Executive team

Rex O'Rourke began as Chief Executive of Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services in January 2024.

Rex was previously the Regional Executive Director for WA Country Health Service in the Kimberley.

Rex holds a Juris Doctor, Masters-level qualifications in Administrative Law and Policy, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science. He is also a Fellow and Certified Health Executive for the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Rex has experience in the strategic leadership of health and human services in rural and remote areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. He has engaged with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations in the NT, WA and the ACT.

He also worked in the United States to contribute to national health reforms.

Rex is passionate about health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and working towards closing the gap for health outcomes.

Marita is a proud Dauareb descendant from the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait.

Marita has worked on Thursday Island since 2005 as a Medical Scientist at the Thursday Island Pathology laboratory. She joined Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service in June 2020 as the Operations Manager Primary Health Care.

In January 2021 she became Manager of Corporate Services North.

Marita has an interest in supporting workforce development and promoting health as a career for local community members.

She is passionate about providing a high-quality health service to the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area with cultural safety embedded throughout.

Michael has over 33 years' experience working for Queensland Health in clinical and senior roles. He is a registered nurse qualified in mental health nursing. He also has a Master of Business Administration with a focus in health management and leadership.

Michael joined Torres and Cape in 2018 and in July 2023 he became our Executive General Manager - Southern Sector.

He has been our Director of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs and the Director of Nursing for the primary health centres in Cape York. He has also worked as a surveyor with The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards across remote locations.

Michael focuses on robust governance systems to meet National Safety and Quality Health Service standards, and to carry out the clinical and strategic plans.

Jennie started as the Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in January 2026.

She is a proud Gooreng Gooreng, Kabi Kabi and Nivan woman and holds a Bachelor of Government and International Relations.

Jennie has worked in the public service for 20 years. Her work focuses on supporting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, especially through self-determination.

She continues to build her knowledge so she can advocate, educate, and help connect government and community.

Jennie is committed to social justice and making a positive difference for future generations.

Jenny is currently Acting Executive Director Allied Health. She joined Torres and Cape in August 2023 as Principal Allied Health Lead before moving into the position of Director of Aged, Palliative and Disability Services in March 2024.

Prior to joining TCHHS, Jenny spent over 10 years at Cairns and Hinterland HHS as an allied health clinician and both founder and program lead of a variety of older person’s programs.

Jenny has also worked with the Health Care Improvement Unit at Clinical Excellence Queensland as a clinical lead and has over 10 years of experience in Commonwealth disability and rehabilitation services.

Jenny is an Occupational Therapist with a Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) and a PhD in Public Health (Integrated and Older Persons Care). She is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with the James Cook University Healthy Ageing Research Team, and an Executive Partner of the Australian Foundation of Integrated Care.

Manu commenced as Executive Director Strategy and Investment in June 2024.

He joins TCHHS from the Western Australian Department of Health. He served as the Director of Corporate Services for the North Metropolitan Health Service. Prior to that he was the Director of Business Services for the WA Country Health Service.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration with a focus on asset management, project management and finance.

Manu brings a wealth of leadership experience and expertise to the role. He is passionate about turning strategic plans into workable solutions, supporting a solid organisational structure and fostering staff growth.

Liz Morley commenced with TCHHS in 2012.

She has held several roles including Business Analyst Northern Sector, Senior Management Accountant – Projects and Assets, Principal Management Accountant, and Director of Finance.

She holds a Bachelor of Business with a major in Accountancy and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).

Liz is committed to ensuring the financial sustainability of infrastructure to enhance the delivery of healthcare services within local communities.

She's also focused on fostering collaboration within the Health Service to provide robust financial support for service delivery and growth.

Liz has previous professional experience in the financial sectors of insolvency and audit.

Dr Marlow Coates is a rural generalist senior medical officer living on Thursday Island.

He began his career with Queensland Health at Mackay in 2012, before moving to Torres and Cape in 2015.

Marlow has held the roles of Senior Medical Officer, Acting Medical Superintendent, Northern Director of Medical Services.

He has worked as the Executive Director of Medical Services since 2021.

He holds a FRACGP, FACRRM, AFRACMA, JCCA and GAICD and is a current RACMA candidate in training. He's also a former physiotherapist.

Marlow is focused on closing the gap in health experienced by First Nations people and other Queenslanders living in remote areas.

Jacob joined Torres and Cape in 2016 working on Thursday Island. In July 2025 he became the Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Services.

He has worked in front-line and leadership roles in mental health, sexual health and primary health care in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Jacob was recently the Acting Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Services after being the Interim District Director of Nursing Southern Primary Health Care Centres.

He holds a Bachelor of Nursing, Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice and is currently completing a Masters in Business Administration (Health Management).

Jacob is focused on the strategic direction of nursing and midwifery at TCHHS across all levels and teams.

Reece is currently the Interim Executive Director Strategy, Digital and Performance.

He joined TCHHS in March 2025 as the Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

Reece is an Aboriginal man from Awabakal Country on his mother’s side. He is a registered nurse with strong experience in leadership, public health and health service planning.

He has led teams across First Nations health services and has experience managing service delivery, improving systems, and supporting better health outcomes.

In his current role, Reece focuses on strengthening strategy, digital and planning across the organisation. He is committed to building strong services, growing the workforce, and working in partnership with communities to support culturally appropriate, community-led care.

Sally O’Kane’s human resource career spans over 25 years. She's responsible for all human resource related services provided to the employees of the Torres and Cape.

Sally is passionate about improving the workplace culture and embracing our cultural diversity so employees truly feel valued and respected in a workplace and can bring their best self to work.