Dr Albert Ng from Hillston Medical Centre has been chosen as one of just 23 doctors from across Australia to take part in an inaugural national leadership program run by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
Dr Ng brings a remarkable breadth of experience to the program — from running his own café and developing innovative agricultural projects, to leading teams in emergency medicine and establishing and running a rural general practice during his GP training. He says each of these experiences has shaped the way he approaches leadership.
“My journey has been about adaptability and innovation, whether that’s managing a business, leading in the hospital, or working with communities to improve healthcare.
“Effective stakeholder management in complex projects requires strategic communication, prioritisation, negotiation, and adaptive leadership to align diverse interests, resolve conflicts, and drive unified success amid competing priorities.” Dr Ng says.
“This conference is a chance to grow those skills further, connect with other emerging leaders, and learn how we can create sustainable, equitable health systems for rural, remote, and First Nations communities.”
Dr Ng has spent more than a decade working in rural and regional Australia, where he has seen both the resilience of local communities and the challenges they face in accessing healthcare.
His work with First Nations communities, combined with volunteering overseas, has reinforced his commitment to health equity and social accountability.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says Dr Ng’s selection reflects his diverse leadership background and dedication to rural practice.
“Albert’s story is unique — he’s applied his entrepreneurial spirit and problem-solving mindset to medicine, and he’s using those skills to drive positive change in healthcare,” Dr Martin says.
The Emerging Leaders Conference will be held in October at Wadjemup (Rottnest Island, WA), ahead of the national Rural Medicine Australia 2025 (RMA25) conference hosted by ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia in Boorloo (Perth).