Australia’s leading academic journal for nursing research, Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research, today announced the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief, Professor Lisa Whitehead FACN.
Professor Whitehead is a well-known figure among nursing researchers with 30 years of experience in the field. She is currently the Associate Dean (Research) in the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Director of the Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Services Research at Edith Cowan University, and is an Honorary Professor of Research at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Professor Whitehead will start her new role as Editor-in-Chief in January 2023.
Australian College of Nursing (ACN) CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN says Professor Whitehead is an outstanding choice for the role.
“Professor Whitehead is one of Australia’s foremost and leading nurse researchers, with her work in the top two per cent of researchers in the nursing, rehabilitation, public health and health services sub-disciplines worldwide. I’m thrilled she will be leading the Journal, and our talented publishing team,” Adjunct Professor Ward said.
“As Australia’s leading academic journal for nursing research, leading it is an honour and a responsibility. Collegian has had an exceptional decade, with its impact factor rising over 200 per cent since its first ISI ranking in 2010, under the leadership of our outgoing Editor-in-Chief Professor Lisa McKenna.”
“Under Professor Whitehead’s leadership, I’m confident the Journal will continue the legacy of the past nine years. The journal will display the highest standards of integrity and independence by reporting on topics that engage the nursing profession with relevant and trustworthy information to enable better health for all Australians.”
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Whitehead said she is deeply honoured to be the next Collegian Editor-in-Chief and is looking forward to starting in the role.
“Collegian plays a vital role in shaping health and advancing nursing and I am looking forward to building on the excellent work that Professor Lisa McKenna has already taken.”
“Taking up the role of Editor-in-Chief is a key career achievement, and I am looking forward to working with everybody to continue taking the Journal forward.”
Professor Whitehead takes the Editor-in-Chief position as current Editor-in-Chief Professor Lisa McKenna FACN steps down after nine successful years at the helm.
Adjunct Professor Ward thanks Professor McKenna for her time and dedication in leading the journal and wishes her the best with her future endeavours.
“I’d like to say thank you to Professor McKenna who has been an outstanding leader seeing the Journal through considerable change. Professor McKenna has made a tremendous contribution to the Journal, the medical community and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her publishing achievements led to all-time high impact factor, and she leaves the Journal in strong shape,” Adjunct Professor Ward said.
Professor McKenna said it had been a privilege to lead the Journal. During her tenure, she significantly reshaped the Journal, with a 9000 per cent increase in usage, 910 per cent increase in submissions to the journal, and the digitisation of files back to Volume 1(1).
