Conference Keynote Speakers

Conference Keynote Speakers

This page will be updated as further speakers are announced.

Carli Whittaker, Royal College of Nursing, Head of Nursing Practice, Children and Young People

Originally a Sydney-sider, after qualifying and practicing as a registered nurse in Australia, the plan was to come and travel the UK and Europe for 2 years, this was over 20 years ago. Carli is both adult and paediatric nurse by profession, however area of specialism is Paediatric Critical Care. Carli is the President of the Paediatric Critical Care Society (PCCS), the first nurse and female to hold the role within the Society, PCCS is a professional, multi-disciplinary, membership organisation representing the interests of those delivering paediatric critical care in the UK (United Kingdom) for the benefit of Children and Young People and their families. 

Carli’s interests predominantly focuses in Paediatric Critical Care with her PhD in the exploration of children’s nurses and the retention challenges faced. However,  Carli is also interested in the education, simulation, CYP leadership and CYP health inequalities. Carli is passionate about broadening the scope and profile of Children’s Nursing not only in the UK, but globally. She works in partnership with the NHS, private and independent sector, and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

Professor Bernie Carter PhD BSc RN, RN(Child), Professor of Children's Nursing, Edge Hill University 

Bernie's research focuses on children and young people whose lives are disrupted by pain, illness, disability, complex health care needs and disadvantage, and the ways in which this affects their parents, brothers and sisters and family life. She is particularly interested in the challenges of assessing the pain of children with profound cognitive impairment. Much of her research is creative, narrative, appreciative, participatory and arts/activities based. She works closely with children and families throughout her research to ensure her work is robust and grounded in the lives of the participants. On a good day, Bernie loves writing about research (although on bad day's it can make her cry).