Professor Turner is the Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery in the Faculty of Health Sciences at The University of Queensland.

Professor Turner began her career at Mater, graduating in 1984 with the Mother Alban Memorial Award for excellence in Nursing. She has won a number of local and national awards for teaching and has been the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship. Her research career has included research fellowships at Massey University and Harvard Medical School. She is the current recipient of a National Health and Medical Reserach Council career development award in population health (2007–2011).

She has held the position of Director since August 2008.