Professor Catherine Turner was appointed as a non-executive director on 1 August 2008. Professor Turner began her career at Mater, graduating in 1984 with the Mother Alban Memorial Award for Excellence in Nursing. Professor Turner is Chair of the Mission and Ethics Committee of the Board.
Professor Turner has qualifications in nursing, population health and education. She has worked as a clinical nurse, epidemiologist and has held senior appointments in the tertiary education and government sectors since 1992, including a Ministerial appointment as Assistant Commissioner (Nursing) of the former Health Quality and Complaints Commission Queensland (HQCC) 2011-2014.
Professor Turner was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University and a recipient of a National Health & Medical Research Fellowship. She established the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery at Australian Catholic University and The University of Queensland and was Head of School at UQ 2007-2014. She is the recipient of Excellence in Teaching Awards, a distinguished alumni Award and has published more than 145 peer reviewed publications. Professor Turner is now the inaugural Dean of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University.
In 2017 Professor Turner was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant contribution to the nursing profession, specifically through research into practice, population health and higher education.
In 2016 Professor Turner was appointed to the Board of Directors of Mater Education Ltd. In 2019 Professor Turner was appointed to the Board of Directors of Mater Research Ltd. She currently chairs Mater's Mission and Ethics Committee.