CANDIDATE: Jenny Gilchrist

Candidate Statement

I am an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in breast oncology with more than 20 years of experience in oncology and palliative care. Across my career, I have combined clinical leadership with advocacy, education and strategic engagement, with a strong focus on improving outcomes for patients and strengthening the nursing workforce. I hold a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) from the University of Sydney and currently practice fulltime as a Nurse Practitioner at Macquarie University Hospital.

I would bring to the CNSA Board a strong mix of leadership, governance, finance, advocacy and data-informed systems experience. I currently serve as Treasurer and Executive Board Member of the Australasian Society of Breast Diseases, and I am also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Breast Cancer Trials and the Strategic Advisory Group for Breast Cancer Network Australia. Through these roles, I have developed practical experience in board governance, strategic planning, financial oversight, stakeholder engagement and helping shape organisational direction in a multitude of health environments. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of the balance required between vision, accountability and sound decision-making at Board level.

Advocacy has been a large part of my career and is one of the key strengths I would bring to CNSA. As President of the NSWNMA Macquarie University Hospital Branch, I advocate for nurses more broadly, not only cancer nurses, and understand the importance of representing the profession clearly, constructively and effectively. Within oncology, I have consistently worked to ensure the voices of cancer nurses and patients are reflected in service design, education, policy discussions and future planning.

My advocacy has extended from direct clinical care to national and international initiatives. This includes involvement in the ABC Global Alliance decade goals work, current participation in the Health Policy Partnership project focused on strengthening metastatic breast cancer data and insights, and prior work on reducing inequalities in metastatic breast cancer care. I also recently chaired a session at Parliament House in Canberra on financial toxicity for breast cancer patients, helping highlight patient and workforce issues to policy makers. These experiences have further developed my capacity to contribute to cancer strategy, policy influence and leadership.

My five years as Chief Clinical Lead – Metastatic with the McGrath Foundation strengthened my commitment to equity of care. In that role, I contributed to the development, education and support of breast care nurses across Australia, helping expand capability and improve access to high-quality care for people living with metastatic breast cancer, regardless of where they live. This role also gave me valuable experience in workforce development, service improvement and the practical challenges of delivering more equitable care across different settings.

CNSA plays a vital role in advancing cancer nursing nationally. If elected, I would bring experience in strategic judgement, governance and financial oversight, and a strong commitment to advocacy, leadership and equitable cancer care. I would value the opportunity to contribute to a Board that supports cancer nurses, strengthens our profession, and ensures our voice continues to influence the future of cancer care in Australia.

Brief overview of current and/or previous contribution towards the CNSA and/or cancer control:

My contribution to CNSA and to cancer control has focused on strengthening specialist cancer nursing, improving care for people with breast cancer, and building the cancer nursing workforce.

Within CNSA, I served as Co-Chair of the Breast Specialist Practice Network from 2018 to 2020 and now co-lead the Breast Nurse Community of Practice. Through these roles, I have supported professional engagement, peer connection and the visibility of breast cancer nursing within the broader cancer nursing community.

More broadly, much of my work has centred on improving care for people with breast cancer, particularly those living with metastatic disease. As Chief Clinical Lead – Metastatic at the McGrath Foundation, I played a key role in expanding the metastatic breast care nursing cohort across Australia. I was also and am still involved in educating breast care nurses nationally in important aspects of metastatic breast cancer care, helping to strengthen knowledge, consistency, and equity of care for this patient group.

In my clinical role as a Nurse Practitioner in breast oncology, I continue to support patients directly while also working across education, research, and service development. Through leadership roles with the Australasian Society of Breast Diseases, Breast Cancer Trials, and Breast Cancer Network Australia, I have also helped shape strategy, education, clinical trials activity and discussions about improving cancer care.

I am actively involved in conference development, invited presentations, expert groups, and national and international initiatives in breast cancer care. I have also had the opportunity to contribute internationally, including as a consensus panel member at both ABC7 and ABC8, and have used that experience to leverage education, advocacy and service improvement across Australia.

Across these roles, my focus has remained on improving outcomes for patients, supporting and upskilling the cancer nursing workforce, and contributing to high-quality cancer care in Australia.