About

The members of the Authority (VARTA’s board) are nominated by the Minister for Health and the appointments are made by the Governor-in-Council. Section 101 of the ART Act states that in making nominations to the Governor-in-Council, the Minister must have regard to the need for diversity and expertise.

Board members

Julia Griffith | Chairperson

BA, Diploma (Youth work), PSM

Ms Julia Griffith has held senior executive roles in a range of justice portfolios in the Victorian public sector, including corrections, justice health, youth justice, police and crime prevention. Most recently, Ms Griffith held the role of Deputy Commissioner of the Victorian Public Sector Commission. In 2018, Ms Griffith was the recipient of a public service medal for leadership in the Victorian public sector. 

Julie Walsh

BA (Hons), MA, MPPM

Ms Julie Walsh is a public policy specialist and has held senior executive roles in health, emergency services, budget and financial management and social policy areas. Julie is currently the Executive Director, Organisational Effectiveness at the Department of Health. Julie is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is an Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Executive Fellow.

Nitsa Karahalios

BA/LLB (Hons)

Nitsa Karahalios began her career as a lawyer practicing in the areas of commercial litigation and intellectual property law. Nitsa has acted in a number of large scale litigation matters in various jurisdictions as well in the High Court of Australia. She has also, advised government in relation to research and development of diagnostic tools in healthcare and pharmaceutical drugs. Nitsa then moved into the Victorian Government and for the last 15 years has held senior executive roles across a range of portfolios focussing on reform and policy development and building and leading modern regulators. Nitsa currently holds an executive officer position at the Victorian Department of Health within the Health Regulator. She has significant regulatory and leadership experience and an interest in the provision of safe and quality healthcare services across the Victorian health system.

CEO

James Florent

B.A., B.Sc. (REM), MF

James Florent is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority. James is a senior executive with significant regulatory and leadership experience – having worked in numerous senior roles across the Victorian Public Service.