FNA Committee
The Flight Nurses Australia Committee changes in August/September of every year. The committee elected in 2024-2025 is currently shown on this page.
If you want to know more about any of our committee members please click on their name.
Hayden Wilson – President
Flight Nurse RFDS Queensland – Endorsed Nurse Practitioner
I am a Nurse Practitioner / Registered Midwife working as a Flight Nurse Practitioner with the Rockhampton Base of Royal Flying Doctors Service (Queensland Section). With 7 years’ experience as a Flight Nurse. My interest in Flight Nursing was peaked at just 15 years of age, living on Norfolk Island. I was a volunteer ambulance officer at the time and loved going to the airport to pick up the then Care Flight teams. From there I always knew I wanted to be just like them!
I have over 14 years’ experience as a nurse with a career focus in Emergency Nursing. But probably most exciting for me, I finished my Master of Nurse Practitioner program in 2022, and specialise in Emergency and Aeromedical Retrieval. Still very much a new and developing role in the retrieval world, but I am excited to share its development as it happens. Prior to working for the RFDS my nursing career was predominantly at a quaternary teaching hospital in Brisbane including General Medicine, Neurosurgery, Emergency and Trauma.
When I’m not busy flying I am chasing after my 2 beautiful daughters, and love cooking! Having grown up on Norfolk Island I also enjoy getting away to the Capricorn Coast, a not so hidden gem that only 20 mins out of town. I look forward to contributing to the FNA committee and further supporting our awesome speciality of Nursing and Midwifery.
Judi Shields – Secretary
RN, RM, Masters of Advanced Practice Nursing Emergency, Bachelor of Nursing, Post Grad Certificates in Emergency, Aviation Nursing and Primary Health Care.
Judi Shields first commenced Flight Nursing in 1988 in completing a 3 month orientation to Flight Nursing in Gove. She was hooked and commenced as a full time Flight Nurse in Darwin in 1990. Judi has a background in Paediatrics, Midwifery, Emergency, Indigenous Health and Remote Area Nursing.
Involved in the early development of Flight Nurses Australia Incorporated and on the Inaugural committee and served in various roles from 1994 – 2008, 2016 to present as Committee member, President and Secretary, she is a Life Member of FNA.
In 2001 Judi was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to further her research in the area of Fatigue in the Air Ambulance environment; studying at NASA and the United States Air Force. Judi has remained involved in the development of standards for Flight Nursing at a national and international level.
Judi participated as a committee member for ASA and as a member of the Aerospace Nursing section of Aerospace Medical Association. Judi has presented her research regarding Fatigue at International and National scientific meetings. As a Flight Nurse, Judi worked for the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld). She was a guest lecturer of the South Australia University to rewrite the Aviation Nursing Course number two. Judi remains passionate about standards for Flight Nursing Practice, Fatigue engendered by Air Medical Crews in the Aviation/Transport environments and ‘Closing the gap’.
Judi currently works as a Clinical Nurse for Retrieval Services Queensland.
Stacey Clayworth
Treasurer
Watch this space
Adam Waddington RN RM – Public Officer – Committee Member
Flight Nurse NSW Air Ambulance
I have been a registered nurse since 1996 working primarily as a Emergency nurse at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. I completed my postgraduate midwifery training in 2003 and have maintained dual qualifications since.
I have been working full time as a flight nurse with NSW Air Ambulance since October 2009. I hold the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist grade 2.
I continue to work in the ED at Liverpool Hospital on a casual basis where I also remain as a senior staff member.
On a personal front I am happily married to my beautiful wife Lyndy who is a social worker and chaplain.
Colleen Reid – Committee member - website and socials
Our past President, Colleen has been an integral part of FNA through some challenging years. RN/RM with Post Graduate Diploma in Aeromedical Retrieval, Post Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Health Aspects of Disaster Medicine. I have currently deferred studies for my Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. I hold ALSO, TNCC, MIMMS commander and Remote Pre-Hospital Trauma Response qualifications. Previously I have also completed training with AusMAT (Australian Medical Assistance Team).
I was a student nurse in 2005 with RFDS QLD section and just knew flight nursing was the job for me. Lots of amazing international travel and jobs all across the north from FNQ to the NT and into WA, including working out on some remote islands followed. So it wasn’t until 9 years later, while travelling in South America, I decided to apply for the midwifery scholarship with RFDS Western Operations. I was successful and had to move from Derby, WA to Brisbane, QLD to complete my midwifery studies. I then was posted to the RFDS base in Kalgoorlie, WA in 2015. Working as a flight nurse only enhanced my passion to help unite and drive this industry further for all flight nurses. I now manage education and student placements in Kalgoorlie and I enjoy passing on the passion of flight nursing to student nurses, recruiting for the future of our industry. I was lucky enough to be one of the previous recipients of the Kaye Melmeth Grant and attend the COASTN aeromedical retrieval course in New Zealand which was a fantastic experience.
I grew up in the NT on Groote Eylandt and have worked in many communities developing a passion for Indigenous Health. I have a keen interest in photography and have the best job to see lots of amazing things you don’t see anywhere else. I am married with two beautiful children and in any spare time we have we like to play sport, camp and travel.
John Howes
Committee Member - Assistant Treasurer
Breeanna Spring
Committee Member - Education
Jon Stevens
Committee Member
Bachelor of Training & Development, Bachelor of Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing
Jon commenced his career in 2003 as a medical technician in the Australian Army and has over 20 years of experience in military health care. He has served in aviation health roles and deployed to Timor-Leste and Iraq, earning multiple commendations for clinical excellence. After commissioning as a Nursing Officer in 2020, Jonathan completed graduate placements in Paediatrics and Emergency and now works in aviation nursing with the 2nd Health Battalion. His professional interests include aeromedical retrieval, clinical education, and advancing patient care in remote and challenging environments .
Jade Martin
Committee Member
Jade Martin is a registered nurse of 17 years with postgraduate qualifications in Critical Care and Midwifery. Jade has been working as a critical care RN/ Clinical nurse for 15 years and is currently working as an aeromedical retrieval nurse, with interests in aeromedicine, pre-hospital care and rural and remote medicine. Jade is passionate about providing the highest level of care to patients during their most vulnerable moments, and thrives in the fast-paced, high pressure environment of aeromedical retrieval.
Jessica Tillett
Committee Member
Jessica Tillett is a Flight Nurse with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations and the Lead MTS Assessor in the Check and Training Team for all medical transport specialists. Holding a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Graduate Diploma in Midwifery and a postgraduate in diagnostics and prescribing as an Endorsed Midwife. Jess has over 15 years’ experience across rural and metropolitan WA hospitals, specialising in critical care, aeromedical retrieval, and maternity/obstetric services, including Level 2 neonatal nursery care.