Martin Laverty

Martin Laverty is Chief Executive of Aruma Disability Services. A for-purpose organisation, Aruma is a human rights disability support provider of early childhood intervention, school leaver supports, community participation, employment social enterprises and accommodation options for children and
adults with disability. Martin also currently serves as:

• A Member of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority Aged Care Committee.
• A Director of international aid charity Caritas.
• A Member of the Council of the University of Canberra.

Martin served as Secretary General of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for three years until mid-2022. As AMA Group Chief Executive, Martin was also responsible for subsidiary companies:

• The Australian Medical Publishing Company, publisher of the Medical Journal of Australia.
• Doctor Portal Learning, an e-market place for medical education and training.
• Drs Health Services, a national e-health service for doctors and medical students.

Martin served from 2014 to 2019 as Chief Executive of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Martin expanded RFDS programs to offer mental health and dental services across remote Australia. He additionally Chaired the Deputy Prime Minister’s General Aviation Advisory Group and was a member of the National Rural Health Commissioner’s Taskforce.

From 2007 to 2014 Martin was Chief Executive of the national hospital and aged care group Catholic Health Australia. In that role he served on the Department of Health’s Aged Care Sector Committee, the Commonwealth Clinical Trials Advisory Committee, the National Health Performance Authority Advisory Committee for Private Hospitals, and the Australian Catholic University Faculty of Health Sciences Board and ACT Advisory Board.

Martin has worked in two international roles, for the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and in Jakarta for Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. He is a former Director of the consultancy firm Burson-Marsteller, a former Manager of government at The Smith Family, and a former CEO of Muscular Dystrophy NSW. He also served as an adviser to a NSW Shadow Minister.

In previous Board roles, Martin has served as:

• An inaugural Director of the National Disability Insurance Agency from June 2013 to July 2020.
• A Director of Health Direct from July 2018 until commencing at the AMA.
• Deputy Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission Advisory Board from May
  2016 to November 2023.
• Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia from January 2018 to July 2023.
• Chair of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea’s Future Governance
  Board.
• A member of the NSW Public Service Commission Board from 2011 to 2018.
• A member of the Heart Foundation (NSW) Board for nine years from 2006, and as Board Chair for the
  final three years (as well as serving on the National Board for those three years).
• Chair of the disability charity Unission for five years from 2007.
• Chair of disability charity Challenge Southern Highlands for eight years from 2000.
• A member of the Muscular Dystrophy NSW’s Board for three years from 2001.

Martin is a lawyer by training, with a Masters in Indigenous Comparative Laws, and a PhD in corporate governance. Martin and Fiona Laverty have three school aged children, and live in Canberra.