Professor Brenda Happell was appointed to the Board in 2008. Brenda is the Professor of Contemporary Nursing and Director of the Institute for Health and Social Science Research at Central Queensland University - Australia. She is the current Editor of the College's official publication, the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, is a Fellow of the College and has been a member since 1991.

Brenda believes that the mental health nursing profession requires passion and commitment and a genuine willingness to work in partnership with consumers of mental health services, their families and significant others, to achieve the highest possible standard of care.