Vlad has a health and community services planning professional background. Over the last 30 years he has had extensive experience in many executive management roles in government and non-government health and community services organisations involving strategy/policy development and program delivery, primarily in the areas of health sector structural reform, aged care services, health services planning, advocacy and intergovernmental relations, across primary, acute/sub-acute and community health sectors.   As a consequence he has a highly developed understanding of the setting/professional interface issues facing consumers and carers in health care and the positioning of palliative care within these. Most of his positions have included either planning, program delivery or advocacy for high quality palliative care services, involving significant clinical and community/consumer sector engagement. He has a systems-thinking approach, a clear vision of what high quality palliative care looks like and a highly developed understanding of the challenges and realities that need to be navigated.