22 May 2026
Tammy Sovenyhazi has spent decades at the intersection of research, policy, and real-world impact, bringing people together across systems to turn evidence into better outcomes in Queensland and the East Kimberley of Western Australia.
Now Interim Executive Director at Health Translation Queensland (HTQ), Tammy plans to use this diverse leadership experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors and her ability to take a 'helicopter view' across systems to deliver on HTQ’s Action Plan.
To introduce Tammy, we asked her to share her 'why' as she embarks on this journey.
What drew you to the HTQ leadership role?
“After many years in Queensland Health, working with HTQ and other partners, I saw how powerful structured collaboration can be. This role felt like a natural next step for me. It builds on my experience in partnerships and system leadership, helping to turn ideas into impact.
How has work in remote and regional experience shaped your leadership style?
“Working in remote and regional settings has reinforced that context, relationships, and flexibility are essential. Living in these communities grounded me in the realities people face when they don’t have the same access to services as those in metropolitan areas.
“My experience made me a more collaborative leader, focused on listening first and solutions that are people-centred, practical and locally relevant. It’s also strengthened my commitment to equity, and ensuring innovation and translation genuinely reach all communities.”
How have your first weeks at HTQ been?
“I’m excited to be here. Early days, I’m listening, building relationships, and understanding where HTQ can add the most value through conversations with the team, board, and partners.
“Moving from Queensland Health to a small but mighty team is a culture shock, but it brings freedom. You can tackle challenges that aren’t always possible in a larger organisation.”
Where do you see the biggest opportunities to strengthen collaboration across Queensland’s health and medical ecosystem?
“The biggest opportunity is moving from collaboration that relies on individual relationships to system-enabled collaboration. That means clearer pathways from research to practice, strengthened co-design, improved data sharing, and aligned incentives. HTQ plays a critical role in bringing these elements together, reducing duplication, and accelerating the translation of evidence into better health outcomes.
How can we remove barriers between discovery and implementation?
“In my experience, the challenge isn’t a lack of ideas—it’s navigating complexity. We need clear implementation pathways (including funding and governance), trusted cross-sector relationships, and research that is co-designed with consumers, with a focus on impactful, scalable initiatives.”
What does successful 'health translation' look like?
“For me, it’s when evidence is used to deliver improved outcomes consumers and communities can see and feel. Faster, better care, and more responsive services for all, and confident, evidence-based practice for health professionals. Ultimately, it’s closing the gap between what we know and what we do.”
What are your top priorities as Interim Executive Director of HTQ?
“In the short term, we have an Action Plan to deliver on! As a small entity in a complex system, I want to ensure HTQ is flexible and agile enough to evolve with the changing health landscape, while remaining true to its original intent.
“Longer term, I’d like HTQ to be known for making collaboration easier, accelerating the translation of evidence into practice, and delivering tangible improvements in health outcomes, especially in an equitable way. The goal is a system where translation is just how we work.”
What helps you recharge?
“Outside work, I value time with family and friends, exploring different parts of Queensland, and travelling in general. I also enjoy quieter moments, like reading a good book, like John Farnham’s The Voice Inside. These moments ground and energise me and give perspective to my work.”
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Health Translation Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which we live, work, and play. We pay our respects to their Ancestors and their Descendants, who continue cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.
