National Board
The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) is led by a National Board of Directors with a National Council advising on key regional and strategic issues facing Nurse Practitioners and the membership.
To contact the National Board or Council please email admin@acnp.org.au
Elise Bryant
President
Elise is a passionate Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years nursing experience and a member of the ACNP since 2010. She specialises in Plastic and Reconstructive Nursing, Surgical Assisting, Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Skin Management, & Education.
Elise works in a variety of settings including her clinic - Skin Health Solutions - a Nurse Practitioner led clinic performing full skin examinations, skin evaluations and skin education. She is also a surgical assistant for three Brisbane based Plastic Surgeons and regularly provides education for nurses and nurse practitioners in the plastic surgery and dermatology space.
Elise feels passionately about fostering nursing careers and volunteers much time to mentoring of both registered nurses and nurse practitioners, specifically in the private practice space.
Elise has two adult children (three if you include her husband who is a NUM) and enjoys golfing, hiking, skiing and walking her dog, Rose.
Terry Jongen
Company Secretary & Vice President
Terry Jongen has spent 35 years working in Royal Perth Emergency Department, a major trauma centre. For the last 20 years as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner. In 2002 Terry coordinated the department's response for the 28 Bali Bombing victims returning from Bali. In 2004 Terry was deployed to Banda Ache after the Boxing Day Tsunami as part of the first Australian Medical Response Team. He earnt the Overseas Humanitarian Service Medal (Indian Ocean Clasp) for his service. In 2020 Terry was deployed as a Ausmat NP to assist with the COVID-19 outbreak in the aged care facilities in Melbourne as part of the Federal government's response. Terry is the President of the ANMF WA Branch and Senior Vice President and Acting President of ANMF State Union.
Terry has advised past State Health Ministers and is past member of motorsport advisory panel for the Minister of Sport. Terry has been a past company Director and Chair of a national NFP member-based sporting body. Terry has formally been the Chief Nursing Officer for St John Ambulance Australia. Terry has a keen interest in company governance and strategic development.
Terry is a keen promoter of the role of the Nurse Practitioner in all aspects of health care and has championed the development of different NP roles in the tertiary sector and disaster response. 
Margaret Nicholson
Treasurer
Happily married and living on acreage in New South Wales, Margaret Nicholson enjoys gardening, relaxing on the beach, and watching her children and grandchildren surf. Motivated by a lifelong passion for clinical nursing and improving patient-focused care, Margaret pursued a career as an Intensive Care Nurse Practitioner (NP). She currently works at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney and is actively involved in nurse training programs and advocacy for the NP role.
Margaret’s nursing journey began at age four, inspired by visits to Balmain Hospital and family ties to healthcare. With 34 years of nursing experience – 31 in the Intensive Care Unit – she has contributed significantly to initiatives such as the Medical Emergency Team (MET), Sepsis Kills program, and tracheostomy care guidelines for NSW. Her roles have included clinical nurse specialist, research officer, project manager, and nurse unit manager.
As an NP, Margaret provides advanced clinical care in a culturally diverse community, focusing on acute deterioration, resuscitation, and tracheostomy management. She leads the Tracheostomy Resource Team, mentors new NPs, and supports patients transitioning from ICU to home care. Margaret finds her greatest reward in seeing patients recover and return to their families, or supporting them through palliation.
Her decision to become an NP stemmed from a desire to remain in direct clinical care and leverage her expertise in resuscitation and tracheostomy management to improve patient outcomes across acute and community settings.
Nicole Carter
Director
Nicole is a Nurse Practitioner, clinical leader, and PhD candidate with over 30 years’ experience in nursing. Her background spans emergency, urgent, and primary care, and she has worked extensively across both rural and metropolitan Western Australia.
She has held senior roles across public and private sectors. As part of the WA Country Health COVID-19 vaccination program leadership team, Nicole led statewide operations for community vaccination clinics across rural and remote regions. She has introduced Nurse Practitioner models of care in both sectors and driven health service reform with a strong focus on equity and access.
Nicole previously served as Policy Advisor to the ACNP, contributing to national consultations, workforce reviews, and regulatory reform. She continues to advocate for equitable access to Nurse Practitioners’ care, expanded MBS eligibility, and meaningful policy reform that enables NP-led care.
Nicole is currently undertaking a PhD at Curtin University, exploring the role of the Nurse Practitioner in urgent care settings. She continues to work occasional shifts in ED and urgent care, and has held governance roles, including as a board director for Coeliac WA and secretary of a local photography club. Nicole is also an accredited judge with the WA Photography Judges Association. Her rural ties remain strong, both professionally and personally, as her family continues to farm in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.
Anthony Sokolowski
Director
Anthony is an endorsed NP, for the past 15 years with more than 20 years’ experience working within NSW Health in critical care. His post-graduate qualifications include Masters of Nursing Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Leadership Program through the Clinical Excellence Commission, and the Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing. He brings key strengths in areas of leadership, governance, clinical practice, education, resource management, and research. I have collaboratively led a structured governance framework and network for Hunter New England Local Health District Nurse Practitioners, enabling enhanced delivery of health care. He is an advocate for Nurse Practitioner roles, their suitability, and innovative models of care, understanding the importance of these to align with the strategic direction of the local health district and NSW strategic plan.
Joanne Briggs
Director
Joanne is a Nursing Officer in the Australian Army, bringing over 20 years of service. She has been in clinical nursing for over 40 years, beginning at Fremantle Hospital in 1986. Joanne spent more than three decades at Albany Regional Hospital, working across acute areas including theatre, ED, and HDU, progressing from clinician to NUM and Coordinator of Clinical Operations.
She later returned to Fremantle, working in ICU and as Professional Development Officer for the ANFIUWP and Councillor and Executive member of the ANMU (WA Branch) for upwards of fifteen years.
Joanne holds a Masters of Nursing (NP) from Curtin University and has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2012. She has extensive rural, remote, FIFO, and military nursing experience and has supported Australian government members during COVID-19, provided medical support to the Foreign Minister on SE Asia visits, and mentored during Exercise Pacific Partnership in Vietnam with international naval forces.
Joanne is also currently studying Sexual Health and Domestic Violence at Monash University and is pursuing an Australian College of Clinical Governance certificate course.
National Council
| New South Wales | Melinda | Tomlins | email NSW Chapter |
| Northern Territory | Liz | Okely | email NT Chapter |
| Queensland | Ella | van de Velde Fidock | email QLD Chapter |
| South Australia | Peter | Cirocco | email SA Chapter |
| Victoria | John | Thompson | email VIC Chapter |
| Western Australia | Adam | McCavery | email WA Chapter |
| Tasmania | Ali | Spicer | email TAS Chapter |
| Australian Capital Territory | Tim | Keun | email ACT Chapter |