Healix International names four APAC executives in expansion
Healix International has appointed three senior executives in Melbourne and one in Malaysia, expanding its leadership team in Asia Pacific.
In Melbourne, Julian Heath and Grant Strudwick have joined as Directors of Travel Risk Advisory, while Karen Howden has been appointed Operations Manager, Medical Assistance. In Malaysia, Chris Garrett has joined as Director of Client Solutions & Growth for Southeast Asia.
The appointments form part of a broader regional expansion across travel risk, advisory, security and assistance services. The Melbourne hires bring experience in medical and travel assistance, resilience consulting, medical operations and crisis response.
Heath and Strudwick both served in the Australian Defence Force and bring nearly 50 years of combined experience in senior roles across Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Their work will support Healix's travel risk management, consultancy and on-demand services in APAC.
Heath has spent 26 years in professional services across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific. His background includes crisis management work in the public and private sectors, as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping assignments with the United Nations in the Middle East and a NATO secondment during hostilities in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia supporting non-governmental organisations.
Strudwick brings more than 25 years of experience in private sector security, travel risk and resilience. He has advised multinational organisations during events including the Mumbai hotel attacks, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Christchurch earthquakes, the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege and the Chennai floods.
Howden adds operational and clinical experience to the Melbourne office. She has more than 12 years of international experience in medical travel assistance, insurance operations and clinical governance, and began her career as a critical care and cardiac nurse in Australia and the UK.
Regional focus
The Malaysia appointment extends the company's push into Southeast Asia. Garrett's role is designed to strengthen client-facing leadership in the sub-region and provide local senior support as organisations seek help managing travel, health and security risks across multiple markets.
Healix operates in healthcare and risk management, serving governments, non-governmental organisations, corporations and insurers. It provides medical assistance and travel risk services to clients with staff and operations across multiple territories.
James Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Healix International, said the appointments reflect the company's long-term commitment to the region.
"APAC is a key growth region for Healix, and these strategic appointments reflect our long-term commitment to building the strongest possible leadership team in the region.
"Julian, Grant and Karen bring a wealth of experience across advisory, resilience and global operations, and their expertise will play a central role in supporting our expansion and delivering high-quality services to our clients across Australia and the wider region," Henderson said.