Our Team

I am relatively new to Queensland having been in this role for over four years. My career in mental health is a bit longer, spanning nearly four decades and 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.

At the heart of my journey to QAMH lies a core belief: everyone deserves access to the support they need to thrive. This belief has guided me through diverse experiences in education, disability, and mental health service delivery, spanning over a decade of leadership in these sectors. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with individuals and organisations dedicated to empowering others. These experiences, as well as my postgraduate education within business and applied mental health, have ignited a fierce determination to ensure my work has a positive impact on my community. Both my leadership style and my approach to stakeholder engagement are grounded in the understanding that harnessing the diverse strengths of individuals within a collaborative culture is the key to success. By leveraging my expertise in leadership and Operations, I am committed to driving meaningful change and improving the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health services across Queensland. When I'm not working, you will often find me spending quality time with my husband and lively five-year-old twins, who keep me on my toes and remind me of the importance of finding joy in the little things. And as for ‘me time’, I routinely enjoy (and occasionally compete in) powerlifting — a passion that has certainly taught me a great deal about the power of perseverance and the importance of pushing beyond perceived limitations.

After spending 21 years as a journalist and reporting from more than 50 countries, I decided it was time to return to Queensland to be with family. I’ve also found a new family…. My colleagues at The Queensland Alliance of Mental Health. I’ve covered more than 35 terror attacks, been held at gun point in my home, dodged bullets, and shared a lift with two ISIS Militants. People often ask me, who is the most “famous’’ person I’ve interviewed. The answer is Lionel Messi, Christian Ronaldo or Prince Harry. But I prefer to be asked, who is the most “inspiring’’ person I’ve interviewed. None of them are famous. It’s children who’ve been orphaned by war. Or parents who’ve lost their children to a terror attack in a Primary School. It’s 12-year-old boys who’ve lost their entire family, walking 20 kilometers a day to seek asylum. I’ve battled mental illness for decades. I want to live in a world where people with mental health problems are not presumed to be incompetent or weak. And I want enough funding in community-based programs for EVERY person who needs it. So, if I can combine my passion for mental health, my penchant for challenging politicians, and my media experience…. You have yourself one happy camper! Fun Fact: My favorite number is 27… I dunk my tea bag 27 times, I cleanse my face in 27 circular motions. I also have 27 children… yes, they may be pot plants, but they are mine.

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.

Having worked in the not-for-profit sector for most of my career, I gain great satisfaction from contributing toward building strong and healthy communities. In my role here I get to support our wonderful QAMH Team and Members, to bring people together to drive change and contribute to a strong and innovative Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector. I have deep appreciation for the natural world, with a particular fondness for birds, clouds and floating in water.

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.

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.

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 15 years together. In my down time I like to bake (I’m an amazing cake decorator in my head), work in my garden with my daughter and listen to true crime podcasts and ol’ skool rnb & hip hop.

After graduating with a degree in Media, Communications, and Marketing from QUT in 2014, my journey has involved a vibrant mix of creativity, community engagement, and a personal commitment to ethical practices. After discovering a passion for organising arts and cultural events through my university years, I made the leap of moving to Victoria in 2014 to gain invaluable experience in Melbourne’s thriving arts scene. In 2017, I returned to my roots in Queensland, not only to be closer to my family but to begin a new project - a small-scale hospitality venture rooted in ethical agricultural practices and sustainable production. Alongside my business partner, we nurtured and grew this endeavour until 2019, when we successfully sold our first business. Driven by the desire for a fresh challenge, I decided to transition into the world of corporate communications and events organisation which has led me to the not-for-profit sector. Today as a proud member of the QAMH team, I'm fuelled by the opportunity to organise impactful events and contribute to positive change in the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector. In addition to this, I collaborate closely with the Peak Psychosocial Body as a communications officer. Outside of work hours, you'll often find me immersed in the world of organising LGBTQIA+ cultural events, with a crew of local creatives in the vibrant arts scene of Meanjin! We are always brainstorming and orchestrating events that celebrate diversity and inclusion. To relax, I love a beach day or a hike with my best mate, Tuna the Red Heeler.

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.

I joined QAMH in February 2023, and hold a master’s degree in community development. I spent nearly a decade volunteering and developing grassroots community initiatives in the not-for-profit and social enterprise space while also conducting social policy research and consulting within the Vocational Education and Training sector. I then dove into the NDIS, first as a Local Area Coordinator in Melbourne, and later, leading a team of Psychosocial Recovery Coaches in Brisbane. Happily, this is all now relevant to my role at QAMH, and I am glad to be able to bring my passion, lived and learned experience to my work. 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 in life and – together with my 3 teenage sons - help me to stay balanced. Fun random fact: in 2024, you can catch me on TV in a charity travel show on channel 7!

I have worked in public health for several decades. Most recently I worked for the Cancer Society of New Zealand, a not-for-profit in cancer prevention where challenging the status quo and re-orientating the health sector was my focus. I have a background in disability support services and community services where I further developed an appreciation for a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. I look forward to working with and alongside people of Lived Experience in my role at QAMH. A recent arrival from Ōtepoti/Dunedin with James we hope to establish a family base for our three adult kids to enjoy time in Queensland with us. I love the great outdoors, being in nature, listening to music, sport and gardening as well as quiet time cooking for family and friends. A whakatauki from Aotearoa, He waka eke noa, translates from Te Reo into English ‘we are all in this together’.