- David C. Benton
RGN RMN BSc MSc MPhil PhD FFNF FRCN FAAN - CEO, National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Chicago, Illinois, USA
PLENARY I
Thursday, 21 July 2016 – 8:30-10:00 a.m. (0830-1000)
Auditorium
Influencing Policy Through Generation of Research, Application of Knowledge and the Use of Social Networks
About the Speaker:
David Benton took up his current post as Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in the United States on the 1st of October 2015. For the previous 10 years, he worked at the International Council of Nurses in Geneva, Switzerland, first as their consultant on nursing and health policy specializing in regulation, licensing, and education; and then as chief executive officer.
Dr. Benton qualified as a general and mental health nurse at the then Highland College of Nursing and Midwifery in Inverness, Scotland. His MPhil research degree focused on the application of computer-assisted learning to post-basic nurse education. He has, during the past 30 years published articles in relation to research, practice, education, leadership, regulation and policy topics. He has a PhD Summa Cum Laude from the University of Complutense for his work researching an international comparative analysis of the regulation of nursing practice.
Dr. Benton has held senior roles for 25 years across a range of organisations. These roles have included working as Executive Director of Nursing at a health Authority in London, as a senior civil servant in Northern and Yorkshire Region, as Chief Executive of a Nurse Regulatory body in Scotland, and as Nurse Director of a University Trust Health System.
Dr. Benton is the recipient of several awards and honours. He is particularly proud of being awarded the inaugural Nursing Standard Leadership award in 1993. He was presented with Fellowship of the Florence Nightingale Foundation in 2001, awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2003 for his contribution to health and nursing policy, and most recently became a Fellow of the American Academy of nursing in 2015.
Dr. Benton has held several visiting appointments and is currently a visiting professor of nursing policy at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
About the presentation:
This presentation will reviewing a number of recent publications that provide significant opportunities for the nursing profession to conduct new research and influence global, regional, and national health policy. Having identified these opportunities, we will then examine what is already known about the way nurses influence policy and politics. Findings from a recently completed integrative review will be shared and, in particular, it will be argued that the time has now come for the profession to revise the competencies required at baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels in relation to how we as a profession influence policy and politics. Finally, we will turn to the use of social network analysis as a means of obtaining information and influencing agendas at local, national, and interaction levels. It will be argued that in an increasingly globalized, dynamic, and interconnected world, nurses need to utilize their networks to bring about desired health systems change.
- Hester C. Klopper
PhD, MBA, RN, RM, FANSA, FAAN - CEO, Forum of University Nursing Deans in South Africa (FUNDISA)
South Africa
PLENARY II
Friday, 22 July 2016 – 8:30-10:00 a.m. (0830-1000)
Auditorium
Leading Global Health Research: Gift, Skill or Choice?
About the Speaker:
Hester C. Klopper is an international academic and professional leader with extensive international networks in global health, public health, policy development, nursing and health care. She was recently appointed Vice Rector: Strategic Iniatives and Internationalisation at Seellenbosch University.
Immediately prior to this position, Hester was the Chief Executive Officer of FUNDISA (Forum for University Nursing Deans in SA). She also previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, where she continues to hold a full professorial appointment. In addition, she holds an Extra-ordinary Professor position with INSINQ, a research focus area, based at North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). As a scholar her research programme focuses on positive practice environments, patient safety and quality health care; and health systems and health policy, as well nursing education research. A continued interest is global health and the role nurses play in policy influence and strengthening health systems.
Embedded in her work is the focus on leadership development and capacity development of young scientists. She coordinates the PLUME programme, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), to support the development of research programmes of post-doctoral candidates. Hester has been the supervisor of more than 25 PhD students and 45 master's students; she has published more than 60 peer reviewed publications, and presented her research and scholarly work at more than 100 international conferences. She was awarded the 2010 Nursing Education Association Nursing Excellence Award for Leadership in Nursing Education for her ‘dedicated and visionary leadership in the profession; and her competency, tenacity, passion and drive to promote the development of nursing education’. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing of South Africa, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, as well as an inductee into the Hall of Fame for Excellence in Nursing Research (FUNDISA).
About the presentation:
With millions of nurse practitioners and researchers around the globe, we have the wonderful opportunity to lead global health research. However, what we see in reality is pockets of excellence, but seldom the ability to influence policy and impact on practice. Now more than ever, we have the opportunity to develop and expand a global research agenda for nursing given the global challenges. This presentation will focus on innovative ways to lead global health research.
- Naeema Hasan Al Gasseer
PhD, RN, FAAN - International Nurse Midwife & Health Expert from Bahrain
World Health Organization
PLENARY III
Monday, 25 July 2016 – 1:00-2:30 p.m. (1300-1430)
Auditorium
Nurses and Midwives: Leaves No One Behind
About the Speaker:
Bahraini national Dr Naeema Al Gasseer is the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sudan.
Dr Al Gasseer joined WHO in 1999 as Senior Scientist for Nursing and Midwifery, Geneva, responsible for the coordination and integration of nursing and midwifery issues in the work of WHO policy and programmes.
She later served as WHO Representative in Iraq, before being reassigned to the post of Assistant Regional Director in 2010, where she focused on strengthening health systems based on research and evidence.
Prior to joining WHO, she was Regional Advisor for Reproductive Health and Family Planning at UNFPA from 1996, where she conducted health system assessments including reproductive health situation analysis in countries of the Middle East.
From 1992 until 1996 she worked at the Ministry of Health planning unit on developing the strategy for health in Bahrain. She was also active at the national level in preparing documents for the UN and WHO on progress made in relation to resolutions on health and development.
Dr Al Gasseer graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Bahrain in 1978, and obtained a Doctorate in Nursing Sciences in the area of women’s health from the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, in 1990.
Dr Al Gasseer was the first Arab to receive an honorary award of Doctorate of Science (DSci) from Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, UK in 2005 and received an American Academy of Nursing Fellowship in 2010. During her career, Dr Al Gasseer has been involved with health system assessment, quality of health care programmes and developing health strategy.
About the presentation:
Nurses and Midwives are key to the development goals and reaching people of all walks of lives. The 2030 Agenda declaration and Sustainable Development Goals will be presented, taking into consideration the resilience needed at local level where nurses and midwives play a critical role. They are to translate the health goals leaving no one behind with focus on equity in meeting the targets beside contribute to the measurement and accountability framework through research.
