ACN 2024 Trailblazer Finalist - Professor Marion Eckert MACN

Professor Eckert is Professor of Cancer, and Health Enterprise and Innovation, and founding Director of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre (RBRC), University of South Australia. She is the inaugural Professor of Cancer Nursing in SA and Adjunct Professor Flinders University. Marion does not have a traditional academic background, but one that is grounded in direct health service delivery and an unwavering commitment to improving care locally and globally.
Motivated by the questions, "How do we ensure that people receive the very best possible care?" and "How do we support the workforce to achieve this?" she has led the development of a strategic research agenda focused on high-impact nursing and midwifery research, applying evidence into practice across the healthcare system for the benefit of communities and society.
The RBRC was established through the pioneering efforts of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) and the University of South Australia to empower the nursing and midwifery workforce through evidence-informed care. With these partners, Marion established the Centre, now recognising over 70 research members and strong national and international interdisciplinary partnerships. With five research labs focused on Workforce, Clinical, Co-Design, Performance, and Digital Health, RBRC is recognised globally as the pivotal interface between research and clinical practice. Marion is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network (ANMCTN), which brings together over 30 academic institutions, industry, and individuals to effectively facilitate and support nurse and midwife-led clinical research from Australia and New Zealand.
Awarded a Churchill Fellowship for supportive cancer care, a finalist in SA Telstra Business Woman of the Year (2020), a finalist in SA Health Research Innovation, and an International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame inductee (2024), Marion believes that leadership and learning are indispensable. With this belief, she is currently completing a Bachelor of Law Degree (Honours).
Little can be done alone, success is never a solo journey. Having the opportunity to be innovative and create change has no limits when you have the right team.
MEDIA RELEASE STATEMENT
I am honoured to be a finalist for the 2024 Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers. As Professor of Cancer, and Health Enterprise and Innovation, and founding Director of the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre (RBRC) at the University of South Australia, this recognition highlights the trailblazing work of the Centre and our commitment to advancing evidence-informed care and empowering nurses and midwives.
Throughout my diverse and exciting career, I have dedicated myself to improving care and supporting nurses and midwives to be disrupters and informed advocates for their patients and communities. Our work at RBRC empowers the nursing and midwifery workforce through evidence-based care. With over 70 research members and five focused labs, we've made significant impacts, including nurse-led skin screening with the support of AI in regional Australia and now expanding across prison health services, developing predictive risk algorithms, revolutionising dementia care and developing global workforce wellbeing surveys and running the largest health workforce survey across Australia during COVID-19.
A notable achievement is co-founding the Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network (ANMCTN), uniting over 30 academic institutions to support nurse and midwife-led research in Australia and New Zealand.
“My dedication to improving care is fuelled by a profound belief that every patient deserves the best possible support, and every nurse and midwife should be equipped to provide it,” said Professor Marion Eckert.“ I am inspired by the collective efforts of my dedicated colleagues, collaborators, and supportive family. It motivates me to continue driving meaningful change in health care through collaboration and innovation.”