Bupa today announced Rebecca Donaldson has been appointed Chief People Officer (CPO), Bupa APAC, following an extensive internal and external recruitment process.
Reporting directly to APAC CEO, Nick Stone, and joining Bupa’s Executive Leadership team, Ms Donaldson will commence at Bupa in January 2026 and play a pivotal role in shaping our culture and driving our people strategy forward.
With extensive experience across diverse industries, she brings a wealth of knowledge and proven track record in building high-performing, customer-centric cultures.
Ms Donaldson will join Bupa from Ramsay Health Care Australia, where she has led the Australian People team, designing and executing a refreshed strategy to support digital transformation, clinical excellence and workforce sustainability.
Prior to Ramsay, Ms Donaldson held the roles of Executive Manager, People & Culture at Qantas, leading the People team post-Covid to rebuild and recover, and she was Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff to the Managing Director at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) during a period of executive leadership change.
Ms Donaldson’s earlier career included time with NSW Ambulance Service and CityRail. A qualified lawyer, she has extensive experience in employee relations and a proven track record driving organisational change and aligning people strategies with business objectives. Ms Donaldson is a champion of leadership development and talent management.
Mr Stone said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Rebecca’s calibre and experience to our executive team.
“Her deep expertise in organisational design, combined with a passion for leadership, will be critical as we continue to strive towards our ambition of being the most customer-centric healthcare company.”
On her appointment, Ms Donaldson said: “It’s a privilege to be joining Bupa. I look forward to building on Bupa’s strong culture and values, ensuring that our people feel supported, inspired and equipped to deliver on our purpose and the evolving needs of the communities we serve.”
Mr Stone also thanked Jim Nolan, who had been acting as interim Chief People Officer since June, for his dedication and stewardship during the past four months.
“I want to sincerely thank Jim for his steady guidance and leadership. His commitment to our people has been invaluable,” he said.
For more information, please contact:
Aleks Devic
Head of External Communications
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 0412 868 933
About Bupa Asia Pacific
Bupa is an international healthcare group which has been committed to a purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world for more than 70 years.
Bupa Asia Pacific operates in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, supporting about 7.3 million customers through a broad range of health and care services including health insurance, aged care, dental, medical, optical and hearing services.
Employing more than 22,000 people in the region, we believe that we can make a real difference to the lives of customers through our values, purpose and the way that we deliver personalised care.
Over the past 17+ years we have invested more than AUD$36 million in partnerships and programs focused on improving health of communities across Australia.
