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RDN welcomes Dr Renee Strazzari as Head of Medical
04th May 2026
In support of its growing national and international health access strategy and broader health equity initiatives, RDN – The Charity for Health Access, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Renee Strazzari to the newly created role of Head of Medical.
Dr Strazzari is an Australian-based GP and medical administrator who has a Fellowship from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and an Associate Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA). She also holds postgraduate qualifications with a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Leadership Management from the University of New South Wales.
An Australian-Grenadian who grew up on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean, Dr Strazzari now lives on Gumbaynggirr Country in the beautiful regional town of Coffs Harbour with her husband, two kids and a "spirited" three-legged rescue Kelpie named Red (who she says "still manages to outrun me").
Dr Strazzari said she first became aware of RDN more than 12 years ago after moving to Coffs Harbour and having the opportunity to collaborate through meetings and events, such as the Rural GPs Conference in Rural Health Month.
She says she's always felt a strong alignment with RDN.
"RDN's vision of 'health access for all' has always resonated with me, and I have seen first-hand some of the positive impacts they have made for our communities and the health profession," Renee said.
"My own journey has been shaped by my experiences living and working in under-resourced regional and rural areas, both in Australia and abroad, which has given me a deep appreciation for the unique and varied challenges faced by these communities," said Renee.
"From my interactions with RDN, they have shown themselves to be a trusted organisation with integrity, influence and impact, so I am both humbled and excited to have joined their organisation as Head of Medical," Dr Strazzari said.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr Strazzari has held senior roles in both government and not-for-profit primary care and hospital organisations across medical leadership, clinical governance and organisational strategy, operations and workforce functions. She was the NSW & ACT Rep (and Deputy Chair) for RACGP Rural and the RACGP Rural Rep for the NSW Regional Medical Training Forum and the National Rural Health Alliance.
In addition to this, she was the Lead Medical Editor for MNC's HealthPathways, a Medical Advisor for her local Primary Health Network and the National Digital Health Organisation Healthdirect, the Deputy Director of Medical Services at Kempsey District Hospital and, more recently, within the MNCLHD's Coffs Clinical Network and Director of UNSW's Mid North Coast Regional Training Hub.
As part of the Head of Medical role at RDN, Dr Strazzari will lead the development and oversight of RDN's Clinical Governance Framework, strengthen culturally responsive clinical practice, and represent RDN across national and international health forums.
RDN CEO, Richard Colbran, said the role is an important clinical leadership position within RDN and he's excited to welcome Dr Strazzari as a highly reputable and enthusiastic medical professional, who has already jumped head-first into the role!
"Renee is a highly qualified, experienced medical leader who brings a wealth of experience and strong clinical credibility to the role, as well as a deep understanding of the Australian health system and, importantly, the rural health sector too," Mr Colbran said.
"We have been thrilled to welcome Renee to RDN. In her first few weeks, I had the pleasure of joining Renee at Port Macquarie for RDN's Rural GPs Refresher Conference and then for the 21st World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) World Rural Health Conference and Rural Council meeting in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand."
"Renee took part in discussion, planning and connection at the Council meeting, which brought together member organisations from across the world to debate priorities, shape partnerships, and help set the global rural health agenda," he said.
Mr Colbran explained that as part of the role, Dr Strazzari will also provide trusted medical advice across workforce development, Indigenous health partnerships, under-resourced access initiatives and Indo-Pacific health access programs.
After participating in the Rural WONCA conference, Dr Strazzari says she's feeling more energised than ever.
"I was inspired by the stories and dedication of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, communities, and organisations from across the globe," she said after the conference.
"I look forward to working closely not only with RDN but with the many incredible organisations, communities and people across the health sector and beyond, who continue to work tirelessly and passionately on advancing health access for under-resourced and Indigenous communities, including those in remote, rural and regional areas of NSW, nationally across Australia and internationally.
"I returned home even more energised to contribute to positive change and I am certain that my role within RDN will allow me to do just that!"
RDN's Chief Operating Officer, Mike Edwards, was also delighted to welcome Dr Strazzari:
"It really is a pleasure to welcome Renee to the RDN family. I have long admired her passion for building healthier communities and a supported healthcare workforce. I know that her medical leadership will prove a great asset to the work of RDN and its growing social enterprises – Australian Centre for Health Access (ACHA), RDN Health, Rural Health Pro and Rural Doctors Network.
"Medical and clinical advancement, through up-to-date evidence, models of care, and workforce capability, is critical to ensuring patients receive care that is safe, contemporary, and equitable, regardless of geography," Mr Edwards said.
"Renee's presence in our team reinforces RDN's commitment to strengthening clinical leadership and embedding clinical expertise into program design, partnerships, and service models."
Welcome Dr Renee Strazzari!
- To learn more about Dr Renee Strazzari, including a full list of her qualifications and achievements, please click here.
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