‘In the 15 years I spent specialising in emergency and major trauma nursing, I’ve probably talked with thousands of families who have lost a loved one. I have a real appreciation of just how difficult those conversations are for our staff, and you really can't take that experience away from what we do today’
- Lucinda Barry
As told by Lucinda Barry, Chief Executive Officer
I left working for a Prime Minister for the CEO position with the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA). At the time, I was a Senior Health Advisor, and the first nurse in Australia’s history in that role.
It was a pretty significant career move, and the PM at the time didn't want me to go. But I told him it was my dream job. I said, ‘You know what, I need to do this for me.’
As the first CEO of the OTA with a clinical background, I feel that my experience as a nurse gives me a real understanding of the work that is being done on the ground.
Driving national programs for the OTA has seen me find my way back into hospitals after 8 and a half years at Parliament House. I see the direct difference made in people’s lives by talking to DonateLife nurses and doctors, meeting with the donor families who have chosen to give others a second chance at life, and watching transplant recipients thrive. It’s all thanks to the work we do.
I always wanted to be a nurse growing up. Straight out of high school in country Victoria, I started an intensive training program at Royal Melbourne Hospital. I remember that moment coming home from my first day in the Emergency Department. I was 18 years old and completely out of my comfort zone, but I realised I had found my true calling.
In the 15 years I spent specialising in emergency and major trauma nursing, I’ve probably talked with thousands of families who have lost a loved one. I have a real appreciation of just how difficult those conversations are for our staff, and you really can't take that experience away from what we do today.
When I received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Award for my service to public health policy and medicine in 2023, it was very humbling for me. There are so many people who have helped make this happen on my journey.
I have the most amazing senior leadership team, and all of the staff at the OTA and in the DonateLife Network are 100% committed to what we do.
In fact, in the 2023 APS Census, the OTA was ranked first out of 100 agencies for our employee engagement, well-being and innovation results, and second for our SES leadership and communication results.
As a CEO, I can stand up and say that every person that works with me contributes to our positive culture and is here because they want to make a difference like I do.
Knowing every day that I’m working to improve people’s lives and make a real difference is truly rewarding. We’re saving lives with the organ donation program, and we all have the chance to give somebody that gift of life through organ donation.
One of our most important jobs at the OTA is to try to educate the community about organ and tissue donation and encourage those who support donation to register and talk to their family. This makes a big difference in the hospital when families know what their loved one would have wanted.
It’s also important to make sure that there are no lost opportunities for donation in our clinical program. We hope to get as many people off the transplant waitlist as possible.
I took on this role to make a real difference in people's lives. What better way to do it than be instrumental at the top.
Inspired by Lucinda's story?
