgent Care, and Occupational Health. She excels in multi-site management, policy development, and service delivery optimisation. Anita has led national initiatives, strengthened operational systems, and enhanced efficiency across metropolitan and regional practices. Known for her strategic leadership and focus on patient-centred care, Anita is passionate about building empowered teams and creating systems that support clinical excellence and exceptional patient experiences.

Krystal Carpenter

Operations Manager

Krystal Carpenter

Operations Manager
Krystal Carpenter is a seasoned operations and administrative professional with extensive experience in healthcare. Krystal excels in team leadership, operational management, and patient care coordination. With a strong background in both hospital and private practice settings, Krystal is skilled in scheduling, software and systems development, staff training, and maintaining compliance with healthcare regulations. Her expertise spans multiple healthcare systems and administrative functions. Known for her reliability, leadership, and excellent customer service, Krystal is committed to fostering collaborative work environments and delivering exceptional patient experiences.

Joanne Burton

Medical Talent Acquisition Specialist

Joanne Burton

Medical Talent Acquisition Specialist
Joanne’s role includes the management of doctor engagement and rostering. Joanne is highly experienced with a strong background in business development, talent acquisition, recruitment and operations in the health care industry. Joanne aims to build strong and lasting relationships within her work at PEHA.

Elle Hatherly

Lead Practice Manager - New Sites and Projects

Elle Hatherly

Lead Practice Manager - New Sites and Projects
Elle works to maintain and establish PEHA’s varying locations by providing support to the PEHA Practice Managers. With a background in operations and recruitment, Elle works to preserve and strengthen PEHA’s partnerships as well as the overall coordination of PEHA’s Emergency Departments. Her aptitude for enhancing operations is evident in her contributions to PEHA’s technological and practice procedures.

Brock Schafer

Financial Accountant

Brock Schafer

Financial Accountant

Brock is a Financial Accountant within PEHA's finance team, supporting the company's growth while developing his commercial and leadership skills. He brings foundational Big 4 audit experience from EY, strong commercial accounting abilities, and a diverse industry background. Brock's interest in the financial side of business led him to study a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) at QUT in Brisbane. He has since become a Chartered Accountant and a member of CAANZ. Outside of work, Brock is passionate about fitness and strength training, believing that positive outcomes, in this and other areas of life, come from consistent effort and intention.

Anisha Suwal

Financial Accountant

Anisha Suwal

Financial Accountant
Anisha is an Assistant Financial Accountant with experience across Accounts Payable, cost accounting, financial reporting, and month-end processes. She is currently expanding her skill set into payroll, bringing strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in every task. Known for her organised approach and willingness to take initiative, Anisha supports the finance team in delivering timely, reliable results. She values continuous learning and enjoys contributing to smoother processes and better reporting outcomes. In her spare time, Anisha loves spending time with her toy cavoodle, Max  

One purpose brings us together: delivering better emergency care.

Every member of our team is driven by the same goal: improving the emergency experience. No matter the role, we work together to deliver outcomes that put patients, hospitals and communities first.

From clinical decisions to everyday interactions, we act with honesty, transparency and accountability. It’s how we build trust—with each other, and with those we care for.

We believe diverse perspectives make us stronger. That’s why we listen, communicate openly, and treat everyone—colleagues, partners, and patients—with respect and empathy.

Excellence isn’t a finish line. We’re always learning, evolving and improving—so we can meet today’s challenges and shape the future of emergency healthcare.