Karen Grace MACN

Karen Grace MACN RN RSCN RM BHlthSc (Child Health) MHA MACN AAICD

Karen has had a diverse and rewarding career with over 40 years’ experience in healthcare. She has led numerous transformational changes, through the development of new infrastructure, innovative new services, contemporary models of care, and systems innovation. Her extensive executive leadership experience has included a broad range of services and settings. She has held executive portfolios in Women’s and Children’s Services, Mental Health Justice Health Alcohol and Drug Services, Quality Safety, Innovation and Improvement and as an Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery leading a workforce in excess of 4000 nurses and midwives. She has influenced national policy through her time as the Interim ACT Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in 2019, as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Women’s and Children’s Healthcare Australasia (WCHA) and most recently in her current role at the Australian College of Nursing. She gained a unique perspective on the consumer experience and strong advocacy skills through her five years as the Chief Executive Officer of SIDS and Kids ACT.

She remains passionate about the role of nurses and midwives in the delivery of high-quality healthcare and is committed to continuing to influence governments to ensure that the nursing profession is enabled, connected and supported into the future.