The Australian College of Nursing has appointed Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms as the inaugural CEO. Here she speaks with Linda Belardi about her priorities and passion for the unified professional peak body.

The unification of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia and The College of Nursing is an opportunity to shape the future direction of the profession, says the newly appointed chief executive, Debra Thoms. "The Australian College of Nursing represents an absolute opportunity for the profession to come behind [the college] and have a more unified voice around critical health issues in this country," she told Nursing Review. Expanding the college's influence and growing its membership were listed as leading priorities. "I'd like to see that the college becomes seen as an organisation that is...