Kate Thwaites is the Chief Mental Health Nurse Executive Officer of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN). Kate is an accomplished executive and senior mental health nurse. Kate has more than two decades of leadership experience across Australia’s public mental health system, spanning clinical practice, statewide reform, regulation, quality and safety, and professional leadership.
Prior to joining ACMHN, Kate served as Victoria’s Deputy Chief Mental Health Nurse and held senior executive roles leading major mental health reform initiatives across government and health services. She is recognised for building strategic partnerships, influencing policy, strengthening governance, and leading complex organisational change.
Kate is passionate about advancing the mental health nursing profession, supporting workforce development, improving access to high-quality mental health care, and ensuring the voices of people with lived and living experience inform policy and practice. She is committed to strengthening the influence of mental health nurses in support of improved health outcomes for everyone in our community.
