Hilary Dias - North Shore Private Hospital

Hilary Dias has been Catering and Housekeeping Manager at North Shore Private Hospitalin Sydney since 2013, having previously worked for Ramsay Health Care's St George and Westmead Private Hospitals.

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job at North Shore Private Hospital is being able to bring an international perspective to the work. After being trained in Sri Lanka and spending 10 years working in high-end hotels in the Middle East alongside top European chefs, I am able to bring a wealth of culinary experience to the team.

At North Shore, we employ a number of highly-qualified chefs to cook top-quality food for all patients, doctors and staff.

What is something about your job that not many people know about, and what would surprise other people about working in a private hospital?

Over my 50 years in the hospitality industry, I have had the opportunity to meet many famous people such as Muhammad Ali, Maradona, Prince Charles (now King Charles), Slim Dusty, Steve Roach, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, former Prime Minister John Howard, and our late founder Paul Ramsay, to name a few.

As for working in a private hospital, there are many advantages.Through initiatives from Ramsay Head Office and our CEO Richard Ryan, I have been involved in several noteworthy projects, including:

• the elimination of over 325,000 plastic water bottles per year through a water project
• the implementation of a sustainability program that eliminated over one million plastic items from ending up in landfills
• the recycling of all food waste with an organic recycling group.

Our collective efforts have been recognised with an A-grade certificate for food safety audit for 11 consecutive years from NSW Food Authority.

What do you love about working in a private hospital?

I find great joy in contributing to the creation of an outstanding service that offers quality food to all patients and doctors at North Shore Private Hospital. It is especially gratifying to hear patients express that my food has aided them in their recovery.

What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is something your colleagues do not know about you?

One of my favourite things to do outside of work is to travel overseas. I have been fortunate enough to visit many countries including the USA, Canada, Jordan, the Holy Land, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji, Maldives Islands, and of course, Sri Lanka.

Additionally, my colleagues may not know that it was my wife, Maria, who first encouraged me to join the hospital sector and to bring all of my culinary skills and experience to introduce them to private healthcare.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

"All things are possible if you try" and "the best is yet to come".

• Are you looking for a role in private healthcare? Check out APHA's official jobs site here.

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12/12/2023 Kristie Wall – Robina Private Hospital

Previous Interviews:
14/11/2023 Mayan Byrnes - Mildura Health Private Hospital