Alumnus of the Year

When 2025 Southern Cross University Alumni of the Year Dr Kellie Wren began her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Southern Cross University, she wasn’t stepping away from medicine – she was finding new ways to make it better.

Now, as Executive Director of Medical Services at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, Dr Wren says her MBA gave her ‘a whole new toolkit’ to drive innovation in one of Queensland’s busiest health districts.

“I wanted something different, something new,” she explains, “a fresh perspective to what we learn in health, so we could bring industry-type thinking into how we manage hospitals and deliver better outcomes for patients.”

That vision, blending business acumen with clinical insight, has defined her career.

With more than two decades in Queensland Health, Dr Wren has overseen clinical governance, led major surgical support services, and championed research initiatives that shape safer, more efficient patient care.

Today, her leadership shapes health policy and system design at the state level in her role as Chair of the Queensland Clinical Senate, where she brings clinicians’ voices to the forefront of reform.

Despite the seriousness of her roles and responsibilities, Kellie is far from solemn or staid. Her warmth, unpretentious manner and hilarious sharp wit fill a room, and her leadership style — grounded in empathy, not ego — reflects that same humanity.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Dr Wren’s ambition started early.

“I vividly remember telling the cleaner in grade three that I was going to run a hospital one day,” she laughs. “And, well, I’ve come pretty close!”

Her path had plenty of twists and turns. She began in podiatry before working her way into medicine. “I didn’t get in first time,” she says, “but I just kept going”. She later trained as an anaesthetist.

As she moved from the operating theatre into leadership roles in medical administration she discovered that, while technical skill saves lives, strategic thinking transforms systems. That’s what led her to Southern Cross University (SCU).

“I realised that if we don’t look outside our own industry, we’re never going to find the solutions to the really difficult problems,” she says. Like many professionals balancing career and family, Kellie chose Southern Cross for its flexibility.

“The experience was fantastic. I never went there in person – it was all online – but the lecturers were always there if you needed them. The shorter modules and being able to study at my own pace really suited my lifestyle,” she reflects. “I could do it while working full time, with little kids, and still not lose time with my family.”

Her MBA capstone project fused her medical and management skills, exploring how pre-admission systems could be improved using business principles.

“It was amazing to take those learnings straight back into the workplace,” she recalls. “Even now, I draw on what I learned, from finance to marketing, every day.”

“Who would’ve thought that learning how to market a craft beer overseas would teach me so much about ethics and communication?” she laughs. “It changed how I think about getting messages to patients and clinicians.”

In her current role, Dr Wren is tackling some of healthcare’s biggest challenges, from workforce shortages to an ageing population

Kellie is a cheerleader for education as a catalyst for change, and proudly points out a number of colleagues in her midst also currently studying with Southern Cross.

“The more clinicians who understand the big picture, the better we can advocate for the right resources and use them wisely,” she says.

Her leadership approach is more about connection than authority. “My focus is bringing clinicians and consumers together and giving them a voice,” she says. “They have the imagination, the sparks. My job is to pull all those sparks together, and turn them into something Queensland Health can use to drive change.”

When Kellie learned she’d been named Southern Cross University’s Alumni of the Year, her reaction was pure delight.

“Winning the award makes me feel so proud inside,” she says, her huge smile beaming. “For me, it’s recognition that what I’ve been doing since I graduated is helping people. It really drives me on to keep fighting for change.”

After more than 20 years in medicine and leadership, she remains driven by curiosity and compassion. “I can’t sit still,” she admits. “I love learning new things. It makes me feel good to contribute back to the health system and the community.”

And if she could speak to the little girl who once confided in the school cleaner of her dream to run a hospital?

“I’d tell her, don’t be afraid to take risks,” she says, smiling. “Reach for that star. You might just grab it.”