Foundation Board Transitions

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The AMA Queensland Foundation Board has experienced some significant transitions alongside our recent activities - from farewelling a long-standing Director to welcoming new Board members. We share these changes with you as we head into our planned initiatives for the latter part of 2025. 

Farewell and thank you Professor Chris Perry

Following the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting in May, the Board farewelled Professor Chris Perry OAM, who completed his full tenure of eight years as a Foundation Director. 

Since his appointment in 2017, Professor Perry has been part of many significant projects as an AMA Queensland Foundation Director. This includes supporting 23 medical students experiencing financial hardship through the AMA Queensland Foundation Medical Student Scholarship. These students, hailing from universities across the state including regional medical programs, were awarded scholarships to help them continue their studies and reach their dreams of becoming doctors. 

Alongside this key initiative, have been other notable projects, including:

• Supporting Hear and Say to deliver essential hearing-related therapy services to children in regional Queensland 
• Bringing vital equipment to patients with motor neurone disease
• Helping vulnerable Queenslanders access Hepatitis C treatment through the Hep C Combi Clinic
• Providing grants to support families in crisis during floods in Far North Queensland and South-East Queensland.
• Fast tracking of ear, nose and throat surgery for 36 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children living in remote Queensland
• Fundraising to purchase a broadcast camera for Juiced TV to help children in hospital
• Funding vaccines for at risk and marginalised community members who are ineligible for a free vaccine through the VacSeen Project.
• Helping young people living with special needs live independently by supporting Youngcare’s At Home Care and Home Support Grants. 
• Funding breast and prostate cancer research
• Supporting Queensland’s homeless by transforming under-utilised spaces into safe accommodation through Beddown.
• Implementing the GPTQ Training and Research Bursary. 
• Delivering grants for organisations that provide vital services for individuals experiencing domestic and family violence.

The Foundation’s Chair Dr Dilip Dhupelia said it was a privilege to have such an experienced medical professional contributing greatly to help bring these projects to fruition.

“Professor Perry offered significant insight into areas of need in Queensland’s health system, and this has helped to shape the Foundation’s past as well as formulate a bright future,” Dr Dhupelia said.

“Chris’ enthusiastic input, as well as his humour and warmth will be missed by the Foundation Board and team, and we wish him well in his next endeavours,” he added.

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Introducing new Board Directors

Dr Maria Boulton 

As immediate Past President of AMA Queensland, Dr Maria Boulton brings a wealth of experience and advocacy to the Foundation Board. Dr Boulton is an industry leader, GP specialist, business owner, media commentator and public speaker with two decades’ experience working in private practice and hospitals in Brisbane and regional Queensland. She has driven state and national health policy through leadership roles in AMA Queensland, AMA, RACGP, Australian GP Alliance and Queensland Medical Women’s Society.

Dr Boulton completed her medical degree at The University of Queensland in 2002, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and a graduate and member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

"I am a big believer in giving back to the community that I am so fortunate to live in which is why I support the AMA Queensland Foundation's work," she said. 

Dr Jack Kelso-Ribbe

Our newest Director, appointed in early August, is Dr Jack Kelso-Ribbe. Dr Kelso-Ribbe is an ACCRM Registrar currently working as a Resident Medical Officer (PGY2) at West Moreton Hospital and Health Service in Ipswich. He is also Company Secretary of One for Health, a charity which brings together junior doctors to fight health inequities. 

Dr Kelso-Ribbe has been involved in charity and advocacy work since his medical student days, and comes to the Foundation Board with some impressive experience, including: 

• Past Non-Executive Director (2022-2024), Board Chair (2023-2024) and President (2020-2022) of Towards International Medical Equity (TIME) – a University of Queensland global health society. 
• Former Chair of the Australian Medical Students Association Audit and Risk Subcommittee (2023-2024) and Non-Executive Director (2022-2024) 
• Former President (2022-2023) and Vice President – Rural Clinical Schools (2021-2022)  of TROPHIQ, a rural health club which aims to support medical, nursing and allied health students to develop careers in rural health. 
• Former Non-Executive Director and Co-Founder of the VacSeen Project (2021-2023). 

The Observership Program 

The Foundation Board has also welcomed two Observers, Lana Elliot and Patrick Murphy, appointed under The Observership Program. The program is designed to provide aspiring leaders with practical experience on not-for-profit boards, enhancing their governance skills and networking opportunities. Both will observe the Board for the next year and attend Board Meetings to form an understanding of the workings of a Board.