As acting Deputy Dean for Nursing Leadership, Dr Tiffany Conroy leads the team responsible for the largest student cohort at Flinders University. We caught up with Tiffany and learned that face-to-face interactions are a favourite part of her role, and that cycling is a weekend passion.

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

I’m the Academic Lead for Nursing and acting Deputy Dean for Nursing Leadership and Innovation. I focus on ensuring the quality of our programs, supporting our committed and passionate staff to provide the best experience for our undergraduate and post-graduate students.

What journey brought you to this point in your career?

I’m a Flinders graduate, having completed my Bachelor of Nursing Practice in 1993. I was fortunate to gain a position at the old Royal Adelaide Hospital and spent the next few years working there in a range of different clinical areas such as critical care, esophagogastric and hepatobiliary surgery, and endoscopy.

I took a one-year secondment to the Joanna Briggs Institute, which turned into a six-year stint. I was developing and teaching comprehensive systematic review programs in countries all over the world.

I then became Program Coordinator for the University of Adelaide’s Bachelor of Nursing Program in Singapore. Along the way, I continued my further education and completed Graduate Certificates in Business and University Teaching and Learning, a Masters and a PhD.

I returned to Flinders in 2018, initially in a research-only position, but I missed teaching, so applied for and obtained a balanced role in November 2019. I was appointed Academic Lead and acting Deputy Dean in June 2021.

What do you love most about your work?

Face-to-face connections give me the most pleasure – in the classroom, as a research supervisor, or as a colleague. Seeing a student who is grappling with a concept finally achieve the clarity they seek is very rewarding. Seeing the personal and professional development of students and staff is also terrific. I’m also fortunate enough to learn from experienced senior academics in the CNHS Executive Leadership team, who are very generous with their advice and support.

What is something you are most proud of?

I’m the Steering Group Chair for the International Learning Collaborative (founded in 2008) which creates practical resources to ensure that the Fundamentals of Care are visible and valued in every care setting around the world. Fundamental Care involves actions on the part of the care team that respect and focus on a person’s essential needs to ensure their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. With more than 150 members in over 20 countries, the ILC shares a global vision that recognises the challenges of making fundamental care a valued and essential element in a person’s self-care, health and wellbeing. This is through a set of evidence-based behaviours and actions that inform every educational, clinical and care setting.

What does a normal day look like for you?

Meetings! But I also get to spend time on the most important parts of my role which are teaching, conducting research, mentoring first-time researchers and supporting novice academics.

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

Although I’m not blessed with the stereotypical cyclist physique (I’m 4 foot 11 with stumpy legs), I do enjoy riding my bike on weekends. I also enjoy wine, reading, wine, good food, wine, walking our very elderly dog, wine, cricket, wine and catching up with friends. Did I mention that I like wine?