DR ALETHA WARD'S LEADERSHIP

Dr Aletha Ward PhD., MBA., BNurs., R.N., gAICD. MACN.​

A public health care professional and Registered Nurse with a strong leadership background in strategic partnership development, research, teaching, healthcare administration, policy and health system reform, Aletha has completed tertiary studies including a Bachelor of Nursing, Masters of Business Administration (international) and a PhD in social health policy. Aletha strives to lead healthcare reform, empower healthcare professionals to embrace innovative solutions to existing and future challenges and improve health outcomes for priority populations.

​CURRENT POSITIONS

• Teaching and Research academic University of Southern Queensland

• Consultant - Policy and Education

• Advancing Communities Australia - Director Policy, Advocacy and Impact

• Advancing Communities Australia - Board of Directors

• Climate Action Nurses - Founding Chair

• West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group - Founder, Deputy Chair

​PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Healthcare Administration

• Clinical Workforce Planning and Redesign

• Clinical Trial Site Management

• Cardiac Care 

• Emissions Reduction in Healthcare Policy Chapter- Chair Australian College of Nursing 2021-2022

• Board of Directors Stroke Recover Trial Fund 2020-2023

​KEY SPEAKING  ENGAGEMENTS

• 2022 University of Canberra. ‘Integrating climate health into the nursing curriculum’. Guest speaker from to inform new curriculum design.
• 2022 Western Australia Health Symposium. ‘The role of nurses in leading cultural reform in emissions reduction in healthcare’.
• 2022 Australian College of Nursing National Nursing Conference.  Abstract acceptance and presentation ‘Nursing leadership in emissions reduction’.
• 2022 Queensland Healthcare Week. Key speaker: ‘Nursing leadership in emissions reduction’.
• 2021 Gertrude Berger Oration & Symposium. Key speaker and panelist: ‘Self care for Nurses’
• .2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit. Moderator. ‘The role of national dietary guidelines in attaining a healthy and sustainable food system’ https://www.doctorsfornutrition.org/dietary-guidelines-food-systems-dialogue/
• 2020 (Nov). World Health Organisation. Race for adaption and resilience (Climate and Health). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oLfZIblpWw&feature=youtu.be.
• 2017. International Food Studies Conference. Abstract acceptance and presentation. ‘Barriers and enablers to community-based food systems’.​

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SUBMISSIONS/PAPERS

• 2023. White paper. The Nursing Response to Climate Emergency. (Lead author). Australian College of Nursing. https://www.acn.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/white-paper-the-nursing-response-to-the-climate-emergency.pdf
• 2023. White paper. Local Government Response to obesity in regional and rural Qld. (Lead author). West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group. https://advancingcommunities.au/wmoag/
• 2022. Position paper. A Regional response of obesity. (Author). West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group.
• 2022. Position paper. Non-communicable diseases and determinants of health. (Author). Advancing Communities Australia Ltd.
• 2022. Consultation submission: Qld Obesity Strategy. (Author). West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group.
• 2022. Senate submission: ‘Enquiry into the current state of meat category branding in Australia’. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/DefinitionsofMeat/Submissions (Author).
• 2021. Consultation submission: National Obesity Strategy. (Author). West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group.2021. Emissions Reduction in Healthcare Guiding Principles. (Co-author).  Australian College of Nursing.
• 2021. Ethical leadership in emissions reduction. (Co-author).  Australian College of Nursing.
• 2020. Emissions Reduction position statement. (Co-author).  Australian College of Nursing.
• 2020. The impact of obesity and food insecurity on the West Moreton Region: briefing paper. (Author). West Moreton Obesity Advisory Group.​

MEDIA ARTICLES

• 2023. Climate Clinic. Podcast. Guest Speaker - Be the Change: Climate Action Nurses. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dLUeDG3FKJxz4JA337d86  
• 2023. Podcast. Local Government role in obesity prevention. Ipswich today. https://ipswichtoday.com.au/ipswich-today-podcast/all-podcasts/
• 2022. Croakey Media. “Do Australia’s COVID-19 policies reflect ageism? https://www.croakey.org/do-australias-covid-19-policies-reflect-ageism/
• 2022. Australian College of Nursing Podcast: Mentoring: Guest speaker. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/acn-podcast-andrea-jansen/episodes/E1---Mentoring-with-Dr-Aletha-Ward-MACN-e1i94nh/a-a7t30ck  
• 2021. Public Health Association of Australia. “Why nurses must lead the way in emissions reduction”. https://www.unisq.edu.au/news/2021/11/nurse-climate-change
• 2022. Nursing Review. “Self-care for Nurses”. https://www.nursingreview.com.au/2022/02/under-immense-stress-nurses-can-benefit-from-self-care-opinion/
• 2020.  The Conversation. “We need to close the gap on health. But even official dietary advice disadvantages Indigenous people”. https://theconversation.com/we-need-to-close-the-gap-on-health-but-even-official-dietary-advice-disadvantages-indigenous-people-143680
• 2020.  Croakey Media. “Woolworths: a case study of the commercial determinants of health and how communities can fight back”. https://www.croakey.org/woolworths-a-case-study-of-the-commercial-determinants-of-health-and-how-communities-can-fight-back/​

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

• 2023. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. “Nursing in the Anthropocene – Translating disaster nursing experience into climate crisis nurse education”.  Richards, Nash, Holmes, Ward.
• 2023. ANMJ Editorial. “Educators must step up to prepare nursing and midwifery students for work in a climate emergency”. Ward., Carson., Tomkins. https://anmj.org.au/educators-must-step-up-to-prepare-nursing-and-midwifery-students-for-work-in-a-climate-emergency/
• 2022. Nurse Education Today. “Educating the educators: Implementing cultural safety in the nursing and midwifery curriculum”. Best et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.
• 2022.1054732022. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. “Reimagining the role of nursing education in emissions reduction”. Ward et al., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2022.02.003