Prof Cavanagh takes over as governing board chair from Warren Grimshaw who retired on June 30 after 10 years in the role.

"I am passionate about the Mid North Coast area and regional sustainability and development," she said.

"I see this as an opportunity to pay back and support a region which I have just found to be so supportive since I moved here six years ago."

Prof Cavanagh, a research and community engagement expert, has board and committee management experience and brings insights from her work in regional engagement.

"Bringing that outside community engagement, higher education perspective, it just lets you look at things through fresh eyes," she said.

Prof Cavanagh is the former Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Engagement at Charles Sturt University and has enjoyed a long career in the tertiary education sector.

She has extensive experience in leadership, governance, risk management, workforce planning, budget development, management and stakeholder engagement.

Former Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker has also been appointed as a governing board member.

Mr Hartsuyker is a business consultant with experience in strategic development, legal compliance and risk management.

"I think our local health district does a great job in delivering high quality health services to the people of the Mid North Coast and I'm pleased to be able to play a part, at a board level, in helping that to occur," he said.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District Governing Board is responsible for establishing and overseeing the governance and risk management framework of the district, setting its strategic directions and monitoring its performance.

The governing board meets regularly with staff during its monthly meetings at health facilities across the district, which extends from the Camden Haven to Woolgoolga.

Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick said Prof Cavanagh brought a range of skills to the role.

He said the local health district looked forward to seeking Prof Cavanagh's guidance about research, given her background in that field, and also in the area of improving its community engagement approaches.

Mr Dowrick said the local health district also looked forward to working with Mr Hartsuyker.

"Luke will bring some very important business skills and knowledge of the region, which he knows so well, and he has very close personal working connections to the local region," he said.

Prof Cavanagh and Mr Hartsuyker attended their first board meeting in Port Macquarie on Wednesday, July 14.

In 2020-21, the Mid North Coast Local Health District invested $706 million in health services, an increase of $33 million on the previous financial year's annualised budget.

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