Kirstine Sketcher-Baker is a distinguished healthcare leader with more than two decades of experience advancing patient safety and quality improvement across Queensland, nationally, and internationally. Since 2012, she has served as Executive Director of Patient Safety and Quality, Queensland Health where she has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have measurably improved patient outcomes and enhanced consumer experience.

Kirstine’s leadership has delivered landmark achievements, including the implementation of statewide digital platforms for real-time patient-reported outcomes and supported transparency under the Health Transparency Act 2019—making Queensland the first jurisdiction in Australia to publicly report patient outcome data. She also led the successful rollout of RiskMan, a comprehensive patient safety information system, and championed high-impact collaboratives such as the Safer Baby Bundle, which aims to reduce stillbirth rates.

Her influence extends nationally through roles such as Chair of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Inter-jurisdictional Committee (2019–2021), and has shaped policy responses to critical safety issues, including pelvic mesh complications and urgent medical device recalls. Kirstine is widely recognized for her ability to build strong partnerships with clinicians, consumers, executives, and academic experts, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Kirstine’s vision is clear: to create a safer, more transparent, and patient-centered health system that delivers excellence for every Queenslander.