Chief Executive, Carers Australia

Joan Hughes was appointed CEO, Carers Australia in 2006. She has been an Honorary Associate in the Department of Nursing Research Centre, University of Sydney until moving to Canberra. Joan is a Churchill Fellow. Her research about ageing parents of people with disabilities was carried out in Canada, USA and the UK.
From 1993 until 2006, Joan was CEO Carers NSW, which has won many state, national and international awards. Carers NSW was funded as the first state peak organisation for carers in 2003.
In 2008, she was selected to attend Australia’s 2020 Summit. Joan serves on many Federal Government committees as well as International Carer Advisory committees.
She regularly presents at national and international conferences and summits.