Dani Gardner is a lecturer at UTS, and a Registered Nurse with over 25 years' experience. Following an extensive clinical background of Intensive Care nursing in both adults and paediatrics, Dani then held the role of clinical nurse consultant (CNC) for cleft and craniofacial surgery at the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick for 6 years working with the Dept of Plastic Surgery to coordinate the surgeries and ongoing care for thousands of children across the state of NSW living with congenital and traumatic facial differences.
Dani’s experience across the NSW Healthcare system is vast, having worked across a variety of settings including both adults and paediatrics, public and private sectors, in a mix of clinical, management, education, research, and leadership roles. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing (BN), a Master of Public Health from UNSW, Graduate Certificates in Higher Education Teaching & Learning, Adult Acute Care Nursing, and Paediatric Critical Care Nursing. She is currently studying a Master of Nursing Research prior to entrance to the UTS PhD program.

Dani's higher degree research interests include Simulation Based Education, the use of GenAI and Digital Technologies in Sim, and exploring the impact this may have on student nurses learning experiences and communication confidence. 

Current research study in collaboration with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network exploring Paediatric nurses’ knowledge and attitudes to pressure injuries and pressure injury prevention.

Research contributions in her previous roles included Adolescent health and wellbeing; Cleft and Craniofacial, Young adult transition into adult healthcare services.
In her CNC role Dani was viewed as an expert in the field and was responsible for creating positive change in healthcare within the paediatric and young adult population of NSW. In 2022 she was named as a finalist in the NSW Health Nursing Excellence Awards, nominated by families of the children she looked after. Dani has since been invited to sit on the committee for the parent support group CleftPals NSW acting as an observer and adviser.