Our Board
Dr Rosemary Bryant AO. (Chair)
Dr Rosemary Bryant was Australia’s first Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, a position she held for close to seven years. Her responsibilities included the provision of advice on nursing and midwifery to the Minister for Health and the Department of Health, as well as undertaking policy development activities relating to the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Prior to this, Dr Bryant was the Executive Director of Royal College of Nursing, Australia. She has represented Australia on nursing at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and was a member of the Australian delegation to the World Health Assembly.
A distinguished Life Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing, Dr Bryant also holds Honorary Life Membership of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), is Emerita Director of Nursing at Royal Adelaide Hospital and was President of the International Council of Nurses from 2009 to 2013. She also chairs the Steering Committee of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre and is a member of the NPS MedicineWise Board.
Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars
Adj Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM is the CEO/Secretary of the ANMF (SA Branch) representing more than 20,000 members across South Australia and takes pride in the fact that membership has grown by 90% since she come to office in March 2008.
She holds qualifications in nursing, education, leadership, management and law, and worked as a solicitor at Duncan Basheer Hannon immediately prior to taking up her current role.
Her academic status is held with Flinders University and she became a member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in June 2014 in recognition of her significant service to medical administration, particularly to nursing and midwifery, and to community and mental health organisations.
Karen Hales
Karen Hales is a passionate senior registered nurse with an extensive career in community, aged and acute health care.
Previously Ms. Hales held the position of Nursing Director for Geriatric and Palliative Care Services within Central Adelaide Local Health Network. Her portfolios included the re-design and integration of clinical nursing programs, the development of best practice protocols for geriatric and palliative care nursing practice and the development of new models of care.
She was previously a principle co-investigator for the Dementia Care in Hospital Program National Project and was a member of the technical expert nursing group for the Resource Utilisation and Classification Study at the Australian Health Services Research Institute with the University of Wollongong.
Rebecca Badcock
Rebecca Badcock is the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network which encompasses Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital, GP Plus Health Care Centres and a series of sub-acute and community services.
Rebecca has over 18 years’ experience working in various roles across SA Health and abroad. Rebecca previously held the position of Director of Nursing at Noarlunga Hospital and Nursing Director – Surgery and Perioperative Medicine and worked in the Department of Health in strategic and professional leadership roles. Rebecca has spent time working overseas in West Africa, developing health care systems and nursing and midwifery education programs. Rebecca is a strong advocate for the unique and critical opportunity nurses and midwives to influence the patient experience.
Professor Carol Grech
Emeritus Professor Carol Grech's professional and academic career spans over four decades as a critical care nurse, educator, academic and researcher. She is a Registered Nurse and holds a number of academic qualifications including a Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Critical Care); a Master of Nursing and a PhD. Carol has previously held appointments as the Pro Vice-Chancellor: Student Engagement and Equity and Head of School, Nursing and Midwifery at the Univeristy of South Australia. She is a well-respected leader in higher education and the preparation and regulation of registered health professionals. Carol is well-published and has been involved in several national and international research consultancies. Her research interests extend across quality and safety in health care, practice standards, risk management, harm minimisation and the prevention of adverse events.
Rob Bonner – General Secretary
Rob Bonner was the previous Director, Operations & Strategy for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch). Rob Bonner has had a long and proud history with the ANMF (SA Branch) and was a vocal advocate for the nursing and midwifery professions during his time in this organisation.
As a researcher, Rob has led a national research team that established an Evidence-Based Methodology for Staffing and Skills Mix in Resident Aged Care.
He is a member of the Australian Industry & Skills Committee which provides advice to State and Australian Governments through the COAG Ministerial Council and regulates Training Packages for all industry sectors. He is also a member of the SA Training & Skills Commission which provides advice to the SA Government on workforce, training and skills matters and regulates areas of apprenticeships and traineeships.
He is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, in collaboration between ANMF (SA Branch) and the University of South Australia, and a member of the Board of the Rosemary Bryant AO Foundation.
In the health & community services sector he has a long history of active thought and change leadership in areas such as health workforce, translation of evidence into practice, career structures, workloads and their management, information systems and their support of clinical practice.
