Our Team

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.

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!

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.

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. Having only recently joined the team at QAMH I am enjoying the challenge and learning more about the industry. 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 for-purpose sector for most of my career, I am strongly motivated by contributing to building strong and healthy communities. I joined QAMH in May 2022, having previously provided administrative support to a mental health service provider for nearly four years. I am enjoying learning more about the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector and how QAMH works for our members so they can better support their communities here in Queensland. I am a keen gardener, philosophy student and sandwich connoisseur.

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 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.

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.

As a National Lived Experience Leader, who has worked nationally for twenty years, I choose to use parts of my own mental health journey in my work. I do this to help bring about changes and improvements to the Mental Health Sector. I am currently working in a designated Lived Experience role with QAMH as a Lived Experience Peer Project Coordinator working part time on the exciting pilot Peer Mentoring Project. I am passionate about supporting and growing the Peer Workforce and providing choices to peers on their Mental Health and Wellbeing journey’s. In my downtime music brings me great joy.

For more than 25 years I worked in the engineering and management space. In 2020 I experienced my own mental health challenges and from this experience I developed a keen interest in learning more about Mental Health in general. In 2021 I completed my Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work, and this led me to work in the Mental Health sector supporting others. Being able to give back to others is a privilege that I greatly enjoy and now, in my QAMH role I see mentoring and supporting students as a way of ensuring the sustainability of Peer Work in our Mental Health sector. I like to spend my spare time with family and friends and love being outdoors experiencing all things this incredible world has to offer.

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.