Life as a Clinician-Scientist Nursing and Midwifery

Professor Christine Catling is an NHMRC Research Fellow and Professor of Midwifery Research at UTS and Northern Sydney Local Health District. She leads a five-year study across 12 maternity sites on Group Clinical Supervision for Midwives, examining its impact on burnout and workforce retention. As a clinician-researcher, Professor Catling bridges practice and evidence, contributing to improvements in maternity care through applied research. A former Director of Midwifery Studies, she has held roles in clinical, academic, and policy development. She currently chairs the Australian Midwifery History Project and co-leads the Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health.

Professor Patricia M. Davidson has served as Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong and is currently a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow and interim Co-Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Her previous academic leadership positions include Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.  Her current leadership roles, include Chair of the NSW International Education Advisory Board, Chair of Her Heart and membership on the Research Australia board. Professor Davidson’s research focusses on assisting individuals and their families live with chronic, life limiting illnesses.

Dr Zoe Bradfield is an Associate Professor of Midwifery with a joint appointment between Curtin University and the Women and Newborn Health Service in Western Australia. Dr Bradfield has worked as a nurse and a midwife across a variety of rural and metropolitan settings for over 25 years. Her research explores the social, clinical and systemic conditions that influence maternal and infant outcomes. Her research programs have attracted >$26M in funding and received several high-impact awards. Dr Bradfield is an NHMRC Early Leadership Fellow and is the President of the Australian College of Midwives, the peak professional body for midwifery in Australia.

Professor Kate Curtis AO has been an Emergency Nurse since 1994. Professor Curtis’ translational research program focuses on improving the way we deliver care to patients and their families and has attracted more than $24 million in funding. Professor Curtis is the world’s most published author in the field of Trauma and Emergency nursing, has mentored more than 100 clinicians in research projects and was the 2019 Australian nurse of the year. She is an expert at leading change and implementation in complex clinical environments and still does night shift.

Professor Della Forster is the Director of the Midwifery and Maternity Services Research Unit at the Women’s, and a leading international researcher in maternal and infant care. She has a joint appointment as Professor of Midwifery and Maternity Services Research with the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University and the Women’s, and extensive experience as a clinical midwife. She has broad experience in a range of methodologies and large projects including randomised controlled trials, descriptive studies, cohort studies, focus groups and evaluation projects. Professor Forster specialises in research about maternity care, perinatal mental health and the maternity workforce, and has a focus on improving how maternity care is provided, with a particular passion for improving outcomes for socially disadvantaged populations.