Kitty Hutchison has been working in community nursing for over twenty years. Her early roles were in post-acute care and coordination of care. For the past ten years she has worked in nurse education roles supporting and enhancing practice of community nurse clinicians and is currently developing a Transition to Community Nursing Practice program in Queensland. Kitty believes that nurses in the community are a valuable resource in bridging the ever-increasing gap between primary health care and acute care services in our Australian health care system. She is committed to supporting nurses in the community to maintain high standards of practice and share their innovation and experience confidently with others.

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Anna is the Executive Chair of Regal Health, an established provider of Community Nursing, Allied Health, Life Services & Case Management. Anna led Regal in achieving accreditation with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards in 1994, being the first private primary healthcare service in Australia to be accredited.

Widely recognised for her passion, commitment and advocacy, in 2018 Anna was recognised as an Honorary Fellow with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). She was instrumental in approaching ACN to create the initial Community & Primary Health Care Nursing Week initiative.

Anna has been involved in building community through her successful Wisdom Exchange, and is consulted on issues relating to Primary Healthcare, Aged Care & Governance locally, nationally and globally.

Anna has developed innovative and sustainable business models and initiatives that support the community both from a service perspective and through philanthropic activities around the world in healthcare, the arts, and indigenous projects.

Anna is committed to connecting communities and setting an example for business in finding sustainable solutions that empower people to be independent, connected and valued in society.

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Alan Merritt is a registered nurse with a wide range of experience in varied nursing, health care and regulation contexts. Alan has been a clinician, manager and educator in community nursing, and an academic in the tertiary education sector. He has extensive experience in the governance of nursing and midwifery as a past member of the Australian Capital Territory Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and through the accreditation of Nursing and Midwifery education programs. He is currently the Manager of Medical School Assessments at the Australian Medical Council where he oversees the accreditation of medical schools for the Australian and New Zealand Context. Alan’s research interests include teaching and learning, nursing in the community, and exploring the expression of artistry and tacit knowledge in practice.

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