Our Team Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
QAMH is committed to fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusiveness. We are a team that values the cultural backgrounds, different abilities, age, gender and identity of our staff and the people and organisations we serve. We embrace all perspectives, unique skills, experience, ideas, and qualities they contribute to QAMH.
Staff Members
Jennifer Black
Chief Excutive Officer
Jennifer Black
Chief Excutive Officer
I am relatively new to Queensland but not mental health. In fact, I have a career that spans nearly four decades, having worked in all parts of the mental health service system including public, private, NGO and government. I have previously held some key roles in Victoria, including Deputy Mental Health Complaints Commissioner and the Executive Director of Mental Health and Drugs and Alcohol Services for Barwon Health. I initially trained as an Occupational Therapist, which I think prepared me to work within the complexity of the mental health system. I am particularly interested in how organisational culture influences the care that is delivered and I am proud to have spent much of my career working on challenging the status quo to enable better outcomes for people to live their best lives within their communities. I’m a keen traveller so I am looking forward to some new international destinations now that our borders are open.
Sarah Childs
Director – Sector Engagement and Development
Sarah Childs
Director – Sector Engagement and Development
I became an OT by accident in the early 90’s, and I have loved this profession since, due to its versatility and holistic approach. I have practiced in Queensland and in England, in both government and non-government roles, managing teams, projects and services that primarily aimed to introduce better ways of operating and evidence-based practice. I have lead housing, employment, lived experience and clinical and recovery program initiatives that have provided better recovery outcomes for the people who have accessed them. I enjoy using my knowledge of the mental health eco system and sector in my role, connecting with our members and facilitating improvement projects that support the valuable work they do. I would love to say that in my spare time “I enjoy long walks on the beach” … but I don’t!
Emma Griffiths
Director – Advocacy and Communications
Emma Griffiths
Director – Advocacy and Communications
Working at QAMH is a fresh start for me, after more than two decades with the ABC as a journalist, correspondent and broadcaster. Like many of my contemporaries, I covered everything from car crashes to international conflict, and state and federal politics. In my work for QAMH, I draw on that experience to raise our visibility with decision-makers and position us as the foremost mental health peak body in Queensland. In my downtime, I love swimming, watching AFL, listening to podcasts, learning about native fauna and flora, and enjoying life with my two children, two cats and a turtle.
Marie Halloran
Business Manager
Marie Halloran
Business Manager
I have worked in the NFP sector for many years, most recently being the last five years in a Residential College in Brisbane, where my role was not only finance but also operations, overseeing the property, maintenance, and associated staff in those departments. Prior to that I held various financial roles in industries including, Disability Service Provider, Civil Engineering, Corporate Catering, Accounting. Taking on the role of Business Manager at QAMH in June 2022 felt like a natural fit for me. I have also owned a coffee shop, I thought it was a great idea at the time, still love my coffee though. Away from work I enjoy hiking, and spending time with family and my dogs.
Claire Stewart
Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer & Administration Support
Claire Stewart
Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer & Administration Support
I have worked in the not-for-profit sector for most of my career, being strongly motivated to contribute toward building strong and healthy communities. Having joined QAMH in May 2022 I am enjoying learning more about the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector and how we at QAMH best support our Members - so that they can best support their communities. I have deep appreciation for the natural world broadly, with a particular fondness for birds, clouds and food!
Leena Bates
Peer Scholarship Program Coordinator
Leena Bates
Peer Scholarship Program Coordinator
I started delivering community engagement programs in high school in collaboration with local youth services, and twenty-three years later, I still adore connecting community for social impact. It's great to be working with QAMH and developing the lived experience workforce! Proud to share my style and approach to work and life is positively influenced by lived experiences of mental health, trauma and suicide. I've got high-level experience working with people with lived experience of homelessness, mental health and family and domestic violence/abuse, to expand community engagement functions to include best practice program and product design. I’ve worked in community health and well-being organisations, technology for social justice, schools, TAFE & universities, and corporate social responsibility programs. I'm a qualified peer work coach with an obsession for group work. In my spare time you can catch me producing personal development workshops and creative performances. My latest creative venture is Her Songs Our Healing – lived experience storytelling and sharing big feelings through song.
Simon Clough
Psychosocial Peak Coordinator
Simon Clough
Psychosocial Peak Coordinator
I’ve worked for the past 16 years in Queensland across a range of services including, homelessness, disability employment, mental health and harm reduction. I’ve held positions from front line service to management. I’m passionate about lived experience practice, learning to live with my own mental health issues and using these experiences to assist others, advocating for innovation and change with individuals, communities, health services and systems. I’m dedicated to community empowerment, coaching and mentoring. In my spare time I coach Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), supporting athletes at the highest level both nationally and internationally. I also enjoy mountain biking and blacksmithing.
Kristyn Culpepper
Membership, Communications & Design Advisor
Kristyn Culpepper
Membership, Communications & Design Advisor
I discovered a passion for communications and design when studying Journalism at UQ, which has led to a career in Brisbane and Melbourne working within the oil & gas, education, government, and now NFP mental health sectors. I love the creative aspect of my role and being able to combine that with advocating for positive change for Queensland while working with such a great team. I ADORE cats and have two rescues who still have no love for each other after 13 years together. In my spare time I like to bake (I’m an amazing cake decorator in my head), dabble in the garden with my daughter, impulse shop, listen to true crime podcasts and ol’ skool rnb & hip hop, and I am a “Netflix and chill” devotee.
Lisa Greenaway
Project Lead – Brand & Communications
Lisa Greenaway
Project Lead – Brand & Communications
For over 20 years I have worked in the marketing and communications space in the pharmaceutical industry, government and more recently in the not-for-profit sector. Since having children it has made me more aware about the importance of community. It feels good to give back to others and contribute towards positive change in the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing sector. My most recent projects include the QAMH brand refresh and new website. In my spare time I enjoy hiking and camping with family and friends. I also love dogs and have a young, crazy, energetic Border Collie, so our days start with a 5am walk/run.
Sally McLeod
Senior Policy Advisor and Workforce Project Manager
Sally McLeod
Senior Policy Advisor and Workforce Project Manager
I joined QAMH in October 2021 as a Project and Policy Officer. Prior to this, I worked as a GP for almost a decade where I became passionate about equity in health and ensuring that the system looks after society’s most vulnerable. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (History, English Literature) from the University of Southern Queensland and a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery from the University Queensland. Away from work, I am busy with my three sons, camping and scaling the Scenic Rim’s numerous mountains.
Farina Murray
Project and Policy Officer
Farina Murray
Project and Policy Officer
Before joining QAMH in February 2023 as a Project and Policy Officer, I had a seemingly random career: I spent nearly a decade in research and social policy consulting for the Vocational Education and Training sector, then dove into the NDIS space, firstly as a Local Area Coordinator in Melbourne where I found my passion for working alongside people living with psychosocial disability, and later, leading a team of psychosocial recovery coaches here in Brisbane. I also hold a master’s degree in community development. Happily, this experience has all come together in my role here at QAMH, and I am grateful to be able to bring my passion, lived and learned experience to this role. In my spare time, I really do have far too many hobbies… Latin dancing, sailing, yoga and getting out and about in nature all feature heavily on weekends and – together with my 3 teenage sons - help me to keep my cup full.
Caroline Robertson
Project and Policy Officer
Caroline Robertson
Project and Policy Officer
Prior to starting at QAMH I have held diverse roles across multiple sectors. I have extensive background in exercise physiology which in combination with my lived experience has made me passionate about people’s physical and mental health. I have undertaken research on the topic of physical activity and mental health, especially in rural areas, and have worked in the area of policy and advocacy for helping people with mental illness become more active. I am always looking for ways to help people become more engaged with moving more and have big plans for the QAMH office! In my spare time I can be found at a swimming pool, on a track bike or most often, at home on the sofa with my husband and two dogs.
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Board Members
Cathy O’Toole
Chair of Board (Skill-Based Director)
Cathy O’Toole
Chair of Board (Skill-Based Director)
I have extensive experience in the mental health community sector at national, state, and local levels. As a former Member of the Federal Parliament, I was actively engaged in navigating social and economic policy, driving strategic direction, and serving on various committees. I have held the position of CEO in the Community Managed Mental Health Sector for 15 years and I have been a small business owner for 30 years. I am currently the lead consultant with Mentally Healthy City Townsville, which is auspiced by the Tropical Brain and Mind Foundation. I am also serving on a number community boards on a voluntary basis: Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), Carers Australia (CA), Glasser Australia (GA), and Unify Intercultural Australia. I hold several tertiary qualifications.
Melanie Sennett
Deputy Chair (Elected Director)
Melanie Sennett
Deputy Chair (Elected Director)
I am currently the CEO of Stepping Stone Clubhouse. I have been with Stepping Stone since 1996 and am passionate about engagement of people with mental health issues in service delivery. I have an interest in system reform and ensuring change at a systemic level. I’m a registered psychologist and have a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours) in Psychology. Through involvement in Clubhouse International, I have conducted accreditation visits to Clubhouses predominately in the USA and Asia. In addition, as Stepping Stone is an International Training base, I have provided Clubhouse training to Clubhouses from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, USA, UK and Europe. Being connected to an international movement allows for a thorough understanding of global mental health trends.
Karen Thomas
Deputy Chair (NFP Elected Director)
Karen Thomas
Deputy Chair (NFP Elected Director)
I have over 22 years of experience within the community sector, predominately in leadership roles in Mental Health Community Service Organisations; throughout Tasmania, Victoria and for the past 14 years across Queensland. I believe that responsible sector leadership is based on creating robust, supportive, respectful and trusted working relationships. As an advocate I engage with diverse sectors and all stakeholders to actively work on developing partnerships that will improve outcomes for individuals and the community. I appreciate the collegiality across organisations, and the learning and sharing that ensues when working together on an issue of mutual concern. With the implementation of several state and federal reforms, I believe more than ever there will be a need for the sector to work collaboratively. My adaptive and transformational leadership style helps when working with uncertainty and ambiguity so we can discover new ways forward, particularly during the current environment of change and reform. I’m committed to supporting the ongoing work of the QAMH across the mental health sector in Queensland, not only in navigating these new reforms but in thriving in the new environment.
Jeremy Audas
Elected Director
Jeremy Audas
Elected Director
Having previously served on the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Board several years ago I feel very privileged to be a member of the current board. I have worked in human and community services in North Queensland for over 35 years and have gained an appreciation of the importance of high-quality community based services in addressing the needs of people who find themselves in challenging circumstances. Of particular interest is how services can be effectively delivered in regional and rural Queensland and how we can move from an illness focussed approach to a wellbeing approach. In addition, I support strong collective advocacy in shifting perceptions of mental illness so that we can develop a more contemporary and person-centred service system. Currently employed by Richmond Fellowship Queensland I am also president of Townsville Community Law, chair of the board for the Townsville Intercultural Centre, and Independent Chair of the Townsville headspace Consortium. Engendering good governance and enhancing community engagement are crucial to the success of our community service system.
Michelle Cowan
Skills-Based Director
Michelle Cowan
Skills-Based Director
I have over 25 years of experience in private sector management, focussing on customer service, employee advancement and market development prior to moving into law in 2014, where I now practice in employment and workplace related matters. Throughout my working life, I have witnessed the effects of poor understanding of legal frameworks and understand how organisations can be held back from reaching their potential because they didn’t get professional assistance in developing good and legally compliant operational standards. I currently work closely with owners and management of NFP, charity and private sector employers to assist them to form, implement and maintain employment standards that help them to meet the needs and obligations of their business today and to grow into the future. I have a particular interest in workplace bullying and harassment, sexual harassment and the effects those issues have on organisation sustainability and growth. I also volunteer with a community legal service to assist people who cannot otherwise access legal support.
Anthony Doidge
Skills-Based Director
Anthony Doidge
Skills-Based Director
I am pleased to be a First Nations representative of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health and to work within such a dynamic and diverse environment. I am a current and long term educator both in a private and government setting with previous experience in the Not for Profit sector, in particular the disability sector, child safety, law enforcement and justice. My current role is as the Indigenous Education Coordinator at John Paul College. In addition to teaching, I provide administrative and pastoral care for a number of local, rural and remote First Nations students. I have over thirty years of experience in community service in the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland and a vested interest in mental health issues. I am a qualified Instructor in delivering Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid courses and I look forward to contributing to the advancement and success of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.
Chris Skelton
Chair of Finance (Skills-Based Director)
Chris Skelton
Chair of Finance (Skills-Based Director)
I have over 37 years of experience in professional services encompassing the provision of advisory, accounting and audit services to a diverse range of industries covering private business and public companies. In my 25 years of experience as an Audit Partner at major accounting firm BDO, I have assisted in the improvement of a wide variety of financial reporting and governance systems. I work closely with directors and management to help in their understanding of financial reporting information and enjoys unlocking the myths associated with accounting and making the numbers understandable and useful. I have undergraduate qualifications in Business, in addition to an array of roles and memberships outside of my daily practice as Director of NFP Accountants Pty Ltd, including, but not limited to, Fellowships with Governance Institute of Australia, Queensland and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Kris Sargeant (she/they)
Elected Director
Kris Sargeant (she/they)
Elected Director
I am currently Director Mental Health, Retirement and Community Services with Wesley Mission QLD (WMQ). I have been with WMQ since 2015. I have over 30 years’ experience working primarily in NFP Mental Health organisations in New South Wales and Queensland. I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and working in partnership with individuals, governments, organisations, and communities to ensure that services are designed and delivered in a way that is both meaningful and effective, meeting the unique needs of individuals and communities when and where they are required. I am a champion for authentic and diverse leadership and have dedicated my career to helping organisations to foster compassionate, safe, diverse, and inclusive cultures. Having extensive experience in working with funding systems and structures, I recognise the significance of peer-led design, diverse voices, and empowering individuals and communities to determine their mental health support needs. I advocate for inclusive approaches that prioritize the involvement and agency of those who are directly impacted by the decisions made. I continue to work to make a significant impact in the field of mental health and community services, driving positive change and empowering individuals and communities to thrive. I am currently a member of the Queensland LGBTIQ+ Roundtable administered by the Department of Communities.