Fransisca (Chacha) Tenorio is the Nurse Manager at NT Health Clinical Innovation and Research Unit. A registered nurse with 12 years of experience, she has a diverse background in clinical care, management, governance and research. Chacha is a passionate advocate for health equity and is committed to integrating clinical research and trials into routine healthcare to improve patient outcomes.
Previously, Chacha worked at Menzies School of Health Research as a Clinical Trials Manager, overseeing multiple randomized controlled trials aimed at improving lung health for First Nations children. She played a key role in establishing the NT Health Research Governance Office (RGO) in 2021, implemented the Australian Teletrial Program in the NT in 2022 and continues to lead the implementation of national clinical trial reforms, including the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework and the National One-Stop-Shop.
As Nurse Manager, Chacha leads a multidisciplinary team and oversees the NT Health RGO and the Clinical Trials Coordination Unit, while actively driving national initiatives to strengthen research and clinical trial capabilities across the NT. She is committed to establishing robust research governance processes, building NT Health’s capacity to conduct high-quality research, attracting more industry sponsors to the region and developing culturally appropriate strategies to enhance consumer engagement in research and clinical trials.