Amanda Butt named 2026 recipient of the Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship

An endorsed Nurse Practitioner, Credentialed Mental Health Nurse, and Certified Health Informatician, Amanda is also founder of NPathy, Australia’s first virtual, nurse-led mental health clinic. 

Amanda has contributed to health reform through leadership roles including past Vice President and Acting President of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners, Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University, and as a federally appointed advisor to the Australian Digital Heamatt Agency. 

Amanda said receiving the scholarship was both an honour and an opportunity to further strengthen women’s leadership in healthcare. 

“In my work across clinical practice, executive roles and health innovation, I see how leadership shapes access, quality and equity of care. I wanted to deepen my leadership capability so I can contribute more effectively at a systems level and help drive meaningful change across the sector.” 

Through the Master of Healthcare Leadership, Amanda hopes to further develop her skills in strategic leadership, systems thinking, governance and healthcare transformation. 

“Southern Cross University’s Master of Healthcare Leadership stood out because it directly aligns with the complexity of the environments I work in,” she said. 

“I was particularly drawn to its focus on strategic leadership, systems thinking, governance and leading transformation in healthcare. The course bridges theory with real-world application. 

“I feel deeply grateful and honoured to be awarded this scholarship. It represents both recognition and responsibility,” she said. 

“I see it as an opportunity to invest further in leadership that can meaningfully improve health systems and outcomes. I’m also very appreciative of CEW and the Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship for supporting women to step into higher levels of leadership across healthcare.” 

Bonnie Boezeman AO, benefactor and namesake of the scholarship, said supporting women nurses to advance into leadership positions remains critically important for the future of healthcare in Australia. 

“This scholarship has represented a passion of mine over many years to offer higher education opportunities to Australian female nurses,” she said. 

“The healthcare sector continues to face workforce and system challenges across many areas, including mental health and primary care. This scholarship aims to help women nurses develop the leadership skills to advance their own careers and strengthen the healthcare sector as a whole.” 

About the Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship 

The Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship is awarded to one registered woman nurse to undertake a Master of Healthcare Leadership with Southern Cross University. The successful recipient has a career plan that will take her into a leadership role within the healthcare sector. 

About Chief Executive Women 

The scholarship is provided in partnership with Chief Executive Women (CEW). CEW is in its 41st year as Australia’s pre-eminent organisation for senior women leaders. CEW represents more than 1,400 of Australia’s most senior women – including CEOs, C-suite executives, non-executive directors and board chairs – spanning the private sector, not-for-profit organisations and the public sector. 

CEW members work across diverse industries, most prominently financial services, professional and scientific services, and health care.  

CEW member organisations employ over 1.3 million Australians, with a combined market capitalisation of over $1.144 trillion, contributing more than $249 billion to GDP. Almost 80% of CEW members have caring responsibilities. When they advocate for gender equality, they do so with the evidence, the reach, and the economic weight to back it up.