CANDIDATE: Christian Steiner
Candidate Statement
I am a senior cancer nursing leader with over 20 years of experience across public and private oncology services, with expertise in governance, leadership and digital system transformation. I am seeking to contribute to the Board of the Cancer Nursing Society of Australia to strengthen collaboration across the sector and advocate for sustainable workforce outcomes in cancer care.
Australia’s cancer treatment system continues to grow in complexity, placing increasing demands on the nursing workforce and the systems that support care delivery. My experience as Director of Nursing and Centre Leader has been grounded in leading multidisciplinary oncology services through change, while ensuring governance, quality and workforce capability remain central to service delivery.
If elected, I would focus on three key areas:
1. Strengthening governance and system alignment
One of the largest barriers to providing patients with high level care is effective communication across systems. I bring extensive experience in clinical governance, including leading Ministry of Health compliance audits in the roles of Nurse Unit Manager, Director of Nurtsing and Centre Leader and achieving ACHS accreditation with commendation. As Secretary to a Medical Advisory Committee, I have supported structured decision-making, risk oversight and transparent reporting. I will contribute to strengthening CNSA’s governance role in shaping safe, consistent and high-quality cancer nursing practice nationally.
2. Supporting workforce capability and leadership
Through senior leadership roles including Director of Nursing and Centre Leader, I have led teams through service transitions, integration and operational change across complex cancer services. I am committed to advocating for the nursing workforce by supporting leadership development, improving workforce sustainability and ensuring nurses are equipped to deliver care in increasingly complex environments.
3. Advancing digital and data-enabled care
I bring practical experience in the implementation and optimisation of oncology specific electronic medical record systems (e.g.: MOSAIQ, Episoft…), with a focus on improving workflow consistency, data visibility and clinical decision support. I will support CNSA in strengthening its contribution to digital health discussions, ensuring systems are designed to enhance, rather than burden, nursing practice.
My motivation to serve on the CNSA Board is grounded in a commitment to collaboration and sector-wide impact.
I have worked with industry partners to deliver targeted nursing education initiatives, including programs focused on dermatological toxicity management, and in partnership with Cancer Council NSW to support the development of volunteer services within outpatient cancer centres. I hosted site visits of the Prime and Health Minister and on a separate occasion the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom in collaboration with McGarth Foundation. These experiences have reinforced the importance of partnership in improving both patient outcomes and workforce experience.
I bring a practical, solutions-focused perspective to the Board, informed by frontline leadership experience and a strong understanding of governance and system delivery. I am committed to contributing constructively to Board discussions and supporting CNSA’s strategic direction to deliver meaningful outcomes for its members and the broader cancer community.
Brief overview of current and/or previous contribution towards the CNSA and/or cancer control:
I have been actively engaged in supporting cancer nursing and broader cancer control initiatives throughout my career, with a focus on collaboration, education and service development.
My involvement with the Cancer Nursing Society of Australia includes serving as Industry Sponsorship Liaison within the Greater Sydney CNSA Education Committee, where I supported coordination between industry partners and nursing stakeholders to enable the delivery of relevant and high-quality educational initiatives. I also contributed to the annual Cancer Nursing Society of Australia conference through chairing breakfast meetings, facilitating professional discussion, knowledge sharing and engagement among attendees and actively encouraging cancer nurses to seek membership.
Beyond CNSA, I have contributed to cancer control through partnerships that support both patient outcomes and workforce capability. I have collaborated with pharmaceutical organisations to deliver targeted nursing education programs, including initiatives focused on dermatological side effect management associated with kinase inhibitor therapies and the development of a CINV patient diary resource. These programs aimed to strengthen clinical knowledge, improve patient management and support nurses in delivering safe and informed care.
In addition, I worked in collaboration with Cancer Council NSW to support the development and establishment of volunteer services within outpatient cancer centres. This work focused on enhancing patient experience and support pathways, recognising the important role of non-clinical services in holistic cancer care.
Across these contributions, I have sought to strengthen connections between clinical practice, education and service delivery. I am committed to continuing to support CNSA’s role in advancing cancer nursing practice, fostering professional development and contributing to improved outcomes for patients and the oncology workforce.