Kirsty is currently working as a Senior Family/Carer Consultant, within the Mental Health Program at Monash Health. As a lived experience worker, Kirsty supports several family members who live with mental health challenges. As a graduate with honors from Monash University with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in management, Kirsty continued to successfully complete a Master in Public Policy and Management, and is currently near completion of a Master in Health Professions Education. In her downtime, Kirsty is a longstanding member of the CMHL Governance Committee and in her downtime loves a good audiobook while pottering around in the garden.

Kate Ross is the Program Manager for the PREMISE NHMRC CRE and Senior Research Program Officer at Matilda Centre, where I contribute to strategic partnerships with key funders, including the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and the BHP Foundation. In 2019, I oversaw the establishment of the Matilda Centre and PREMISE Youth Advisory Board aiming to facilitate youth and lived experience leadership and input into research and translation.

As a long-time consumer; Jacinda entered a vocation within the Lived Experience Workforce in late 2017 at a regional Victorian Public Mental Health Service. Observing the challenges of a recovery-oriented shift in clinical practice, Jacinda felt empowered to be an advocate of change, and in the beginning of 2020 set-out to actualise her aspirations of applying her consumer experience in clinical practice. Post achievement of accreditation as an Enrolled Nurse in 2022, Jacinda has transitioned to clinical practice, and continues to passionately advocate for roles which consolidate & recognise the skills of clinicians with consumer experience.

Michelle is the Director of Lived-living Experience at the Queensland Mental Health Commission leading a team of people with Lived Expertise. Michelle has developed her professional career in Lived Experience roles through a variety of designated positions in the community and public mental health and AOD services over more than 30 years beginning as a 'Consumer representative'

Milovan is a Research Fellow at Swinburne's Social Innovation Research Institute and ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society. His work explores the impact of digital media on communication, social connection, and digital inclusion, focusing on digital citizenship, privacy, and AI governance.

Bec oversees marketing, communications, digital, community engagement, education, and training at PANDA. Bec has two young children and has seen firsthand the impact perinatal mental health can have on families. She has over 15 years’ experience working in marketing within the not for profit and public health sectors.

Anna is a meaning maker, storyteller, and creative and critical thinker who thrives on bringing together people and perspectives for collaboration, change, and growth through Lived Experience ways of working.

Emma is a Registered Psychologist and Clinical Services Manager. She began her career working in a drop in centre for street based sex workers in Kings Cross, worked at the NSW Rape Crisis Centre and then led a team at Headspace Penrith for 5 years. She then had a 4 year stint in Out of Home Care including working for an ACCO. Emma is passionate about accessible mental health care and supporting early career professionals. She is an advocate for work/life balance and a keen yogi.

Dr Iyngaranathan Selvaratnam is an Eelam Tamil born in Jaffna. After his parents fled Sri Lanka seeking a safer life, he went on to grow up in tropical Darwin. He subsequently completed his medical training at James Cook University and his GP training across rural, remote and urban settings in the Northern Territory. He has since worked for over 10 years in Aboriginal Community Controlled Primary Healthcare in both the Northern Territory and NSW. He is currently one of the principal GPs at Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service. He also works at the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), working for the past 4 years as both a Bi-Cultural Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Projection Officer and for 1 year as a Trainer with the STARTTS Training Team. He is passionate about delivering training to fellow Tamil community members and services providers regarding Peer Helper Suicide Prevention & Accidental Counselling Skills as well as training on how to provide Trauma Informed and Culturally Safe care. Round ball Football is his other passion, that two of the well-being groups that he runs for both Tamil Men and Children have been based around.

Caitlin is passionate about mental health awareness and empowerment in the community. With an extensive background in nursing and healthcare leadership Caitlin brings change and practice management to the newly implemented peer-led Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect service for family and carers across Gippsland in Victoria.

Gil Sewell is Kaihautū Tikanga | Chief People & Culture Officer at Ember Korowai Takitini, a mental health, addictions and intellectual disabilities NGO in New Zealand. She has over three decades of experience in organisational design and development and was recently recognised by HRD Magazine as one of New Zealand’s top HR leaders in their Hotlist 2024. She co-founded and ran leadership consultancy True North (GB) in the UK and has held chief people office roles at large and complex organisations in New Zealand, in health and in the private sector.

I have a diverse background in education and training, including overseas teaching, human development, and computer training. My postgraduate degrees are in science communication and counselling from Australia. I was working as a bilingual health educator, pursuing a postgraduate in counselling and serving as a leader in my Arabic community.

Shibs is a proud Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji woman based in Naarm. She has worked within the Mental Health Sector for almost 4 years and has worked across a multitude of peer worker and leadership roles in the Lived Experience space. Shibs is currently a Consumer Academic for the Centre for Mental Health Nursing at the University of Melbourne and also works for an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation providing postvention suicide support. Shibs is passionate about upholding and advocating for the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensuring their Social and Emotional Wellbeing supports are acknowleged and honoured.

Jo Sheedy has over 28 years’ experience working from a consumer lived experience perspective in mental health (1997 - 2024). She has built her career in Melbourne’s South East at Monash Health and in the Dandenong and Casey communities. She has worked in many different roles during her time as a lived experience worker: Patient/Staff Consultant, Peer Worker, Project Co-ordinator, Consumer Consultant, Lived Experience Perspective Educator, and most recently as a Senior Consumer Consultant. In addition, Jo has a Degree in Business Management. Her areas of special interest are lived experience training and education, co-production and co-design, consumer workforce development and mental illnesses impact upon families.

Hallie is a Social Worker and part of the telehealth counselling team at Eating Disorders Victoria. She supports both people with eating disorders and their carers/supports as well as co-facilitating psychoeducation and skills courses for carers. Prior to this Hallie spent 25 years working in the performing arts sector as a theatre practitioner performing, writing, directing and teaching.

Aunty Violet Sheridan is a pillar of the community in Canberra and the region. She is a passionate Ngunnawal Elder who shares her cultural knowledge and expertise with the entire community.

Dianna is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Mental Health Research, the Australian National University. She is investigating the development of Recovery Colleges in Australia and how attendance can affect people’s mental health recovery.