Professor Jason Payne joined Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as Chief Executive in November 2023.

Professor Payne is a health professional with almost 30 years’ clinical, management and leadership experience.

He has deep experience working with diverse stakeholders, strengthening relationships across the public health sector, and creating new connections in Australia and internationally.

With a passion for developing teams that excel, Professor Payne’s leadership is orientated towards continuous improvement. He is a champion for wellbeing, driven by a strong belief that people perform at their best when they feel supported at work.

Prior to joining Peter Mac, Professor Payne served in a series of executive roles at Mercy Health, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive of Health Services.

He began his career as a nurse in 1994 at Austin Health, holding a range of management, clinical, clinical education, and project positions.

Between 2010 and 2016, he was Divisional Director of Cancer and Neurosciences at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer, Wellness and Research Centre. During that time, Professor Payne oversaw the transition of cancer services from within Austin Health to the then-new Centre.

Connected to Australia’s tertiary health academic network, Professor Payne’s current academic appointments are at the University of Notre Dame (Sydney) where he is an Adjunct Professor for the School of Medicine, and Professor (Enterprise) at the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (Nursing).

In 2014, Professor Payne obtained a Master of Enterprise (Executive) from the University of Melbourne (Melbourne Business School).

Professor Payne currently serves on the:

• Board of Directors, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance
• Board of Directors, Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance
• Western & Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service Governance Committee
• Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service Governance and Executive Committee