Associate Professor Tracy Flenady, a research-focused academic at CQUniversity Australia, is a lifelong learner who continually strives to understand day-to-day phenomena. Passionate about patient safety, Tracy has developed a research program that builds on existing literature and significantly contributes to improved patient outcomes. As Chief Investigator, she has attracted over a million dollars in research income and published numerous manuscripts on patient safety. Throughout her career, Tracy has demonstrated strong leadership in developing continuing education courses, mentorship programs, and symposiums for university staff, external stakeholders, and the broader professional community. Her expertise and commitment have enhanced professional development and fostered collaboration, as evidenced by diverse stakeholder support. She has significantly contributed to the development of researchers, ensuring industry-relevant and high-quality research.

As Deputy Dean (Research) at CQU's SNMSS since 2020, Tracy oversees initiatives aligning with the University's objectives, including an annual staff development program tailored to research needs. Her leadership includes providing scaffolded support to enhance grant funding success and publication quality. She has strategically reconfigured the school's research direction, aligning it with internal and external drivers, and supporting Research Discipline Leads to maintain cutting-edge research.

Tracy's contributions to the scholarship of learning and teaching are connected to diverse patient safety research programs, with outcomes integrated into nursing curricula across multiple Australian universities. As project manager for the Tag Team Patient Safety Simulation (TTPSS) project, she led the development of innovative simulation training modules and the nationally recognized Patient Safety Competency Framework (PSCF). The PSCF, integrated into several universities' curricula, ensures nursing students' safety competencies, fulfilling the expectation of academic staff development through ongoing guidance and mentorship.

Tracy is the driving force behind the highly successful Research Ready Grant Program (RRGP), now in its seventh year of operation. Led by Tracy since its inception, the RRGP is conceptualised and administered by Central Queensland University (CQUni) and delivered as a collaborative venture involving CQUni, Central Queensland Hospital Health Service (CQHHS) and The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School (UQRCS). Since its commencement in January 2018, the RRGP has successfully extended the research skills of over 500 CQHHS staff and supported the operation of over 40 industry driven research projects.

Tracy serves on many patient safety-related local and statewide boards and committees, and has developed and nurtured industry and researcher networks within and outside of Queensland Health and CQUniversity. Her research interests include Classic Grounded Theory, early warning systems, emergency nursing, human behavior in the context of patient safety, and the science of knowledge implementation. Tracy has established a track record in these areas with publications in book-chapters, peer-reviewed journals and international conference presentations.