RN, DPhil(Oxon), BSc(Hons), FRCN, FEANS, FRSCI, PGCEA, FAAN, MAE, RMN

Professor Brendan McCormack is Head of School and Dean at the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. He is also the Academic Chair of The CARE Program at Sydney Policy Lab, the University of Sydney. His internationally recognised research focuses on person-centred healthcare, particularly the development of person-centred cultures, practices, and processes. A clinical nurse specialist in gerontology and dementia care, Brendan is a Fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science, Royal College of Nursing UK, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the American Academy of Nursing. He has authored over 700 publications, including 310 peer-reviewed journal articles and 14 books, and holds an h-index of 51. Brendan’s contributions have been recognised through his induction into the Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. He has been featured in the Wiley Publishers ‘Inspiring Minds’ short film series in recognition of his extensive contributions to person-centred healthcare.

In 2023, Brendan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maribor for his pioneering role in Slovenian nursing education. In 2024, he was appointed to the Lancet Global Commission on People-Centred Healthcare for Universal Health Coverage hosted by Harvard University and named an affiliate academic at Harvard Medical School’s Centre for Primary Care. In 2025, he received the prestigious Paul Tournier Prize for his three-decade contribution to person-centred healthcare through research, leadership, and culture change.

RN, PhD, MA, BAppSc, MAICD

Prof Ann Bonner is Head, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Griffith University. She is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Kidney Health Service, Metro North Hospital and Health Service where she leads the Kidney Nursing Collaborative Research Centre, Visiting Research Fellow at Gold Coast University Hospital, and a Visiting Scholar at Princess Alexandra and Logan Hospitals. She has over 30 years in the education of nurses having worked in the tertiary sector since 1994 across universities in Queensland and New South Wales. Recently she was a Chief Investigator on two NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence and has attracted over $7 million in competitive research funding. Ann has over 150 publications and has delivered over 200 peer reviewed conference presentations and invited papers. 

Ann is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert nephrology nurse and is a member of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Chronic Kidney Disease Expert Advisory Group and the External Advisory Board for the Australian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN). She is life-member of the Renal Society of Australasia, and in 2021 was inducted into Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. 

RN, PhD

Professor Julia Slark is the Head of School of Nursing at Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland. She qualified as a Registered Nurse in London, UK in 1993. She has 15 years’ experience as a senior clinical nurse specialist in Stroke patient care, and was part of the team at Imperial College NHS Trust which implemented the London-wide, new stroke strategy to provide urgent hyper-acute stroke interventions to London regional populations in 2009. Julia obtained her PhD from Imperial College London, in 2012 which looked at risk awareness as a tool to improve secondary stroke prevention strategies. 

Since arriving in New Zealand in 2013, Julia has led two stroke development projects in Auckland and Waikato to implement hyper-acute stroke services and she coordinates New Zealand’s only stroke specialty nursing course. She was the academic director of the BNurs programme at the University of Auckland for five years prior to taking up the position of Head of School in 2019. Julia is the inaugural Chair of the Stroke Nurse Forum Aotearoa which was established in November 2020. 

Julia is an enthusiastic and committed nurse, educator and researcher who is passionate about providing the highest standards of care to patients. Her research interests include nursing, education and all aspects of stroke patient care.

PhD Qld, MPH Griff, BAppSc(N) Qld.UT, DipAppSc(NEd) Qld.UT, RN, RM, FACM, SFHEA, MAICD, Churchill Fellow

Professor Fiona Bogossian is Deputy Dean, School of Health.

Fiona is Registered Nurse and Midwife with qualifications in education, public health and epidemiology who has over 3 decades of tertiary education experience. In 2018 Fiona commenced at UniSC as Professor of Practice Education in Health and, until 2022, was Academic Lead at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute (SCHI). In 2022, Fiona was invited to lead the UniSC School of Health Strategic Steering Group to inform the unification of the then School of Health & Behavioural Sciences and the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine to become the School of Health.

Fiona’s engagement is demonstrated at national and international levels through a long history of State and Federal ministerial appointments, membership of research foundation grants committees, and accreditation panels. She was Sub-Editor for Women & Birth (2005-2019), Chair of Universitas 21 Deans of Nursing & Midwifery and Member U21 Health Sciences Group Executive (2013-2016) and Panel Member for the ARC – ERA Impact and Engagement Pilot (2107). Most recently Fiona was Senior Education Expert for Midwifery Accreditation Committee of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (2018 - 2023).

PhD, MEd Stds (Hon), PGDip Clinical Nursing (Perioperative), RN, BN, MACN, GAICD

Professor Kamaree Houlis-Berry is the head of School of HE Nursing programs at the Holmesglen Institute. Her professional career spans more than 30 years and commenced with the Australian Army where she trained as a Medic and Nursing Officer Medical Troop Commander.

Professor Houlis-Berry has extensive experience and held leadership positions across a number of complex sectors including professional services, academic and vocational education, healthcare, corporate, public service (emergency services) and defence. 

Professor Houlis-Berry is passionate about the profession, fostering collaboration, driving innovation, ensuring accountability, representing best practice and education for the profession and its clinicians.

PhD, MN (Education), Grad Cert Health Professional Education, Grad Dip Emergency Nursing, RN

With an extensive and varied career as an emergency nurse and educator spanning more than 15 years, Julia joined Monash University, Nursing and Midwifery in 2010 and held several senior leadership roles including Director of Education (2016-2021) and Deputy Head of School (2021-2022) before becoming Head of School in January 2023.

Her career work and outcomes integrate her leadership and expertise in emergency nursing and in education, and both inform her research, focused on health workforce (preparation for practice, transition to practice); and the patient experience in the emergency department.

She has had >100 research papers published in peer-reviewed journals, and has supervised >25 research students to completion.

In 2021, Julia was awarded the Julie Finucane OAM Medal for Leadership in Emergency Nursing, the highest honour of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia, bestowed upon an emergency nurse who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the leadership of the profession and discipline of emergency nursing.

Iwi: Rangitane, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngati Kuia, Kāi Tahu

Dip FLM (First Line Management), Dip PL Te Whare Tapa Whā (People Leadership), NC BA (Business Administration)

After a successful career in broadcast media, Butch has held positions in Senior Management, as a CEO as well as a governance leader and director for several commercial and community organisations. These have included Basketball NZ, Te Huinga Tākaro o Aotearoa Maori National Sport, Tasman Rugby Union, Lottery NZ Community committee, Institute of Environmental Science and Research and World Travellers Ltd.

His communication and strategic planning skills are invaluable in developing the companies he has been engaged with. He is active with iwi development in the top of the South Island, having worked as the CEO for an iwi organisation and as a director for various entities.

Currently he is the Chair for Te Mahi Ako PTE, Chair for Te Tautoko Ora Education Trust, Deputy Chair Māori Advisory Committee EPA, Director with Skills Active Aotearoa and is an HR Advisor to RSE Travel Ltd.

GradDip(Mgt), AdvDipBusAdmin, B.SC Hons - first class, B.TEC HNC

Ms Rachel Yates is the CDNM Chief Executive Officer.

An experienced policy and advocacy professional, Rachel has held leadership roles at Universities Australia, Gidgee Healing, the Australian Medicare Local Alliance, and the Australian General Practice Network. Passionate about the intersection of education, research, and healthcare, she is dedicated to advancing nursing and midwifery professions across Australia and New Zealand. Rachel holds qualifications in Management/Business Administration, Psychology and Medical Laboratory Science and is an associate of the Australasian College of Health Services Management.

Email: ceo@cdnm.edu.au

AdvDipAccounting, DipBusAdmin, GradCertMarketing, CertGovNFP, GIA(Cert)

Ms Nicole Stanes has been the CDNM Executive Officer since 2013.  

Nicole has worked in higher education since 2001 and has held various roles at Monash University over this time; encompassing research, student administraton and executive support and committee roles. Nicole holds qualifications in Business Adminstration,  Accounting and a Graduate Certificate in Marketing.  

Phone: (+61) 3 9904 4366

Email: executive@cdnm.edu.au

BA

Ms Sabrina Fukuda is the CDNM Communications and Policy Officer.

Sabrina has worked in the higher education and health industry since 2020. During this time, she has had various roles in communications, engagement, events and administration at The University of Melbourne. Sabrina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Linguistics.

Email: comms@cdnm.edu.au