RN, MMgt, FACN, FCHSM (HON), Wharton Fellow, FAICD

From humble beginnings, Kylie has gone on to become one of the most influential professional health leaders in the country and a formidable, passionate advocate for the advancement of the nursing profession, including the delivery of excellence in education. 

Kylie’s strengths lie in breaking down the walls, reframing the issue for fresh thinking, and bringing people together to create long-lasting solutions.

Kylie currently serves as CEO of the Australian College of Nursing and CEO of the Australian College of Nursing Foundation. She has led a program of transformation, including raising awareness of the profession and building a legacy of nursing leadership, policy, advocacy, and social impact, as well as creating hundreds of leadership and representation positions for nurses Australia-wide. As such, ACN is now Australia’s beacon for Nurse Leadership.

Adjunct Professor Ward is inspired to ensure nurses from all backgrounds have access to world-class education at all stages of their career. She believes ongoing education is key to nurses working to their full scope of practice, contributing to the design of health systems and providing consumers with optimal care every time.

Adjunct Professor Ward holds honorary professorships with seven leading Australian universities and has been awarded several fellowships, including a Wharton Fellowship, USA.   

In 2023, Kylie was awarded a Commendation from the Chief of the Defence Force for her exceptional devotion to military nurses and for raising the statue of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel at the Australian War Memorial.

Kylie is a multi-award winner. In 2022, Kylie was named National Winner of Executive / Team Leader of the Year and Overall National Winner at the Outstanding Leadership Awards. The same year, Kylie was named the ACT Winner of the Excellence in Women’s Leadership Awards by Women and Leadership Australia. She has been named Telstra ACT Businesswoman of the Year for Purpose and Social Enterprise. 

Roianne West is a descendent of the Kalkadunga and Djkunde Peoples. A strategy and leadership consultant with over 25 years’ experience in Aboriginal Health Nursing and Midwifery 15 years of which have been in Executive leadership positions at local, state and national levels.  Roianne West is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Nations Nursing and Midwifery Consulting.

Roianne West has a PhD which developed a model of excellence to increase Aboriginal Nurses Nationally and is a Principle Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in recognition of her distinguishable contribution and achievement of significant influence and enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education through the promotion of professional standards.

RN BN Grad Dip Crit Care Grad Dip FET GAICD

Deb Blow has worked in the health industry for over 35 years.  Over this time, Deb worked as an aged care worker before going on to become an Enrolled Nurse and then a Registered Nurse. Deb has worked in a diverse range of areas including; aged care, surgical, emergency, peri-operative and critical care in public, private and rural / remote settings prior to transitioning to the university and then VET sector.

Deb is the Director of Faculty and Executive leader in Health and Nursing with TAFE Queensland.  Her expertise and focus has been on supporting organisations ‘grow their own workforce’ through tailored delivery partnerships. As the Product Lead for delivery of Health and Nursing Training across TAFE Queensland, Deb oversees the development and management of TAFE Queensland Master Product.

Deb holds roles on National committees such as the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Reference Group, established to provide comment and advice to the Department of Health and the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO); and the National Enrolled Nurse Advisory Council (NENAC), a peak body representing the TAFE Sector within Australia.  Deb has also represented TAFE Directors Australia in Commonwealth appointed expert advisory groups in the health, aged care and nursing industry.

Deb is the recipient for the 2020 National Achievement Award through the Australian Training Awards.

RN, BSc, MSc

Annie Butler is the Federal Secretary for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. Annie was formally appointed to the role in June 2018, having served as the Assistant Federal Secretary since March 2014, and following years of experience in the clinical, professional and industrial areas of nursing.

Annie is a registered nurse with more than a decade’s experience working in public hospitals, the community and on health education projects, and a further decade working in research and education.

She worked for the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association, for a further decade, as a professional officer, organiser and lead organiser, prior to moving to the national position of Assistant Federal Secretary and now holding the position of Federal Secretary

Annie believes that we must fight to maintain the professions of nursing and midwifery in Australia and ensure their advancement. She is passionate about improving Australia’s system of health and aged care and the critical role nurses and midwives have to play in the future of our health system. Annie is particularly keen to see nurses drive change for improvements in Australia’s aged care sector.

Annie has a degree in Health Science, an Honour’s degree in Nursing.

RM, RN, PhD, FACM

Professor Joanne Gray is a leading midwifery academic and she has been involved in midwifery education in the higher education sector for many years. Joanne’s current role is Head, Graduate School of Health at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).  Joanne has worked as a midwife in both rural and metropolitan New South Wales and has played a key role in the development and implementation of midwifery curricula, including the first distance education midwifery program for registered nurses (Charles Sturt University, 1990) and the first Bachelor of Midwifery to be offered in NSW (UTS, 2005).  Joanne has had a number of academic leadership positions including as Director of Studies and Course Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma and Bachelor of Midwifery programs and as Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Health at UTS. 

Joanne has been active in a number of governance roles and recently completed a six year term as Chair of the UTS Academic Board and as a member and then Chair, Midwifery Accreditation Committee with ANMAC.   Joanne has also recently completed a term as a health practitioner member of the NSW Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. 

Joanne is the current President of the Australian College of Midwives.