Cathy Harley, eMBA, RN, IIWCC, (Hon) FNSWOC

After a clinical career  as a registered nurse in neurosurgical intensive care  in Canada, and a decade working in business for a Fortune 500 healthcare company ending up as the Director of Global Strategic Marketing for wound care based in the United States, Cathy established her own incorporated company called “Global Healthcare Projects Inc.” focused on healthcare market research, and business development and management in the wound, ostomy and continence healthcare sector.

This led to Cathy serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence Canada (NSWOCC) for twenty-two years managing both the International Skin Tear advisory Panel (ISTAP) and launching and managing the Canadian Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (CPIAP) .

In order to show a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Cathy worked with a group of Indigenous wound, ostomy and continence specialized nurses to establish an Indigenous Wound, Ostomy and Continence Core Program. By mentoring these nurses and setting objectives, this core program has worked for the past 8 years to improve equitable healthcare to Indigenous Communities. Cathy also advocated for equity, diversity , inclusivity and accessibility within NSWOCC and beyond to provide equal opportunity for all nurses and staff.

In 2017-2018, she led the re-branding and  name change from the Canadian Association of Enterostomal Therapy ( CAET) to Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada (NSWOCC) leading to significant membership  growth and successfully led NSWOCC through COVID-19 with sustained growth.

Cathy was also the first Executive Director for the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC) where she worked supporting and serving operating room nurses for 5 years and she served on the Canadian Nurses Association's (CNA) Specialty Nursing Practice Action Council for the past 20 years advocating for better recognition of specialized nurses.

In addition to serving two terms as the Treasurer for CASE RNs, Cathy completed the International Interdisciplinary Wound Care Course (IIWCC) at the University of Toronto, studied post-graduate business in the United States and completed a post graduate program in Not for Profit Board Governance at the Telfer School of Business University of Ottawa and Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto.