Terry Swanson completed her undergraduate work in the USA before immigrating to Australia. She was endorsed by NBV in 2003 and the Victorian Government in 2004 as one of the first Nurse Practitioners in her state and specialty of wound management. Terry was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Wound Management Association in 2010 for her significant contribution to wound management at a state, national, and international level.

Throughout her career, Terry Swanson has held numerous influential positions. She is the current Chair of the International Wound Infection Institute (IWII), where she played a pivotal role in developing and publishing the 2016 IWII Consensus Document Update on Wound Infection, Co-chair of the 2022 publication and Co-Chair of the 2025 publication Therapeutic Wound and Skin Cleansing: Clinical evidence and recommendations. In 2020, Terry's expertise was further recognized when she was invited onto the World Union Wound Healing Societies Board, where she now serves as the Co-chair of the Supporting Societies subcommittee.

Terry has published and presented on chronic wounds and wound infection nationally and internationally. She has also held positions of responsibility on various nursing and wound-related boards locally, nationally, and internationally. Frequently, Terry is an invited speaker as she loves to share her knowledge and passion for helping to heal and providing best practices.