Our board

AAICD, M Health SCI, Grad Cert Management, RN

Denise’s nursing career spans 56 years. She commenced her general nursing training in 1969 and completed her midwifery training in 1973. She has achieved a Graduate Certificate in Management and Masters of Health Science (Honours). Throughout her career, she has held professional appointments with University of Melbourne, Australian Catholic University, Deakin University and the University of Wollongong. Denise’s senior executive employment includes working in large regional and metropolitan public health services across NSW and Victoria.   

Denise is committed to shaping a ‘just’ workplace culture where nurses and midwives thrive as individuals and multidisciplinary team members. Denise is invested in closing the health gap for First Nation peoples including increasing the numbers of health workers, particularly nurses and midwives, identifying as First Nations.  

She values the importance of shared leadership and teamwork, genuine community consultation and engagement, and is an experienced leader in driving positive cultural change for the mutual benefit of staff and consumers.  

Denise has a deep appreciation of the demanding roles of nurses and midwives as professionals and caregivers and is honoured to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Nurse Midwife Health Program Australia. 

GAIST

Pip joined our board as a nominee of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

Pip is a passionate advocate for nurses and midwives. She has had a long career in the health care industry, initially working as a clinical nurse in Victorian public and private hospitals, community, and aged care facilities. 

She then had a 20-year career working in industrial relations for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch). Pip held the role of Assistant State Secretary for 10 years before retiring from that position in 2021. 

Pip was a trustee director for super fund HESTA for 4 years and since 2018 has held the role of trustee director for Aware super fund. 

RN, RM, PG Dip Midwifery, MPH, FCRANAplus, MACN, MAICD  

Katherine is a Registered Nurse and Midwife with a career spanning over 30 years. She is an experienced executive leader and board director who has focused her career in regional, rural and remote Australia. Her focus has been on delivering quality health care and developing equitable, sustainable models, particularly in First Nations health and wellbeing.

Building on a successful executive career, Katherine now provides consultancy services, supporting organisations to achieve positive health outcomes across Australia. Katherine holds part time clinical, education and academic roles, fulfilling her passion for supporting nurses and midwives in their lifelong learning journey. She is a Practitioner Member on the Queensland Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

As a Fellow of CRANAplus, Katherine provides a unique insight into the experiences of nurses and midwives working in rural and remote locations. She is committed to ensuring that their voices are heard, and they are supported in all aspects of their roles.  

Katherine holds qualifications in midwifery, education, leadership, and public health. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed the Company Directors Course. Katherine lives on Gimuy Walubara Yidinji country in Far North Queensland.

RN, RPN, BA (Hons), Dip Ed, B Ed, M Ed, PhD.

Brenda is internationally recognised as a leader in mental health nursing education and research. She is Professor of Mental Health, Southern Cross University, Honorary Professor of Nursing at University of Newcastle and Director of Happell Consulting. Brenda is passionate about mental health nursing and particularly how it can be enriched through genuine partnerships with Experts by Experience. 

Brenda’s most recent book: Bullying in Nursing and Other Health Professions, addresses the real-life impact of bullying on mental and physical health.

Brenda has worked in Victoria, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. She has published approximately 500 journal articles, four books and three book chapters. She has attracted $15million in competitive funding. Brenda has held senior university positions including inaugural Director of the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Melbourne, Director of the Institute for Health and Social Science Research at Central Queensland University and Professor of Nursing and Executive Director of SYNERGY, Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre at University of Canberra and ACT Health. 

Brenda is a Board Director, Fellow and Life Member of Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), and an Equally Well Ambassador, actively promoting the importance of physical health for people diagnosed with mental illness. She is a former Director of the Mansfield District Hospital Board.

Brenda lives between Taungurung country and Djiru county.