Chief Executive Officer – Hear and Say

Hear and Say is a non-for-profit organisation and one of the leading paediatric auditory-verbal and cochlear implant centres in the world. The centre was established 25 years ago and across six centres in Queensland offers services for children who are deaf or suffer some form of hearing loss.  

As Queensland’s leading provider of paediatric audiology and speech pathology services, Hear and Say serves over 17,500 people annually, including approximately 1,600 clients with hearing loss. They specialise in supporting families whose child has been diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss. With three core service areas being hearing screening, audiology and speech pathology, Hear and Say work with families so that their children can become great communicators, confident within themselves and capable of achieving success on their own terms.  

They also provide services that support broader physical, emotional, and social development. Working closely with the state government, their partnerships with Queensland Health and the Department of Education are crucial to the excellent outcomes achieved by their clients.  

Hear and Say is renowned internationally for their work, and the existence of such an expert organisation that supports families is a source of pride for Queenslanders. 

Client Website
ACNC Profile

Windsor Group and Hear and Say are both committed to equal opportunity employment practices. Applications for the position of CEO will be assessed on merit and selected applicants invited to interview. An offer of appointment will be made to the applicants whose written application and interview responses best demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role. 

Although this role does not have a closing date, we recommend you lodge your application as soon as possible.  Windsor Group will be reviewing applications, aiming to conduct interviews the week commencing December 8, 2025 with client presentations following shortly after.

• Business model and fee for service is strong, ensuring long term sustainability. 
• Hear and Say has a good brand with fundraising to support business growth opportunities. 
• Successful market share across southeast Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton. 
• Realistic fundraising targets with relationship focus rather than a transactional one. 
• Strong productivity, profitability and corporate culture. 

Strategic Priorities for the Incoming CEO 

1. Culture: Rebuild trust and cohesion across the organisation. 
2. Structure: Stabilise the newly implemented structure and ensure it supports strategic goals. 
3. Strategy: Collaborate with the board to refine and execute a growth-oriented strategy. 
4. Funding: Diversify income streams and secure new contracts. 
5. Innovation: Reignite the organisation’s identity as a leader in hearing health innovation. 

Board and Governance

• The board is highly engaged, experienced, and supportive, with lived experience in hearing loss. 
• They are committed to backing the CEO with the right structure and team. 
• The previous CEO’s departure was amicable but highlighted the need for better cultural alignment and change management. 

• Cultural Division: Historical tension between clinical and non-clinical teams has occurred on a number of occasions over time which has undermined cohesion. Previous CEOs struggled with change management, either pushing too hard or failing to bring staff along on the journey. 
• Funding Volatility: NDIS funding is increasingly unstable creating uncertainty. 
• Missed Strategic Opportunities: Potential partnerships in autism services and option to hospital-based audiology have not been pursued. 
• Plateauing Financials: While financially sound, new sustainable funding sources need to be identified considering the NDIS funding uncertainty.  
• Staff professionally accredited (audiology, speech pathology), but many lack business acumen. 
• Urgency in service delivery, especially for deaf babies—expected to make 12 months of progress in 12 months. 

The ideal candidate will be: 

• A transformational leader with a proven track record of executing strategic growth. 
• Experienced in not-for-profit leadership, with deep understanding of NDIS, Medicare, private funding, and government partnerships. 
• Skilled in advocacy, able to engage with federal and state governments, particularly in health, education, and disability sectors. 
• A strong cultural leader, capable of rebuilding trust, fostering unity, and leading with humility and warmth. 
• Operationally astute, with a clear grasp of governance, sustainable operations, and clinical environments. 
• Personally engaging, with a passion for working with children and families. 

Position Description

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes: 

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format) 

• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role 

Submit your application quoting reference number KCCTEQ to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information please contact Kym Cheatham on 07 3211 0001. Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day. 

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