Debra Jackson

Professor Debra Jackson AO is a distinguished nurse scientist and scholar whose career encompasses clinical practice, academic leadership, research, and scholarship. Holding qualifications as RN, BHSc(Nsg) from Southern Cross University (1992), MN(Ed) from the University of Sydney (1995), and PhD from Flinders University (2000), she is currently Professor of Nursing and Director of Academic Career Development in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, specifically within the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her previous roles include Professor of Nursing at Oxford Brookes University (2015–2018), Director of the Oxford Institute for Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Health Research (2015–2018), Principal Fellow of the NIHR-funded Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (2015–2019), Professor of Nursing at Western Sydney University (2001–2011), and Professor Emerita at the University of Technology Sydney (awarded 2021). Jackson began her nursing career following training at the Auckland Hospital Board School of Nursing.

Professor Jackson's research interests include nursing, acute care, medicine, nursing and health curriculum and pedagogy, specialist studies in education, teacher and student wellbeing, patient safety, and health services and systems. She has an extensive publication record exceeding 220 peer-reviewed articles and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Advanced Nursing, having previously held the same position for the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2019 for distinguished service to medical education in nursing practice and research; Principal Fellowship of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre in 2015; Fellowship Ad Eundem of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland in 2020; induction into the Sigma Nursing Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2021; and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing (UK) in 2025. She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing (FACN) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Jackson has been repeatedly named Australia's leading nurse researcher by The Australian (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), a global leader in nursing research (2021, 2025), the top-rated global expert in nursing (2013–2023), and #1 ranked Clinical Nurse Specialist by ScholarGPS (2025).

Professional Email: debra.jackson@sydney.edu.au