Ms Elizabeth Koff
About the speaker
Our speaker today is Ms Elizabeth Koff.
Elizabeth is currently the Acting Deputy Secretary, Strategy and Resources at the NSW Ministry of Health. With a strong interest in making a difference to the health system, she began her career as an allied health professional working in a range of clinical setting both in New South Wales and Victoria.
She has also held a number of senior executive planning and operational roles within the New South Wales health system, which included the Director of Population Health, Planning and Performance in South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service and the Director of Clinical Operations South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service. In 2010, Elizabeth was appointed Chief Executive of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
Elizabeth has memberships in a variety of national and state boards and committees including; Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and New South Wales E-Health committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Sydney and a Master in Public Health from Monash University.
It gives me great pleasure to invite Ms Elizabeth Koff to deliver the occasional address.
Speech
Presiding Chancellor, Dr Ron Sandland, Pro-Chancellor
Presiding Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shirley Alexander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education and Students)
Presiding Dean, Professor John Daly, Dean – Faculty of Health
Presiding Director, Ms Jennifer Lacoon, Director of Human Resources
Representative, Academic Board, Associate Professor Joanne Gray, Chair of Academic Board
Faculty members
Proud parents, families and supporters
To the Graduands
Congratulations! Today is your day!
You have brains in your head you have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose!
These are extracts from a literary work I can guarantee is not often heard in the halls and corridors of UTS.
They are from the Dr Seuss book “Oh the places you’ll go”.
What is remarkable however is the applicability of the book to your achievement we celebrate today and your future career path. Your career journey starts today or is energized again today with this award.
You can’t imagine where you will go in your career. It will have twists and turns, highs and lows and only you decide the path!
I am indeed honoured to be asked to provide the occasional address.
Never in my wildest dreams when I sat in the very same position that you are in today did I imagine that I would be sharing your celebration from this perspective.
This day marks an important milestone for future leaders and it may be hard to believe now but you will be future leaders. My career pathway has been far from traditional and I believe no one could have predicted when I graduated as a dietitian I would end up where I am today.
I can honestly say there was no well laid career plan, there was no predetermined strategy, I just seized every opportunity and tried my best.
The world of health care when I graduated did not look like it does today.
Patients and staff smoked in hospitals, laparoscopic surgery was the stuff of future movies, and childhood cancer was a death diagnosis whereas now we have rates of 90% survival for more than 5 years children born with cystic fibrosis live into adulthood.
There are other aspects of working life in health however that they never teach you at university. Those relating to your career and working relationships. Some have changed since I graduated, e.g. only a male pediatrician could be in charge of the children’s hospital; however I consider some have remained constant and will do so for many years to come.
What I would like to do is share 4 personal career reflections that they never teach you at university and who better than Dr Seuss to help understand your career journey.
Reflection number 1 – know what you know and know what you don’t know
Your presence here validates you, and recognises the value of education. It is the springboard for future.
What you must appreciate however is that lifelong learning will be important to be continued in your career and it comes in a variety of forms.
From activities as diverse as the participation in clinical ward rounds, to understanding patient perspectives of care, to working in teams, to policy development and management you will continue to learn and grow professionally and personally.
Don’t be afraid to say when you don’t understand or know but make sure you then go and acquire the necessary knowledge.
My knowledge Achilles heel as an allied health trained public health professional was finances. I had studiously avoided gaining a strong working understanding in finances. The reality finally dawned on me that I couldn’t truly engage in a meaningful way in critical Executive discussions without this skill set. It was off to financial management 101 and more.
Reflection number 2 - You are the one who decides what happens to you
I am a firm believer you chose your attitude at work and you are responsible for your career choices.
Diligent application of this education and industriousness in whatever work you do is essential. Do your best to deliver willingly and enthusiastically with the highest professional standards. The satisfaction you derive can be powerful
Being appropriately self-directed and demonstrating initiative and being part of a team is critical.
If you find yourself in a position that fails to satisfy you or you feel you have outgrown, don’t reduce your effort or disengage. It is not good form and reflects poorly on you as a professional. It is essential you plan your exit strategy but don’t make the mistake of having one eye on the next job whilst you are doing the current job.
There is truth in the adage the harder I work the luckier I get!
Reflection number 3 - There will be bang ups and hang ups that happen to you
Things will constantly change in your working world and nowhere is this more apparent than in health. You can always expect the unexpected.
You won't be successful in every job you apply for. It doesn't mean you don't have the right skills so persevere, the right job for you will come.
Your perfect job may be eliminated or deleted. You can despair or you can take the opportunity to see change as an opportunity to seize new challenges with energy and enthusiasm.
I remember the day of announcement of the amalgamation of area health services in 2006. I received the letter saying my position was deleted and “thanks for my contribution. Please apply for a position in the new structure when this is established”
What could I do but work hard and positively contribute to the development of the new structure which resulted in my appointment as Director of population health planning and performance.
After 4 years this role was deleted in a restructure across the state.
Reflections number 4 - Step with care and tact and remember life is a balancing act
I have worked with many extraordinarily intelligent people in the health system, however one of most important attributes of those that really succeed are those with well developed interpersonal skills and the ability to develop good working relationships. Health service delivery or any work environments about teams and about working with people collaboratively. The smartest person in the room is not necessarily the best leader.
Don’t underestimate the importance of networks and relationships and patronage.
And consider the advice of those you respect and admire in the work place.
Work these days is not a traditional career ladder, it is more like a jungle gym so don’t be locked into thinking of narrow solutions.
I have had the privilege of working with some strong leaders that continued to challenge me and push me outside my comfort zone and grab other bars.
A previous director general said you need operational experience to be a Chief Executive. I had never even contemplated a chief executive role, let alone considered how I might progress to such a position. I grappled with self-doubt however took the trusted advice which completely changed my career path. For which I am very grateful.
So today is your day so get on your way! You are ready for anything under the sun!
You have brains in your head you have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose!
Good luck and enjoy!
