About the event
The ACN Leadership Faculty are pleased to present our second event for 2024, a webinar on – ‘Communicating to influence and lessons learnt in senior nursing leadership roles’. The event brings together three inspiring nurse leaders to share their experiences and insights on being an influential leader, role modelling, and lessons learnt in their leadership journey. Please join us online for the free event for new and current members.. We hope to see you there!
Key Learning Objectives
- Identify and discuss how to be an influential nurse leader
- Discuss and reflect on lessons learnt for nursing leadership
- Outline the importance of positive influencers and role modelling for nurse leadership
About the speakers
Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary - Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Australia.
Alanna has professional oversight for approximately 9000 Nurses and Midwives in Australia’s largest health service. She has worked in healthcare as a nurse and midwife for 42 years with the greatest proportion of that in senior nursing and midwifery roles. Alanna completed her General Nursing Training in 1984, Midwifery in 1988, Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Health Science in Infection Control obtained in 2001 from Griffith University. Alanna is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and holds Adjunct Professor titles from University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, Australian Catholic University, and the University of the Sunshine Coast. In July 2022, Alanna was awarded Outstanding Alumni – Healthcare Leadership by Griffith University and in October 2022 – Highly Commended Alumni by UniSQ.
Alanna has extensive healthcare leadership and management experience and is passionate about the role of nurses and midwives and healthcare professionals in the delivery of healthcare to provide contemporary models which support excellence in education and research. Additionally, she is committed to ensuring that healthcare providers from all disciplines of are at the forefront of all healthcare matters and decision making. As a nurse and midwife, Alanna is keen to ensure that nurses and midwives lead and are actively involved in research and opportunities which are nurse-centric, and patient centred and has been instrumental in the development and promotion of research programs, educational opportunities and initiatives which support and enhance the roles of the profession. To that end she has been instrumental in the development of opportunities for staff, including research internships, educational programs, grant submissions and promotion of conjoint opportunities. Alanna is steadfast in her resolve to promote healthcare to provide excellence in clinical care and ensure patients and their families receive the best possible care, delivered by highly competent and compassionate nurses and midwives.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanna-geary-facn-3048b466/
Adjunct Professor Anna Thornton - Chief Nursing Officer (CMO)- ACSQHC
Adjunct Professor Anna Thornton was appointed to the new position of Chief Nursing Officer (CMO) in April 2024. Prior to this appointment, she was Executive Director of Nursing, St Vincent’s Hospital Network and has held Director of Nursing positions at Liverpool Hospital, Canberra Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. At the Commission, the Chief Nursing Officer will manage the Communicating for Safety and Comprehensive Care Programs, providing expert clinical advice and a voice for nursing experience and professional practice. During her career, Professor Thornton has led strategy in acute care nursing, patient safety and quality, workforce planning and nursing-led research. She has also advised on policy matters through numerous Chair and co-Chair appointments to key nursing and acute care committees. In November 2023, Ms Thornton received the prestigious Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th annual NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards. This award recognises the contribution of an outstanding nurse or midwife who, throughout their career, has had a positive and sustained influence on patients, the health system and their profession.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-thornton-7625a4a9/
Adjunct Senior Lecturer Deirdre Murphy- Regional Director Nursing & Midwifery, WACHS Kimberley
Deirdre trained in the UK as a nurse & midwife in Brighton, Sussex and has worked across many states in Australia, NSW, SA , Qld and WA in clinical , management, education and executive level positions. She has a trauma, intensive care background in adults, paeds and neonates. It was whilst working in paediatric ITU at Prince of Wales Children’s, Hospital Sydney she developed and interest in neonates and birthing which prompted her to return to England to become a midwife . Retuning to Sydney, Australia several years later. Deirdre set up the first Day Surgical Unit in the UK and was one of the youngest ward sisters (unit managers) ever appointed. After working at Royal Brisbane Women Hospital, Deirdre was assigned to Cape York to reintroduce maternity services including birthing in Cooktown, FNQ . After working all her career in tertiary hospitals this is where she developed a passion for rural remote nursing & midwifery (and being warm). She is interested in service redesign and models of care that meet local community needs, making a meaningful difference to patients from babies to aged care. Deirdre has several post graduate qualifications including an MBA and has academic appointments with James Cook and Notre Dame universities. She is also appointed to AHPRA as a professional standards officer and panel member. Deirdre lives in Broome with her husband Garry and loves being in the tropics.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-murphy-a1ab6226/