Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms has been a leader in nursing and midwifery for more than 30 years. She has held senior leadership roles in both health management and nursing and midwifery over that time including Chief Executive of a NSW Area Health Service, Chief Nurse and Midwife in both SA and NSW and in her last role as the Commonwealth CNMO. While in this role she had the privilege of representing Australia at the World Health Assembly and on the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation. Prior to her role at the Commonwealth Debra was the inaugural CEO of ACN. Since ‘retiring’ Debra has undertaken a number of consultancies, been the acting HOS QUT and interim Chief Executive Office Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery. Debra’s contributions have been recognised through the awarding of Distinguished Life Fellowship of ACN, Honorary Fellowship of ACHSM, an Outstanding Alumni Award from UTS and inclusion in the 100 leaders in nursing by Global Women in Health as part of the International Year of the Nurse.