Robin, originally from South Korea, has spent the past 20 years guiding meditation and leading self-development workshops in diverse locations such as South Korea, Singapore, the UK, New Zealand, and now Australia. Her journey began as a professional dancer and psychology student, with a deep passion for pursuits that brought her joy. However, despite the fulfillment these endeavors offered, they didn’t provide the true freedom of mind she was seeking. This search led her to meditation, where she discovered answers to profound questions like "Who am I?" and the purpose of our existence. Now, having found the unconditional happiness that so many strive for, Robin is dedicated to helping others discover the same freedom and joy in their lives.

I am lawyer and NFP corporate governance specialist who is passionate about working with directors and executive management teams to design and implement improved governance frameworks. I draw great satisfaction from my work, knowing improved corporate governance practices in the boardroom deliver better health outcomes for the people who access our services.

Yair Kellner brings many years of experience working with a diverse range of people both in Australia and internationally, at government and corporate levels, as well as for NFP organisations. Yair is currently directing the Link workers engagement with participants via one one-on-one and group activities and facilitation. Away from work yair enjoys bushwalking, kayaking, and bikepacking, as well as participating in Polar and high Arctic expeditions.

Since May 2017 Carers ACT has gone from strength to strength through leadership and direction provided by our CEO, Lisa Kelly. Lisa is passionately committed to ensuring that carers receive high quality supports and services and receive recognition of their role within the community. She has worked extensively in the community sector and holds Degrees in Psychology and Community Development. Prior to joining Carers ACT, Lisa worked primarily in the mental health and youth sectors for agencies such as Lifeline, Headspace, Richmond Fellowship and the Australian Childhood Foundation. She has spent a large part of her career implementing innovative and award winning services and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Carers ACT. Lisa has a long history of supporting and advocating for carers stretching back to being appointed to the Ministerial National Family Carers Voice in 2004. “For more than 20 years I’ve been passionately supporting and advocating for unpaid carers, and helping them reach their goals and aspirations whilst continuing to provide care to the people they love.”

I am Social Worker and Allied Health Educator working at a regional Public Mental Health Service, in the far north Mallee region of Victoria. Having experienced a graduate, early career pathway in mental health myself many years ago, I am passionate about supporting learners to develop their skills, knowledge and abilities to deliver and support high quality care in our mental health and wellbeing system.

Originally from Northern Ireland & following a period in Canada, Suzanne Kerruish has called Aotearoa New Zealand home for the last 29 years. She has worked in various roles within specialist mental health & addiction services & is currently the General Manager for Mental Health & Addictions Counties Manukau, Health New Zealand. Being part of the leadership team supporting over 750 clinical & non-clinical staff is an absolute privilege for Suzanne. Her focus & passion is to enable the workforce to provide the best service possible within a culture that embraces the voices and perspectives of tangata whaiora and whānau.

Steph is a Research Fellow at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use. Steph leads an innovative program of research and translation to reduce the impact of illicit substance misuse. She is currently Project Lead for Cracks in the Ice, a National Online Portal funded by the Australian Government Department of Health to develop and disseminate evidence-based resources about crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) for the Australian Community.

Karen Klarnett is a Consumer peer worker with a bachelor's degree in social work and qualifications in community services. She has extensive experience in mental health services in both community and inpatient settings.

I am a Lived Experience Education Facilitator, utilizing my lived experience to provide an alternative perspective when delivering educational modules, encouraging curious conversations to assist with destigmatizing and working collaboratively with clinicians to enable the best service delivery to clients and significant others who walk through our doors.

Dr Caroline Lambert is a co-convenor and co-founder of FaCRAN (Family and Carer Research Advocacy Network), she is a carer perspective researcher and lecturer at RMIT University, in the school of social work and human services. Caroline is a neurodivergent carer who draws on her own lived and living experiences to engage in participatory, family carer focused research, and to produce work which is rooted in acts of advocacy and resistance.

Yhana Lanwin (LLB, BCom, GAICD, Leading Strategic Change and Growth (Columbia NYC) and Inclusive Leadership Through Behavioural Science (London School of Economics) is an experienced strategy and transformation leader who has worked across high-profile organisational and technology change initiatives throughout the resources sector. A peer-reviewed published author and independent researcher, she has also held senior leadership roles in the mining industry, most recently as Pilbara Mine Operations Chief of Staff for Rio Tinto.​ After seeing the devastating impacts of a lack of inclusive and diverse workplaces within industry and the lack of specialised service providers able to effectively support organisations, Yhana founded Sans Prejudice Solutions to support organisations to build, develop and retain socially representative workforces, recognising that diverse and inclusive workplaces are more innovative, productive and resilient.

Katie works from a lived expertise and social justice perspective, drawing from her own lived experience of mental health and wellbeing challenges and LGBTIQA+ identity. At Mind, Katie leads the delivery of Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy, and provides lived expertise leadership in the development of peer led service models. Katie is a PhD Candidate at Deakin University researching intersectional leadership and decision-making in mainstream mental health services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), Master of Social Work and is a graduate of the National Mental Health Commission, Australian Mental Health Leaders Fellowship.

Sharon has undertaken a broad range of mental health research at Flinders University including in smoking cessation, chronic condition self-management, healthcare workforce, health services research, veteran transition and suicide research, coercive practices, mental health peer workforce, and consumer and family experiences within systems of healthcare. Her research uses a broad range of qualitative and mixed methods, and focuses on examining the culture of service provision, systems of care, implementation, and service users' experiences of care. Sharon is a former lead Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia. Sharon is highly active in mental health lived experience advocacy in Australia and is Chair and Executive Director of Lived Experience Australia, a leading national lived experience advocacy peak organisation. www.flinders.edu.au/people/sharon.lawn

Vincci is a Provisional Psychologist with the University of Adelaide and an Occupational Therapist with SA Health Northern Adelaide Local Health Network. In 2023, Vincci worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and supported consumers’ recovery in individual and group settings across two outpatient clinics. This is her first TheMHS conference.

Gabriel is a Carer Peer Worker within Alfred Health where he offers support to the family, friends and loved ones of people within the service. In this role, he seeks to advocate for the carers that are often unseen or overlooked within their carer role. With lived experience as a young carer trying to navigate healthcare systems, he is interested in the ways identity impact on service delivery and design. Drawing upon his own identity as someone neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+, he seeks to bring greater diversity into the conversation of what it means to be a carer.

Steph has a background in psychology and public health, with extensive experience in mental health and suicide prevention program management, research, system improvement, and service development. Through her role managing the mental health program in the ACT's primary health network, Steph focuses her efforts on person-centred system reform and a community-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing. Steph is committed to combining her lived and learned experience, as well as elevating this expertise in others, to empower transparency, collaboration, and growth within the sector and the broader community.

Kate Lester is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the mental health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector. A staunch advocate for families, carers, and supporters of those living with mental health challenges, Kate has dedicated her career to driving meaningful change within the community. Leveraging they're deep understanding of mental health, AOD, and suicide prevention, Kate has successfully integrated these insights with they're expertise in the business and marketing sector. This unique combination of skills has empowered Kate to not only champion the needs of those affected by mental health challenges but also to effectively communicate and advocate for systemic change across the sector. Kate's passion for advocacy is matched by her commitment to making a tangible impact. Kate's work is driven by a clear purpose: to enhance the lives of individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges by fostering better understanding, support, and services throughout the community.

Uncle Monwell Levi is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man, from St Paul’s Community on Moa Island in the Torres Straits, and currently based in Cairns. Monwell has faced significant adversity, dealing with ADHD, PTSD, and self-harm throughout his life. Growing up in a domestic violence environment, he went on to have his own experiences with domestic violence. Despite homelessness, struggles with substance abuse, gambling, and suicidal thoughts, Uncle Monwell's determination led him towards recovery and self-discovery. He is a wonderful musician, mentor to other Indigenous men on their healing journeys, advocate for anti-gambling programs through organisation “Three Sides of a Coin”, and shares his mental health journey frequently as a National Network member for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre. Importantly he is one of very few Torres Strait Islander voices in the lived experience and suicide prevention space, he shares important learnings on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, including cultural approaches to healing and the strengths and challenges of the mental health system in the Torres Strait Islands. Monwell has just launched a new SEWB mentoring business called "Wah - Clear Mind" to enable him to reach more community people who are going through similar struggles to his own, to help them feel positive control of their minds and their lives.