Mr Duffy will arrive from Uniting Ballarat where he has been executive officer, a role he also held for Uniting’s Barwon (Geelong) and western Melbourne regions.

BCH chairman Bryan Crebbin said Mr Duffy’s experience in community, disability and drug sectors, on top of his work in clinical mental health, would offer all-round strong knowledge for his new role.

He replaces BCH’s long-serving chief Robyn Reeves, who finishes this month.

“It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I accept the role of CEO and I look forward to the ongoing development of BCH as a recognised provider of high quality health and well-being services to the community,” Mr Duffy said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Duffy worked as a psychiatric nurse before moving into senior executive roles at Ballarat and Barwon health services.

Mr Duffy starts at BCH on December 10.

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