“Infection prevention and control leadership: beyond the pandemic”

This session is the 8th of 10 sessions in the 2022 series: The Future of Health and Social Care Industries. The aim of this series is to have industry experts present their views and experience of the future direction of health and social care environments from a managerial and leadership perspective.

In this seminar, 'Infection prevention and control leadership: beyond the pandemic', we will hear from Kathy Dempsey (inaugural NSW Chief ICP and HAI Advisor for NSW at the Clinical Excellence Commission, and NSW IPAC COVID-19 Response Clinical Lead) and Jo Tallon (Director, Infection prevention and Control, for North Sydney Local Health District).

Kathy and Jo are leaders in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), who played key roles in steering the NSW health system through the pandemic. They are both actively dedicated to developing the leadership skills, qualities and capacities of IPC professionals as a rapidly growing and influential group of clinicians in safety and quality.

Kathy and Jo will share their thoughts about how the pandemic has highlighted the importance of IPC leadership in healthcare, and what they have done, and what else needs to be done, to maintain and sustain IPC leadership through pandemic times and beyond. Kathy and Jo will participate in a short Q&A after their presentations.

Kathy Dempsey
NSW Chief ICP & HAI Advisor, IPAC COVID-19 Response Clinical Lead, Clinical Excellence Commission

Kathy Dempsey is the inaugural NSW Chief ICP and HAI Advisor for NSW Clinical Excellence Commission, NSW IPAC COVID-19 Response Clinical Lead responsible for the strategic direction and support for Infection Prevention and Control and HAI (Healthcare Associated Infection) reduction across NSW Healthcare. She has 37 years’ experience in health, with previous management responsibility and organisational accountability as the senior ICP/Program Manager for WSLHD for 21 years. Kathy is a credentialled expert infection control practitioner (CICP-E) with a master’s degree, a diploma in leadership and management, and a range of internationally recognized certifications and is currently a Future Leaders of Healthcare DrPH candidate. Kathy is a member on the Australian HAI Steering committee, the National IPC Evidence taskforce and (Australian) ICEG (Infection Control Expert Group; is a board director for the Australasian College of Infection Prevention and Control and chair of the Credentialling and professional Standards Committee. She is considered a leader in the field of Infection Prevention and Control.

Kathy has extensive and broad expertise and lived experience in Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Practice, spanning across healthcare and non-healthcare environments, with particular experience in biocontainment and outbreak management. And is responsible for the timely, efficient and effective administration of the NSW HAI and IPAC program including planning, implementation, prioritisation and resource allocation of all matters relating to HAI and Infection Prevention and Control. She possesses high level analytical and research skills to inform policy and program development for Infection Prevention and Control and HAI.

Jo Tallon
Director Infection Prevention and Control, Northern Sydney Local Health District

Jo is a qualified Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner (ICP) with extensive experience. She has been an Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Consultant and manager for the past 20 years and is currently the Director of Infection Prevention and Control in Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). Jo holds a master’s degree in Public Health, a post graduate certificate in Renal, Nephrology, Transplant & Haemodialysis, certificate in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (SHEA & ECCMID) and a diploma in leadership and management.

Jo has been a consulting ICP expert on various state/national and contract management committees, and a member of numerous NSW Health expert advisory committees/taskforces and steering committees. Jo is currently the Chair of the NSW Clinical Excellence Committee (CEC) Environmental Working Party, a member of the CEC HAI Expert Advisory Committee and MRO Reference and Advisory Groups.

Jo has also published a number of articles on infection prevention and control and presented at numerous conferences and forums she has also showcased IPAC research/projects at the NSW Health Quality awards and the international forum on quality and safety in healthcare.

Jo is currently the NSLHD IPAC lead for COVID-19 advising the facility executive teams across the district. She is also a member of a number of NSW Health COVID- 19 committees including IPAC Community of Practice (CoP), the Respiratory Protection Program Committee (state fit testing) and the IPAC super CoP which reviews all CoP groups documents relating to Infection Prevention and Control principles and strategies.

Please note that this session will be delivered face-to-face but with a Zoom option available for those who cannot make it in person. This session will also be recorded and may be uploaded online.

This is a joint Centre for Health Services Management, School of Public Health and UTS Aspire event. UTS Aspire is a program of pan-university research development opportunities led by the Research Capability and Development Team.