Anna is a Research Officer with ACACIA: The ACT Consumer and Carer Mental Health Research Unit in the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University. Anna completed an internship as part of ACACIA's commitment to undertake research in partnership with lived experience consumers and carers. During the internship she developed her skills in academic research within the mental health field, and is now working as a Research Officer with the centre. Anna brings to this role a personal interest in advocacy and a strong foundation of business analysis, project management and change management. Anna has recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Information Studies.

Master of Applied Science (Social Ecology, Org. Dev.), Master of Gestalt Therapy. Bradley is Director, Lived Experience with the Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing in ACT Health Directorate, an independent Mental Health lived experience Consultant, member and past Chair of the Australian Capital Territory Mental Health Consumer Network. Bradley held the role of Deputy Commissioner, Mental Health Commission NSW from 2013 – 2017. Bradley works as a trainer, peer supervisor, group-worker, consultant, lecturer and researcher, all from a lived experience first position. Bradley has a deep and abiding interest in issues affecting people with lived experience of trauma, including people who identify with intellectual disability, mental health challenges and who may suffer because of stigma and discrimination. Bradley maintains a strong commitment to partnerships across mental health, AOD and disability settings that support better outcomes for those with lived/living experience. Bradley has previously worked, over a period of 30 years, as a manager in community services, a counsellor for young men who have survived sexual abuse as children, and he has had significant input into the development of men’s services in the ACT. Bradley has conducted research into reducing seclusion and restraint in acute mental health in the ACT and the utilisation of strengths approaches in acute mental health and community settings in NSW. Bradley’s research into seclusion reduction is considered an exemplar in the field.

A qualified Youth and Social Worker; Christina has been working in the youth sector for 24 years in Canada, Ireland, and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Her experience, knowledge, and passion is working with adolescence who are hard to engage and experiencing multiple challenges. Christina’s lived experiences and through working in residential, government and community-based practice has strengthened her ability in advocacy, youth rights, and practice development.

Ivan Frkovic is the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner and brings substantial policy, academic and patient-centred experience to the role, having worked extensively within the mental health system in Queensland for more than 20 years. With a focus on strengthening partnerships and collaboration, he oversees the delivery and implementation of the state’s strategic plan for Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs, Shifting Minds. Ivan has a strong belief in the power of human connection, is a family man with four grown children, and has a great love of music and culture.

Dr Paul Fung is a psychiatrist and Clinical Director of Uniting Recovery, the mental health services arm of Uniting NSW.ACT. He is Deputy Commissioner with NSW Mental Health Commission and has an interest in population-based approaches to mental wellbeing and the development of a connected community mental health care system. As the Psychiatry Academic Lead at HETI, Paul enjoys training GPs and psychiatry registrars.

Colin Gallagher is a Senior Research Fellow in Social Networks at the Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. His expertise pertains to the application of social network methods to issues of disaster recovery, mental health, and service coordination.

Shirley-Anne is the CEO of Momentum Mental Health. She has a passion for the social determinants of health and supporting vulnerable communities. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland (UQ) and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ).

After several years policing in the Northern Territory, Beth burned-out in 2018 and was diagnosed with PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. They joined MIEACT in 2021 to share their story with the aim of reducing stigma associated with mental illness, to empower others to better manage their own mental health and send a powerful message of hope; learning to manage their experience of Bipolar has enabled Beth to live an authentic and far happier, healthier and more fulfilling life than they could have ever dreamed possible, and for this they are incredibly grateful. Beth is honoured to currently be the Volunteer Engagement & Development Manager at MIEACT, empowering others to safely share their lived experience in an inspiring and impactful way.

Peter is a vastly experienced mental health leader with a proven ability to innovate whilst soundly leading large and complex organisations. His work and personal life has exposed him to many formulative experiences that have helped shape a wise and thoughtful approach to challenges that he confronts. He is strongly influenced by his values of authenticity, open-ness, optimism and respect, and provides leadership that is delegatory, empowering, creative and inspires others. Despite being highly organized and capable of meeting demanding tasks and targets, he conducts himself with an unwavering humanistic perspective that places people at the heart of his decision making. He is well known for his ability to develop others and to lead strongly from behind. His personal attributes of humility, positivity, calmness, analytical mindset and resilience enables him to excel in a changing and uncertain environment. Throughout his 45-year career in mental health spanning both Australia and the United Kingdom, Peter has held various clinical, leadership and executive roles across public and not for profit mental health services. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of Australia’s National Standards for Mental Health Services and has most recently joined TheMHS as Executive Director.

Daisy is an Intentional Peer Support National Trainer, Lived Experience Supervisor and Organisational Lived Experience Consultant with on the ground experience as a peer worker and manager of peer work teams in clinical and community spaces. Daisy is passionate about creating conversations that spark change for both individuals and systems.

Brendan is the General Manager of Primary Care Improvement and he has over 20 years’ experience working in health. His first six years was spent as a clinical social worker advocating for the needs of clients in complex service environments. After undertaking higher degree research studies, Brendan has gone on to lead teams for the Australian and NSW Governments working in health planning, health policy and statewide projects from project commissioning to design to implementation and evaluation. His work has focussed on achieving health gains for priority population groups. He is particularly committed to finding innovative service solutions to long standing issues. Brendan’s focus is about achieving outcomes and working collaboratively to drive an agenda of sustainable change.

Catherine Goodwin is a Psychologist and Mental Health Manager at Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN). Her role focuses on the commissioning of mental health services to ensure equitable access across the region. She also oversees CESPHNs mental health intake and triage service, facilitating access to evidenced based mental health and suicide prevention programs.

Daniel brings experiences supporting family and friends with their mental wellbeing, and challenges with his own mental wellbeing. These include navigating public mental health and NDIS systems as a supporter, and a young person. He is from a migrant family and a part of culturally diverse communities. Daniel has worked within designated lived experience positions for over 5 years, across clinical mental health services, universities, and government, and supporting NGOs. Daniel is passionate about empowering LLE perspectives, and creating structures and systems which do the same.

Oscar is currently a Lived Experience Workforce Development Officer in Peer Projects at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). In the past four years he has been, and continues to be involved in the delivery and development of foundational frameworks, training packages, implementation strategies and support structures for the lived experience workforce in the Victorian AOD Sector. Oscar brings a wealth of knowledge from his own lived experience, professional experience and qualifications in community services and clinical supervision. Being well versed in SHARC’s models, he brings a sound expertise of the key components, values, principles and functions of the lived experience discipline into his practice.

Lisa is an Accredited Mental Health social worker and relationship and sex therapist in private practice in Canberra, who has worked extensively across child and family therapy, disability, sexual health and wellbeing, child protection, mental health, and aged sectors within government and non-government services. Within private practice, Lisa provides therapeutic support for individuals, couples and families within specialisations of relationship counselling; sex therapy; recovery from trauma and abuse; and mental health clinical support; and is a strong ally of the LGBTIQ and TGD communities. Lisa provides clinical supervision for social workers and other allied health professionals, in these practice areas.

Peer Mentor at SANE Australia | Former Senior Peer at NSW Health SWS LHD, TZS Suicide Prevention | Hospitality Executive. With a rich background that bridges the gap between hospitality management and mental health advocacy, Dean currently serves as a Peer Mentor at SANE Australia. He has over 20 years of experience in leadership and support, driving significant change in every role he has undertaken. Previously a Senior Peer with South West Sydney Local Health District, Dean focused on suicide prevention working across two Teams namely Safe Haven and SPOT (Suicide Prevention Outreach Team) and managing one of the largest Peer Work forces in the state. Since joining SANE Australia, Dean has been instrumental in running the Peer Guide Program, an innovative initiative designed to equip participants with essential peer skills and prepare them for employment in mental health support roles. Under his leadership, the program has proudly graduated over 25 individuals, further enriching the community with skilled, compassionate peer supporters. Dedicated to his continued professional development and advocacy, Dean is committed to advancing mental health support and education, ensuring that individuals have access to the care and understanding they need to recover and succeed

Rachel Green has been CEO of SANE since 2021. Rachel is driven by her passion for pursuing big impact, community-focused interventions designed with the lived experiences of individuals and families at the forefront. With a wealth of experience across the mental health, suicide prevention and disability sectors, Rachel has previously held senior roles within the National Mental Health Commission, Black Dog Institute, Independent Community Living Australia and Commonwealth Department of Health and non-executive director roles with Being, the Institute of Analytics Professionals Australia, Sands Australia, Red Nose and the NSW Cycling Women’s Commission.

Amy is a dedicated Principal Project Officer with seven years of experience in the South Australian government, focusing primarily on mental health for the past four years. Passionate about driving system change, she strives to improve outcomes for individuals accessing health services. Known for her ability to tackle complex projects, Amy thrives in dynamic environments, balancing multiple initiatives with enthusiasm and expertise.