Meet the new Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)

ICN Press Release

Frances Hughes appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Dr. Judith Shamian the President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Frances Hughes, ONZM, DNurs, FANZCMHN FNZCMHN, RN, as ICN’s new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hughes will take up the post as of February 2016.

A native of New Zealand, Dr. Hughes has held the post of Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer of Queensland, Australia since 2012. Prior to this, she was

Chief Advisor (Nursing) to New Zealand’s’ Ministry of Health and, as consultant at the World Health Organization (WHO) and other NGOs, has worked in Australia, South Pacific, UK, Canada and Asia. She also held the position of Commandant-Colonel of the Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps and was the first Professor  of Nursing at the University of Auckland.

Dr. Hughes, who has a strong background as a health clinician, manager and educator, is the recipient of several awards and honours, including a Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy from the Commonwealth Fund in New York, which enabled her to study health policy under the mentorship of Dr. Linda Aiken of the University of Pennsylvania. She also received a Fulbright Senior Scholarship to undertake research in the USA 2012/2013 on post-disaster lessons as they apply to health professionals, and was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to mental health in 2005. Dr. Hughes received in 2013 the distinguished Alumni Award from Massy University in New Zealand. Hughes is a visiting professorship at the University of Sydney, Australia

“We are delighted Frances has accepted our offer to be ICN’s next CEO and, together with the Board, lead ICN, an organization that been serving nursing and health for over 100 years,” said Dr. Shamian. “The Board is confident that with this appointment, ICN has both the leadership and the staff to build on its existing strengths and enhance our efforts to meet ICN’s mission and commitment to have a strong nursing community to meet both global health challenges while partnering with key global and regional organizations.”