Annette Kennedy and Vivien Lusted receive honorary doctorates from DCU
They join noted figures from politics, sport, literature and industry in receiving this award from DCU. They include Jim Gavin, Paula Meehan, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Sonia O'Sullivan, Bill Clinton, Seamus Mallon and David Trimble.
The honorary conferring was part of the Glocalisation in Healthcare - Nurses and Midwives thinking globally and acting locally to drive the policy and educational agenda event hosted by DCU.
Delivering the citation for Annette Kennedy, Dr. Daniela Lehwaldt, DCU School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, said:
“Annette has always been a leader - from her days as a nurse tutor, to her time as head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, to her current position as President of the International Council of Nurses, representing around 20 million nurses in 130 countries worldwide.
Her approach to leadership brings to mind the well known Irish expression, "Ní neart go cur le chéile”, roughly translated as, “there is no strength without unity”. Indeed, her watchword for her term as ICN President is “Together”. Annette is about bringing people together, and empowering them. As she told nurses in a recent ICN address, “together we can change the world”.
Annette is recognised for her work on developing global policy regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). She was a Commissioner on the WHO Independent High–Level Commission on NCDs, whose report recognised the crucial role of nursing in this area. Annette’s expertise and influence was recognised when she was appointed to the Slaintecare Advisory Implementation Committee, the body charged with advising on the transformation of Ireland’s healthcare system.
In 2020, Women in Global Health named her as one of the world’s “100 Outstanding Women Nurse and Midwife Leaders”. It is a status that she has truly earned over several decades of exceptional leadership and tireless work, for nursing and nurses, in Ireland and around the world.”
Delivering the citation for Vivien Lusted, Dr. Denise Proudfoot, DCU School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health said:
“Vivien had always dreamed of working as a nurse overseas. And so, it was not long before she secured her first post with the Irish humanitarian organisation Concern in Cambodia, where she worked for three years in a Primary Healthcare setting.
After her time with Concern in Cambodia, she then began working with the Irish Red Cross, seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
In her time with the Irish Red Cross and the ICRC, she has worked in Somalia,
Sudan, Israel, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Myanmar and Iraq. It is in conflict regions that Vivien made particularly valuable contributions. In Iraq, she worked as a nurse in temporary detention centres during the war in Mosul. The delivery of effective health and nursing care in such challenging and dangerous settings underlined Vivien’s depth of determination and resourcefulness.
It was her work on behalf of prisoners in Iraq that led to Vivien being awarded the prestigious Florence Nightingale medal, which recognises “exceptional devotion and courage in the care of the wounded and sick as well as key contributions to the fields of prevention, public health or nursing education”. This award is the highest international honour in Nursing. Vivien is just one of five Irish nurses to receive the award, since it was established over a century ago.
The COVID 19 pandemic has brought a myriad of new challenges to humanitarian nursing work and highlights the persistence of health inequalities in many countries. Vivien’s leadership and advocacy as a Health Coordinator are more important than ever. She continues to embody the aims of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, to provide support to vulnerable people and communities both at home and abroad. Through her leadership, courage and tireless work she is one of the great ambassadors of the Irish Red Cross, the wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and Irish nursing.”
Prof. Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University said:
“Dr Vivien Lusted has worked tirelessly with and for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations in disaster and war zones. Dr Annette Kennedy has advanced the nursing profession and sought to empower nurses, as healthcare professionals and as active citizens.”
The common thread is the courage and determination of their advocacy. They have never been afraid to speak up for what they believe in, to be a clear voice for colleagues, for patients, and for the voiceless. They exemplify DCU’s People First principles, and our mission to transform lives and societies.”
Dr Mary Rose Sweeney, Head of School, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health said
“The honorary conferrings are part of a day long virtual event being hosted by DCU’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives globally and to enhance the visibility of the work they do.
The theme for the event is Glocalisation in Healthcare - Nurses and Midwives thinking globally and acting locally.”
The celebration event can be accessed here.
About Annette Kennedy
Annette Kennedy is the President of the International Council of Nurses.
As a Registered Nurse Tutor at Beaumont Hospital, she established the first neuro-ICU in Ireland. She also set up many of the hospital’s post-registration specialist training programmes for nurses.
In 1993, Annette took up the post of Director of Professional Development with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
Having proven her leadership at national level, in 2005 Annette became the President of the European Federation of Nurses, representing nursing professionals in 30 countries.
In June 2017, Annette was elected 28th President of the International Council of Nurses, following a four year term as Vice President of the organisation.
About Vivien Lusted
Originally from Loughrea in East County Galway, Vivien completed her general nurse training in the Richmond Hospital and in the Beaumont Hospital.
Her first posting abroad was with Concern in Cambodia, where she worked for three years in a Primary Healthcare setting.
She then began working with the Irish Red Cross, seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC.
During the late 1990s, Vivien completed a Master’s in Community Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. During this time she continued her humanitarian work as a Health Delegate and Health Coordinator with the International Committee of the Red Cross, across eighteen countries.
In her time with the Irish Red Cross and the ICRC, she has worked in Somalia, Sudan, Israel, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Myanmar and Iraq.
A full list of honorary graduates from DCU is here.