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ACORN staff

Diane HarapinDiane Harapin_relaxed professional photo

Diane joined ACORN as the new CEO in April 2023 having led successful Australian and New Zealand Not for Profit entities for fifteen years. Diane’s passions include education, advocacy, governance and compliance, quality assurance and stakeholder management including members, policymakers, the media and sponsors. 

Formerly, the CEO of Australian Vision Research and the Breast (cancer) Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand and managed their Foundation for Breast Cancer Care. Previously, she was the founding CEO and a Board Member of National Adoption Awareness Week and has sat on several boards including the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and Cambodian Children’s Trust. She was also events and funding coordinator for the Sunrise Children’s Village, Cambodia and has consulted to several educational philanthropic entities.

Diane’s interests include enablement, philanthropy, business and technology.  She holds degrees in leadership, management and educational administration at the University of Sydney, obtaining a Master’s Degree with Merit in Administration and Management, before moving to Asia to manage a technology training business. Her thesis work resulted in an M.Phil. in Education Law, further she holds a B.Ed. and a Dip.Ed. and Cert IV. in Adult training and assessment.

Based in Sydney, Diane volunteers as a senior mentor in the University of Sydney Executive Women’s Mentoring Program, an ambassador and mentor in the Scots College Indigenous Education program, and at Sydney High supporting the alumni. She has four very busy adult children and follows the Sydney Swans.

E.TanEleanor Tan

Eleanor Tan was first engaged in September 2015 to manage production of the journal. In July 2016 she was employed as ACORN's Publications Officer to manage the production of ACORN's publications.

With more than twenty years' experience in the education and health sectors and ten years' editing and publishing experience, Eleanor's expertise and attention to detail have ensured ACORN publications reflect the College's professional standing within the community.

Edwina Eaton (nee Blannin-Ferguson)tmp-c.upload

Edwina joined ACORN in early 2021 as the ACORN Education Manager, coming from a strong background of education and management in both the clinical and tertiary sectors. Originally from Sydney, Edwina is now based in Victoria, drawing from her experiences across both states, public and private sectors, and metropolitan vs regional health services.

Edwina holds postgraduate qualifications in nursing (Master of Nursing), Quality and Safety (Graduate Certificate in Health Service Management - Q&S), Leadership (Diploma of Leadership & Management), and various clinical industry qualifications in both the perioperative and critical care clinical settings.

"As a practicing perioperative nurse, I am passionate about ensuring best-practice care for our patients and colleagues that is robust, underpinned by evidence, and dynamic to grow with ever-advancing perioperative practice, equipment and techniques. Having previously held the role of ACORN Education Manager, I have a thorough understanding of the wonderful work that our perioperative nurses, educators, managers, partners, and ancillary staff perform each and every day and I look forward to building on this further.

Being a brand-new role within the ACORN organisation, my aim is to bring you all along this journey of Clinical Excellence together through collaboration, transparency and communication. Your feedback and involvement in this national approach to Clinical Excellence is paramount to ensure that ACORN is meeting the needs of our nurses, patients, perioperative departments, and healthcare systems as a whole.

I look forward to continuing the work of our professional representative body in this new role and I look forward to meeting a lot of you in person soon!"

Angela Jarkey

Angela JarkeyAngela joined ACORN in December 2023 as the ACORN Education Officer, with almost 20 years of clinical perioperative experience, and over 15 years in education, management, and quality and safety roles. Angela has experience in both the public and private sectors in both Sydney and Melbourne and has knowledge and experience across a range of roles and clinical areas, including Instrument/Circulating, Anaesthetics, PACU, Day Surgery Unit, and Endoscopy. 

Angela describes herself as an eternal learner and a passionate educator who is always eager to gain new knowledge and understanding. She has a Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing and is currently completing a Master of Advanced Nursing, majoring in quality and safety. She has also completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and has an Executive Certificate in Event Management.

When not working or studying, Angela adores the time she spends with her husband and two young children and looks forward to her weekly ballet class.

"I am very honoured to be a part of the incredible ACORN team and am excited to grow the high-quality educational offerings that ACORN continues to provide. As a clinical nurse, I have frequently looked to ACORN for guidance and direction in best-practice, evidence-based perioperative nursing and I am thrilled to be able to add to the growth and development of the perioperative nursing community".