Shanna has close to 20 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse and Midwife. Completing a Bachelor of Nursing Degree at the University of Western Sydney in 2001; Shanna gained extensive experience working in various health facilities in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Shanna began a career in Midwifery in 2005 completing a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery at Charles Sturt University. Shanna then progressed into Nursing and Midwifery education upon completion of her Master of Midwifery studies in 2008 at the University of Newcastle. She accepted various casual academic and clinical teaching appointments before becoming a permanent member of Newcastle's University's teaching staff in June 2013, Co-leading the regional development of the University’s first Bachelor of Midwifery degree program on the Mid North Coast.

Shanna was appointed at Charles Sturt University as a Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery in 2019 at the Port Macquarie Campus. Completing her PhD in Community Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology in 2021, Shanna was successful in achieving an appointment as a post-doctoral research fellow with the Ageing Well in Rural and Regional Australia Research Group, in 2022, extending her research profile in these areas. 

Shanna is an early career researcher with research interests spanning improving maternal and infant health, regional and rural health and the use of immersive technologies in nursing, midwifery, and medical education and practice. Shanna is a conjoint lecturer with the University of Newcastle and affiliate member of the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) mothers and babies research group. Shanna has experience in both honours and PhD co-supervision and Honours and Master’s by research, thesis examination.