Jessica Best is a Registered Nurse who joined the JCU Nursing and Midwifery Team in 2020 as a sessional academic in both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing. In 2022 Jessica was appointed as a Lecturer and Subject Manager in the online Master of Nursing. Jessica has many years of clinical nursing experience, including over a decade of general and cardiothoracic surgical intensive care in both tertiary and regional units. Jessica has worked in numerous senior clinical roles across her career including advanced practice, research, education, quality and safety, policy development, incident management, and leadership. Jessica has postgraduate qualifications in critical care nursing and education. Jessica has a passion for ensuring postgraduate education is inclusive, engaging and synchronous with the continuously evolving nursing profession.

Pieta Shakes is a Registered Nurse and Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with postgraduate qualifications in mental health nursing, diagnostic genomics and higher education innovative teaching and learning. Pieta is enthusiastic about patient experience and person-centred care within our fast-paced systems and society. Committed to equity and quality, she was drawn towards research and the translation of knowledge into practice through education that nurtures curiosity and critical thinking and empowers clinicians. Pieta commenced her transition into academia in 2018 and then joined the online Master of Nursing team as a Lecturer and Subject Manager in 2022. Pieta is in the final stages of her PhD and is active within research and advocacy to improve the psychosocial outcomes of parents who receive unexpected news about the health, development or genetics of their unborn baby.

Mrs Kate Hurley is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience encouraging nurses to continue their education both as a clinical nurse educator and Lecturer. Kate started her career at JCU in 2017 as a sessional academic before becoming a full-time Lecturer and Subject Manager in the online Master of Nursing in 2021. Kate holds the position of Academic Lead – Staff Development and is responsible for promoting staff development and facilitating education for the Nursing and Midwifery team at JCU. Kate is a passionate academic who has a strong focus on mentoring and empowering nurses to continue education to ensure high quality nursing practice.

Amanda Monzeglio is a Registered Nurse holding a Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice. Amanda has a clinical background in orthopaedics and intensive care and has always been passionate about education and teaching. Amanda joined the JCU Nursing and Midwifery team in 2010 as a sessional staff member in undergraduate nursing and then moved into postgraduate nursing in 2022 where she was appointed as a Lecturer and Subject Manager in the online Master of Nursing. Amanda strives to provide students with the most authentic, relevant, supportive and engaging learning experience in order to achieve their desired outcomes and aspirations.

Ms. Ali Bryan is a Registered Nurse with a Master of Nursing in Education and extensive expertise in palliative care. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong passion for education. Ms. Bryan joined the JCU Nursing and Midwifery team in 2017 as a Teaching Specialist, after spending the first seven years of her career teaching within the Bachelor of Nursing program across the Mackay and Townsville campuses. In 2024, she has now moved to work in Postgraduate Nursing Education, taking up the role of Lecturer in the Master of Nursing (Education) program. Ms. Bryan is dedicated to enhancing the student experience, ensuring that her teaching is of the highest quality, engaging, authentic, and inclusive.

Dr Tracey Ahern is a Registered Nurse and Registered Queensland Teacher who holds a PhD (Nursing). Tracey first joined the JCU Nursing and Midwifery team in 2015 as a sessional tutor, and then secured a permanent position as a Lecturer in 2017. She combines her love of teaching, nursing and research to extend her professional practice to the higher education context. In 2018, Tracey was appointed the Deputy Course Coordinator of the online Master of Nursing. Tracey is now a Senior Lecturer and the Course Coordinator of the online Master of Nursing, leading a team of six full time academics who collaborate to maintain quality standards in postgraduate nursing education.

Tracey Gooding is a Registered Nurse holding a Master of Nursing in education with extensive experience in both adult and paediatric intensive care. Tracey first joined the JCU Nursing and Midwifery team as a sessional academic in 2017 and later held a Lecturer position before returning to the clinical space in 2020 to take on various clinical nursing education and leadership roles. In 2022, Tracey was appointed the Deputy Course Coordinator of the online Master of Nursing. She aims to work collaboratively with the team to provide an excellent educational experience for postgraduate nursing students with content and assessments that are contemporary and authentic, empowering nurses to lead, educate and promote safe, quality evidence-based care in their own workplace.