Our Leaders
"It’s clear what Australians want from their health system. They want services to be there when they need them and to provide the best possible quality of care. For our part, we’re listening and we’re acting."
Richard Bowden
Richard Bowden
Managing Director
Richard Bowden has been Managing Director of Bupa since 1997. He is responsible for ensuring Bupa achieves its goals in helping members live longer, healthier, happier lives.
Richard has had a long career in financial services and in private health insurance. He joined HBA (now part of the Bupa Group) 25 years ago, holding a wide range of executive roles as HBA evolved and grew through its many changes in structure. He also managed HBA's transition from AXA Asia Pacific ownership to Bupa in 2003.
In 2008, Bupa acquired MBF, and Richard led the integration of the businesses. At Bupa, he has also overseen expansion of a range of healthcare services, with the introduction of Bupa Health Dialog into Australia, and the acquisition of Health Eyewear Pty Limited (BLINK Optical) and PEAK Fitness Management (Australia) Pty Limited.
Richard is the President of Private Healthcare Australia, a Commissioner on the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, on the Foundation Board of Very Special Kids.
Naomi Attwood
Director, Customer Service
Naomi champions Bupa’s efforts to provide exceptional customer service to all members.
Naomi leads a large customer service team that interacts with our customers through a variety of channels to update policies, process claims and respond to and resolve customer enquiries and complaints. Through these channels the team is responsible for delivering a customer experience that aims to be personal, efficient and sustainable.
Naomi has led customer service operations for the past 15 years in businesses in Australia and the United Kingdom. In 2010 Naomi moved from Director of Transformation to Director of Customer Service at Bupa.
Dr Paul Bates
Chief Medical Officer
Bupa is delighted to welcome Dr. Paul Bates, a passionate healthcare advocate and newest Bupa health leader.
Paul grew up in Sydney and graduated from medicine with honours in 1985. For almost a decade, Paul practised in both metropolitan and regional Australia, gaining experience in a wide variety of fields including paediatrics, obstetrics, accident and emergency, occupational medicine, surgery and sports medicine.
After completing an MBA at INSEAD in France, Paul took up a unique opportunity to join the international team of UnitedHealth (one of the world’s largest health and wellness companies) to work with multinational healthcare businesses and clients. From Germany to Hong Kong to the United States, Paul developed a reputation for excellence in diverse areas such as outreach health programs, health data analysis and technology development projects.
In his most recent post as National Medical Director for Innovations at OptumHealth (one of the USA’s largest health and wellness companies), Paul was a clinical leader for teams that developed programs to improve health care quality and efficiency, help consumers make more informed health care decisions, and improve their engagement and knowledge of their condition via use of integrated technology such as web portals and personal health records.
He is excited about returning to Australia and looks forward to improving the health and healthcare choices for Bupa members of all ages.
Mark Engel
Director, Group Development
Mark and his team are responsible for Bupa’s market strategy and delivery including its brand portfolio, products, policy, corporate affairs, government relations, internal and external communications, e-commerce, distribution innovation, corporate responsibility and health leadership strategy.
Mark has more than 25 years of experience in the health and general insurance industries, as well as significant experience in the financial services sector.
Mark is a director of a joint venture company between Bupa Australia and IAG (Insurance Australia Group), as well as Health Eyewear.
Hisham El-Ansary
Director, Strategy and Commercial Development
Hisham is responsible for Bupa's business strategy including company-wide strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, project delivery and commercial subsidiaries. He joined Bupa in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer, and in November 2010, was appointed to this newly established role.
During 2010, he drove the sale of Clearview Life and the acquisition and establishment of a number of subsidiary health companies including Health Eyewear (BLINK Optical), PEAK Health Management and Bupa Health Dialog. Hisham has held a variety of senior executive roles over the past 27 years. His qualifications include Bachelor of Economics and Master of Business Administration degrees. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tony Forster
Director, Sales
With more than 30 years in the financial services and insurance industries, Tony has previously held roles in banking, financial services, human resources, customer administration, operations, service and sales.
Tony was appointed Bupa’s Customer Service Director in mid-2008 following the MBF merger, and was responsible for the integration and operation of all contact centres, operations, customer strategy and projects teams. He was also the business sponsor for the Priority One project, migrating 1.6 million MBF customers onto the Bupa customer system in July 2010.
Tony became Sales Director at Bupa in October 2010, with national responsibility for all sales and retention channels for health insurance, general insurance, financial services and health services.
Joy Linton
Chief Financial Officer
Joy is responsible for driving Bupa’s overall financial performance through the provision of financial, actuarial, treasury, legal, procurement, and planning and project delivery services.
Commencing with Bupa in March 2011, Joy has more than 20 years of experience in strategic and financial roles with companies such as Ford Motor Company and Pacific Dunlop Food Group. Joy held the role of CFO of National Foods since November 2007 and prior to that was General Manager Commercial for the Dairy Foods Group.
Joy has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Penny Lovett
Director, Human Resources
Penny has been with Bupa for eight years. As Director, Human Resources, she helps Bupa achieve its strategic and operational goals by attracting, developing and engaging talented people.
Since joining Bupa in 2002, Penny has successfully led numerous change management and people programs, including Bupa's landmark merger with MBF.
In addition, the company has been awarded several independent industry accolades in recognition of its leading role as an employer in Australia.
Prior to joining Bupa, Penny held senior HR positions at leading financial and professional services organisations.
Angus Norris
Director, Health and Benefits
Angus is responsible for purchasing quality services that meet the healthcare needs of members, as well as overseeing the development and implementation of health programs.
In 2010, he had responsibility for introducing Bupa Health Dialog into the Australian market, and the implementation of new programs such as Genesis Heart Care.
Joining Bupa Australia in 1995, Angus has over 25 years of public and private hospital management experience, both overseas and in Australia.
Prior to joining Bupa, Angus spent five years with the Australian Red Cross as National Refugee and Protection Manager.
Peter Powell
Chief Information Officer
Peter is responsible for ensuring the provision of high quality, reliable technology services at Bupa. In 2010, Peter drove the successful integration of the businesses' computer systems, aimed at even greater reliability and consistency of service for members.
Peter has spent over 30 years in the information technology industry. He joined Bupa in 1999, and in 2002 was appointed Chief Information Officer.
Prior to joining Bupa, Peter was IT Director at the leading UK telecommunications company Racal Network Services, and has held other senior leadership positions with major financial services and distribution organisations.
