Sydney Nursing School appoints new Head of School and Dean
Professor John Daly RN, PhD, HonDNurs, FACN, FAAN, FFNMRCSI, is a renowned nursing academic, with research specialities in healthcare leadership, nursing education, cross-cultural nursing, role transition in nursing and nursing workforce issues. He also has a keen interested in cardiovascular health and aged care.
He comes to the University of Sydney after long and successful stints in leadership positions at the University of Western Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). At both institutions he was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor for his contributions to the nursing community domestically and internationally.
Professor Daly most recently held the position of Dean of Health at UTS and was the former Head of the UTS/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development.
Commencing in his new role in June, Professor Daly expressed enthusiasm about being appointed to lead Sydney Nursing School.
“I am excited about the role and the development of the School in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.”
“The context for medicine and health in the University offers both unique and incredible opportunities for expanding and deepening interdisciplinary solutions to the complex problems facing the world,” he said.
On speaking about his vision for the School, Professor Daly acknowledged his goals were aligned with the wider Faculty.
“It’s important that the School continues to creatively sustain a vibrant, respectful environment in which staff and students have opportunities to collaboratively engage in nursing and midwifery education and research that impacts on national and international policy and practice to improve the health of all people and their communities.”
Having conducted much research on nursing and health leadership, Professor Daly strives to lead by example and has a strong commitment to values-based leadership.
“Good leaders provide vision, big ideas, imagination and energy to strengthen and safeguard the strategic development of organisations or organisational units which they lead,” he said.
“They are able to inspire and enthuse colleagues, and create a collaborative context to facilitate and sustain high levels of performance. Importantly good leaders are passionate about the work they do, and they enjoy seeing colleagues go from success to success.”
Throughout his career Professor Daly has held significant roles as the Chair of the Global Alliance for Leadership in Nursing Education and Science (GANES) and Chair of the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia and New Zealand).
He is also passionate about academic publishing and was the Editor in Chief of Collegian: The Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research for nine years as well as Editor in Chief at the Journal of Nursing Management (Wiley, Oxford).
Professor Daly has longstanding relationships with major domestic and international health organisations. He has been a committee member and key contact and to groups including NSW Health, the World Health Organisation, the Health-Science Alliance, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) and many more.
We welcome Professor Daly into his new role and look forward to an exciting new chapter at Sydney Nursing School as it transitions from the Mallett Street campus to the new Susan Wakil Health Building (SWHB) in 2021.
“The SWHB will be a fantastic addition to the resources available for health education and research in the University.”
“I see many benefits for nursing students from access to the most contemporary clinical simulation environments, enhanced opportunities to interact and learn with students undertaking courses in other areas of medicine and health, and exposure to technology rich learning and teaching facilities,” he said.
“Having such a special building will open up new possibilities for all students in education, research and scholarship in FMH.”
