Breaking down silos: Using cross-functional management to accelerate health system performance

08 Sept 2026

Healthcare organisations are increasingly challenged to deliver better patient outcomes, improve workforce experience, and maintain financial sustainability within complex and interconnected systems. Yet organisational silos often create barriers to communication, coordination, and effective execution of strategy.

This panel discussion will explore how Cross-Functional Management (CFM) can help senior leaders align teams, priorities, and processes across organisational boundaries to improve performance at scale. Drawing on practical examples from healthcare settings, panellists will share how effective cross-functional leadership can strengthen collaboration, accelerate decision-making, and create greater organisational alignment.

We’ll delve into the critical aspects of CFM, including:

  • Strategies to coordinate care teams and flows across the value stream
  • Examples of report outs and compelling communication strategies that enable the necessary pace for transformation across an organisation. 
  • Aligning improvement agendas at all organisational levels with the organisational strategic plan, mission, and vision. 
  • Best practice for using effective data-driven decision-making to drive continuous improvement
Chairperson
Wendy Korthuis-Smith
Wendy Korthuis-Smith, Executive Director - Virginia Mason Institute
Speakers
Anna McClure
Anna McClure, Executive Director, Integrated Care and Partnerships - Central Adelaide
Catherine Stoddart
Catherine Stoddart, Chief Executive Officer - Brightwater Care Group
Petrovia Fisher
Petrovia Fisher, Area Director of Nursing and Midwifery - South Metropolitan Health Service in Western Australia