GOVERNANCE, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF DIGITAL HEALTH PRODUCTS
With
Chris Boyd-Skinner,
Chief Executive Officer
Digital Health Standards Council of Australasia
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | August 2026
Chris Boyd-Skinner is Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Health Standards Council of Australasia (DHSCA). He is an experienced digital health and governance expert, having led national and international clinical governance in digital health and AI initiatives for the Australian Government.
He is practicing registered nurse with over 15 years’ experience in critical care and consults to the World Health Organization’s Greece Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety Office. As a founding member of the IEEE Standards Association Ethical Assurance of Data-Driven Technologies for Mental Healthcare sub-committee, hosted at Cambridge University and the Alan Turing Institute, his interests span AI governance, patient safety for healthcare technologies and clinical governance in health and care settings.
Chris led implementation of Australia’s National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDHM) Standards, and holds undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in nursing alongside a dual Master of International Public Health and Health Management from UNSW.
In 2022, Chris was the recipient of the distinguished Winston Churchill Fellowship, exploring global models for safety and quality in digital mental health technologies.
Source: Supplied
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Thyroid health into pregnancy
‘Without an adequate amount of thyroid hormone mothers can be exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia or eclampsia, which affect around 10% of pregnant women and are the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide. Mothers who suffer from hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular consequences and hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies. Evidence also indicates a risk of reduced cognitive ability to their offspring.
‘Knowing if you are genetically predisposed to Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Diseases, which are both thyroid autoimmune disorders is important to be aware of, to ensure all appropriate tests are ordered. Autoimmune disorders may predispose mothers to a thyroid problem during pregnancy’, says Professor Creswell Eastman, who also serves as the ATF’s Principal Medical Advisor.
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The desire for primary care nurses to do more, be recognised and valued for the work they do
Denise Lyons is a highly experienced nurse with over 40 years in the profession, including more than 25 years dedicated to primary care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the United States in 1985 and, in 2012, became an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Australia. Currently, she serves as a primary care Nurse Practitioner in General Practice in Newcastle, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves the health and wellbeing of her community.
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Belonging in a medical device company
Edith de Boer is the HR Director for Zimmer Biomet in Australia and New Zealand. Her career originally was in telecommunications and consulting in Europe. After leaving The Netherlands, Edith worked into the Australian medical research industry, before moving into a human resources role at Zimmer Biomet. Edith spoke to Australian Health Journal about her role and the organisation.
