Ipswich Hospital Foundation Chief Executive Officer Tom Yates will retire to Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville this month after 16.5 years of service to the Ipswich community.

Tom was the first employee of IHF, beginning in 1999, and has since worked tirelessly to develop the programs and fundraising the Foundation does today.

“Establishing the Park2Park run and the related Fit4Life activities, working with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health research and enabling two people to get their PHD’s through scholarships have been some of my favourite things from my time here,� Tom said.

“But first and foremost, my favourite thing would be the team here – we’re all friends.�

IHF Board Chairman Neil Harding said Tom has guided the Hospital Foundation through many triumphs, changes and growth, with great synergy and humility.

“The creation of Ipswich Park2Park fun run to the construction of Ipswich Hospital’s Renal Unit, countless donations, innovations and staff development grants funded for West Moreton Hospital and Health Service shows his impact in the health service is immeasurable,� Neil said.

“An innovative mind and communication and relationship creation skills to be envied is what has made Tom so popular in our community and this is what we will miss the most.

“Tom is a respected and admired contributor to the Ipswich community and while it is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye, we wish him a most relaxing retirement,� he said.

Tom is hoping to spend his retirement in Magnetic Island, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see his familiar face at IHF events.

“I’ll run the Park2Park fun run in July and since I’ll be retired, I’ll have lots of time to train,� Tom joked.