Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Shelley Nowlan provides overall professional and industry advice for nursing and midwifery matters across Queensland. This includes leading, advocating and supporting nurses and midwives to provide quality, safe care for Queensland communities through policy, direction and regulation. Shelley has over 30 years’ experience in healthcare, including 17 years’ experience in a range of metropolitan, regional and rural public sector executive clinical and health administrative leadership roles at a strategic and operational level.

She is a people-orientated executive leader with experience in contemporary healthcare systems including clinical innovation, leadership development, strategic planning, change management, policy development at state level, research, clinical practice and workforce development.

Shelley’s leadership has helped achieve practical outcomes within the nursing profession and as well as clinical care re-design programs and has led to success in developing and leading statewide and district clinical leadership programs.

Shelley has had significant experience in both capital works programs and commissioning of health services along with the development and implementation of patient models of care and care innovations. Her experience within the nursing profession extends nationally and internationally.