Appointment of Andrew Stott as Chief Executive Officer

Andrew brings extensive executive leadership experience across health, higher education and clinical services, with particular strengths in governance, organisational leadership, financial stewardship and leading through significant change. He is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, where he has executive responsibility across a complex operating environment and works with clinicians, academics, health services, medical research institutes, professional staff and students.

Throughout his career, Andrew has worked in organisations where success depends on bringing highly skilled professionals and diverse stakeholders together around a shared purpose.

At the University of Melbourne, he has led significant strategic and organisational change, strengthening financial sustainability, governance and accountability while building greater alignment across a large and complex organisation.

His experience includes enterprise strategy, organisational effectiveness, workforce and leadership initiatives, and developing strategic partnerships across the health and university sectors.

Prior to joining the University of Melbourne, Andrew was Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Teaching Health Clinics, with responsibility for more than 200 clinical and professional staff and over 80,000 patient appointments annually. In that role, he led an organisational, financial and cultural turnaround, rebuilt the leadership structure, strengthened governance and established a more sustainable platform for the organisation’s future. Earlier, he spent a decade with Epworth Healthcare in senior leadership roles, including Divisional General Manager of Epworth Eastern and Group Manager, Specialist Centres.

Andrew’s career has seen him work alongside clinicians and other highly skilled professionals, respecting professional expertise and bringing together diverse perspectives while creating the organisational clarity, accountability and discipline needed to deliver shared priorities. His approach is grounded in collaboration, considered decision-making and building trusted relationships across complex stakeholder environments.

Andrew holds a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Victoria, Canada, and a Bachelor of Science from Federation University. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has undertaken further executive development through Harvard Business School and INSEAD, including programs in organisational renewal, change and strategic decision-making.

The appointment follows a broad and extensive search conducted by Future Leadership, with the active involvement of the Board throughout. The process focused on identifying a leader with the experience, judgement and collaborative approach to support the College, its members including trainees and staff through its next phase, while continuing to strengthen the organisation that supports the College’s work across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

As he joins the College, Andrew will work closely with the President, Board, Interim CEO, members, trainees and staff to build on the work already underway and ensure the College is well supported to deliver on its priorities. Central to this will be maintaining a strong connection between the needs and perspectives of members and the work of the organisation, while supporting the College’s broader contribution to psychiatry and mental health across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

We look forward to welcoming Andrew to the College and introducing him to members and trainees in the months ahead.

In the meantime, Ms Jarka Kluth will continue as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Jarka has provided exceptional leadership during a period of significant change since stepping into the role in June.

As President, it has been a delight to work with Jarka during this critical period for the College. With integrity, grace and infectious enthusiasm, Jarka has helped lead College staff through a substantial body of reform involving governance, education and training, and an organisational realignment. The respect I have for Jarka is universally shared by the Board, members and staff, and I look forward to continuing our working relationship when she returns to her substantive role as Executive Director, Member Experience, in April 2027.