Alicia has over 20 years’ experience working as a perioperative nurse across the Private and Public sectors in Australia and Canada. In 2018 Alicia completed a double Masters of International Public Health and Health Management at UNSW with a Distinction of Excellence.
Alicia has volunteered in Uganda and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea where she supported health system strengthening through training and education of perioperative staff. She has worked at the Commonwealth Department of Health in the National Incident Centre working on the Commonwealth’s response to fire, floods and communicable disease incidents including COVID. Alicia is an active member of the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) and currently works as the District Perioperative Nurse Educator at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. Alicia is passionate about experiential learning, reflective practice and fostering an environment of psychological safety in the perioperative setting.

Ruth Melville RN, Grad Cert MGT, Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, FACORN Ruth is the past President, of the International Federation of Perioperative Nursing (IFPN) and IFPN Ambassador for Asia, Pacific and PNG; Past President of both the Australian College of Operating Room Nurses and the Periopertaive Nurse Association Qld (PNAQ) now ACORN Qld. Ruth is a lifetime member of ACORN and fellow of ACORN and an Alumni of the International Council of Nursing (ICN) Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI). Ruth has been an active member of ACORN since 1985 and has held many positions at both a state and national level. Ruth has worked in the perioperative setting for over 40 years and has undertaken many management and clinical roles within the Operating Room and CSSD. Ruth is currently the Clinical Nurse Consultant for Perioperative Services at the Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service supporting patient safety initiatives in quality, redesign, innovation and compliance to standards across the health service. Ruth’s primary role within the Health Service focuses on how the National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) are imbedded to support a perioperative safety culture and the business of safety and quality for all patients within their perioperative patient journey. Ruth is also an ACHS NSQHS Standards Assessor which gives opportunities to further reinforce the ACORN standards are embedded into perioperative practice in various health care settings both private and public. Most recently Ruth worked as a consultant representing ACORN, commissioning the Operating Theatres and CSU at Lae, PNG. This was an Australian funded PNG project though the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with other multidisciplinary colleges like Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM); Global Intensive Care Initiative (GICI.)

Deb Burrows is a registered nurse who has worked in both metropolitan and rural settings in NSW. She has held a number of positions throughout her career and is currently the District Perioperative Clinical Nurse Consultant in Southern NSW Local Health District. Deborah is passionate about perioperative nurses and is a strong advocate for the rural voice, being actively involved in many committees and agencies that influence policy making.

Sally has over 40 years’ experience as a perioperative nurse. She currently supports nursing practice in the Pacific as a consultant mentor for nurses undertaking graduate studies and as a nursing advisor for volunteers joining surgical trips with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Global Health Program. She is co-editor of the Australasian textbook Perioperative Nursing: An Introduction, she is a past Judith Cornell Orator and proud ACORN Fellow. Sally maintains her clinical knowledge and skills with casual work at Sydney Hospital and values the opportunity to work and walk amongst those historic surroundings.