Champions

The Champions provide guidance towards the development, implementation, evaluation and activities of the Life in Mind program, and the National communications charter (the Charter).

They represent the diverse needs of the mental health and suicide prevention sectors, government, industry and priority populations. Meet members of the Life in Mind Champion group below.

Amelia Hew, Director of Advocacy, Suicide Prevention Australia

Amelia is the Director of Advocacy at Suicide Prevention Australia, leading national advocacy campaigns, public awareness initiatives and media engagement. With a background in media and public relations, she is passionate about driving systemic change to reduce suicide in Australia.

Bianca Jorgensen, Digital Crisis Supporter, Lifeline

Bianca is committed to reducing mental health stigma and promoting help-seeking. Through suicide prevention research and crisis support work, she values the power of being heard, advocating for inclusive, collaborative approaches to improve accessibility of quality mental healthcare and education.

Bronwen Edwards, CEO, Roses in the Ocean

Bronwen is the Founder and CEO of Roses in the Ocean, a leading national lived experience organisation. Her passion lies in walking alongside others with lived experience of suicide, and advocating for the integration and partnership with people with lived experience of suicide in all aspects of suicide prevention including service design and delivery, peer workforce, strategy and policy development and implementation, and research.

Chris Killick-Moran, Head of the Suicide and Self-harm Monitoring Unit, AIHW

Mr Chris Killick-Moran is the Head of the Suicide and Self-harm Monitoring Unit in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Mr Killick-Moran has more than twenty-five years’ experience in the development of health policy and evidence in both the Commonwealth and ACT governments. His areas of specialisation include suicide prevention policy, mental health policy, alcohol and other drug policy and the use of data and evidence to inform government decision making. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the Australian National University.

Christopher Rainbow, Manager, Digital Communities and Groups, SANE Australia

Christopher has over 15 years' experience working in the mental health sector in both Australia and New Zealand. An experienced and person-centered researcher in the field of mental health and suicide prevention, he has provided leadership in effective communication, collaboration and messaging about suicide. He has also demonstrated expertise in digital service management, peer support and evaluation, leading the development of the Beyond Now safety planning app, interactive video support groups and online peer support forums for SANE and Beyond Blue.

Connie Digolis, CEO, Mental Health Council of Tasmania

With an extensive background in population and preventative health, community sector management, health promotion and policy, Connie is a passionate advocate for the power of collective impact.
Connie believes that with the right approach, investment, and system design, we can create a mental health system that is truly person-centered, integrated and provides a preventive model of care that supports the best mental health outcomes for all.

David Burroughs, Chief Mental Health Officer, Westpac

David has worked as a psychologist across community, military and workplace mental health for over 20 years. His speciality is in the design, implementation and evaluation of strategies and initiatives to support positive workplace mental health and proactively manage mental ill-health. Outside of Westpac, Dave is the founder of Australian Psychological Services supporting the Psychological Health & Safety of multiple organisations here in Australia and abroad. Dave has a passion for evidence-based practice the practical application of psychological research.

Joan Chan, Research Officer, Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)

Joan has been working with Professor Pat Dudgeon at the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) for the past three years. Under Professor Dudgeon's leadership, she supports projects that aim to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) in prisons and provides advice to external organisations (e.g. UNICEF) on the impacts of the Fitzroy Crossing floods on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SEWB.

Mark Leopold, Head of Growth and Innovation, Transitioning Well

With leadership experience across a broad range of companies, Mark understands that effective, visible action on mental health and wellbeing improves organisational performance. He is a collaborative, positive leader and a passionate advocate for better mental health. Mark openly shares his lived experience to help others to achieve their best possible mental health.

Melinda (Mel) Benson, Director Programs Assurance and Workforce Capability, Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling

Mel has extensive experience in the management of mental health and drug and alcohol clinical services including service design and delivery. She is committed to understanding what does and doesn’t work in suicide prevention, applying this evidence in practice, and enhancing the capabilities of workforces, services and communities to improve mental health outcomes and reduce suicide.

Michael Wilson, Research Fellow, Orygen at the University of Melbourne

Michael Wilson is a Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. Since 2018 he has published and presented research both nationally and internationally on men’s mental health and suicide prevention. His research currently focuses on men's mental health and suicide risk in the context of intimate partner relationship breakdown.

Dr Monika Ferguson, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health, University of South Australia

Monika is an experienced mental health and suicide prevention researcher and educator. She works with communities, services, and governments to improve responses to suicide-related distress. Committed to collaboration, she is passionate about using research to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

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Former Champions

Former Champions of the National communications charter (the Charter)