The International Council of Nurses (ICN)and the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing have announced the plenary speakers for the 14th International Council of Nurses NP/APN Network Conference set for 14-17 September 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The conference’s keynote and plenary speakers have had global impact on advanced practice nursing, bringing expertise in a variety of disciplines within the field. Early bird registration for the conference opens 5 January 2026, with discounts of more than 25% and limited seats available.
Opening the conference will be keynote speaker Tad Worku, a family nurse practitioner, educator, musician, and executive mission coach whose work blends healthcare, leadership development, and music. Known for his inspiring, hope-centered messages, Worku energizes audiences with presentations that merge storytelling, purpose-driven insight, and live music performed alongside a Grammy Award–winning ensemble. Worku, who stepped away from a rising pop career to serve in a Level 1 trauma center, inspires audiences across sectors and cultures, inviting them to rediscover meaning in their work.
Plenary speaker Edna Adan Ismail is regarded as one of Africa’s most influential women. In her long career, the beloved nurse-midwife and activist has made lasting contributions in health, peace building, and foreign affairs, all with an exceptional focus on advancing the well-being of women and children. The Edna Adan University Hospital, which she founded and directed, has grown to be a major provider of obstetrical, surgical, medical, and pediatric care in the Horn of Africa region. As a political leader, she was the first woman to serve as Somalia’s Foreign Minister and served as the country’s Minister of Family Welfare and Social Development.
Vincent Guilamo-Ramos is executive director of the Institute for Policy Solutions and Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. He is also the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health, and serves on the board of UnidosUS, the U.S.’s largest Latino civil rights organization. An expert and leader in social determinants of health, his research focuses on family-based adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health, particularly among Latinos and additional underserved communities. His work has a special focus on ending HIV inequities among Latinos and improving care outcomes for youth receiving HIV prevention and care services.
James Reed is a U.S. Army veteran, nurse anesthetist, educator, and veteran advocate. A graduate of the U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, he deployed 14 times in military service. He spent more than 2,000 days in combat zones administering care to hundreds of casualties, for which he received the U.S.’s Legion of Merit, five Bronze Stars, two Air Medals, and numerous other decorations. After retirement from active service, he became a strong advocate for veteran causes, particularly veteran suicide and opioid misuse. He has held faculty appointments at Roseman University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of Arizona, as well as with the Army Nurse Anesthesia Program. Reed is a subject matter expert in austere and resource-constrained surgery, anesthesia, resuscitation, and evacuation care.
Susan Orsega serves as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight within the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. She leads a team of subject matter experts in establishing military health system policies for 9.5 million personnel, retirees, and their families. Formerly, she served as director of the United States Public Health Service and directed the deployment of USPHS in support of international and national COVID-19 efforts. Orsega was also the first nurse practitioner to hold the position of U.S. Acting Surgeon General, chosen for her leadership and executive presence, as well as her strategic operational expertise during health crises. She focuses on addressing pressing issues of public health and health policy.
Howard Catton was appointed the chief executive officer of the International Council of Nurses in February 2019. He is committed to ensuring that ICN effectively represents nursing worldwide, advances the nursing profession, promotes the wellbeing of nurses, and advocates for health in all policies. He firmly believes that nurses should be at the heart of health policy decision making and leading healthcare systems and delivery. Throughout his career, Catton has worked and written extensively on issues relating to the nursing and healthcare workforce, and he co-chaired the first ever State of the World’s Nursing Report. He has been at the forefront of advocating for the protection of and investment in the nursing profession. Prior to being named CEO, Catton served as ICN director of nursing, policy and programmes.
David Stewart is the deputy chief nursing consultant for the International Council of Nurses. Stewart is a highly accomplished, passionate, and strategically focused health professional and leader, offering nearly three decades of experience within the health care sector at the global and national level. Focused on providing advice, guidance, and leadership on the development and execution of strategies, policies, frameworks, and management systems, Stewart plays a pivotal role in improving healthcare accessibility, services, and patient outcomes by working with key stakeholders. He is recognized as a values-based, collaborative leader who is able to empower teams, influence decisions, secure buy-in, and achieve mutual yet favorable outcomes. Before joining ICN in 2016, he held various executive and high-level leadership positions in Queensland Health.
More than 2,000 advanced practice nurses from over 140 countries will gather in the United States in September 2026 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ICN NP/APN Network, marking the first time the conference has returned to the U.S. since its inception. This milestone event will bring together global NP/APN leaders for a dynamic exchange of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration to advance advanced practice nursing worldwide.
The conference theme, “Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs): United for Global Impact, Innovation, and Care,” will be explored through eight subthemes spanning education, practice models, policy, leadership, digital health, and more. For information about the conference, visit https://icn-npapn-2026.com/. To register, visit https://icn-npapn-2026.com/registration/ .
About ICN
ICN is a federation of over 140 national nurses’ associations representing more than 30 million nurses worldwide. Founded in 1899, it is the world’s first and widest reaching international organization of health professionals. The ICN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Network (NP/APNN) provides an international resource for nurses practicing in the nurse practitioner or advanced practice nurse roles as well as for policymakers, educators, regulators, and/or health planners.
About Vanderbilt School of Nursing
The conference is hosted by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, with support from the American Nurses Association and Vanderbilt University. One of the U.S.’s top graduate nursing schools, VUSN is known for excellence in research, practice, and nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery education at the master and doctoral levels.
About the ANA
As the oldest organization representing more than 5 million registered nurses, the American Nurses Association stands at the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The association harnesses The Power of Nurses™ to champion the profession and drive transformation in healthcare. Through legislative and political advocacy, comprehensive educational services, and the profession’s leading Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards, the association empowers nurses across every specialty and practice setting. The association is committed to ensuring healthy work environments, shaping pioneering policies, and cultivating partnerships that enhance both the nursing profession and the broader healthcare experience.