Eleven powerhouse women making waves in Western Sydney

Women make up three-quarters of the Western Sydney Local Health District workforce, so it’s no surprise there are many stars in our ranks.

For International Women’s Day we’re celebrating 11 women stand out in our district through their expertise and hard work.

Congratulations to these powerhouse women and to every woman who makes the world a better place every day!

Clara Chow

Westmead Hospital cardiologist Professor Clara Chow is a pioneer in using technology and artificial intelligence to improve heart health in the community. A finalist for the 2020 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Award, Clara’s ground-breaking research has attracted over $130 million funding in the past five years.

Gemma Olsson

Westmead Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Gemma Olsson is part of the new wave of surgeons who make no apologies for breaking into the boys’ club. “If you’re a woman interested in the brain and surgery, then just do it, because we have the best job in the world,” Dr Olsson said.

Helen Crowther

Haematologist Helen Crowther is a key clinical leader at Blacktown Hospital and an integral part of the hospital’s five-year strategic plan. Her ongoing commitment to patient-centred care is improving outpatient cancer clinics at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals.

Roslyn Crampton

Associate Professor Roslyn Crampton has been at Westmead Hospital since it opened in 1979, making her way from intern to chief medical advisor including 20 years as an emergency medicine staff specialist. Her expertise and focus is clinical training and supervision of postgraduate doctors.

Sarah Tapp

Auburn Hospital midwife Sarah Tapp took the plunge into clinical research last year, studying birth room design to improve the experience for mother and baby alike. She is the first Auburn-based researcher to receive a Westmead Research and Education Network grant.

Therese McGee

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Therese McGee is the clinical director of Women’s and Newborn Health at Westmead Hospital. In other words, she helps run the team that delivered 5347 babies last year alone, as seen on One Born Every Minute Australia.

Bobbi Henao Urrego

A social worker with more than 14 years’ experience in NSW Health, Bobbi Henao Urrego is currently the head of social work at Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals. Bobbi has a special interest in providing high quality care to our priority populations, and a passion for the role Allied Health can play in health care organisational leadership and management

Emma Clarke

If there’s a project across WSLHD to improve patient, carer and staff experience, Innovation and Redesign director Emma Clarke is across it. Emma started at Westmead Hospital in 2006 as an emergency nurse and cut her teeth in redesign with an emergency cardiology project. She has worked across a diverse range of projects and clinical areas, as well as coaching and mentoring staff in project and change management to develop our future leaders.

Margaret Assaf

With a background in automotive and construction law, corporate legal counsel Margaret Assaf joined WSLHD in 2011 and hasn’t looked back. She holds a master’s degree in Health Management which, combined with her legal expertise, enables her to advise on a dizzying variety of legal questions across the district every day.

Brydie Page

Working in the cutting-edge field of cell and gene therapy, quality manager Brydie Page is driven to ensure all research and services are consistently held to the highest standard. Her role with Sydney Cell & Gene Therapy gives her a unique responsibility across the Westmead Health Precinct supporting advancements that are translating into new therapy opportunities for patients in the district. 

Ljubica Simic

Ljubica Simic may be Westmead Hospital’s happiest cleaner.  Her uplifting personality and kind-heartedness has touched a family so much that they nominated her for an Australia Day Award. “A lot of the people in my ward are in and out of the ward so we develop a relationship,” Ljubica said.  “I don’t just clean, I help the patient – if they want water or a warm blanket, I will drop everything and help them.”

This list is by no means extensive. If you know someone who deserves recognition, drop us a line at WSLHD-ThePulse@health.nsw.gov.au.