People

Kellie Gilbert, Peer Researcher (2023). Kellie is a Psychological Science student at La Trobe University and a Lived Experience Advisor for the Black Dog Institute. Kellie is passionate about social justice, in particular workplace diversity and inclusion. (Kellie was also a member of the Advisory Group in 2021–22).

Ian Muchamore, Peer Researcher (2023). Ian Muchamore is a lived experience researcher and advocate working across multiple research and community engagement initiatives in mental health, sexual health and LGBT+ health. Ian has experience in mental health research and peer support and as a community and peer advocate supporting lived experience leadership. Ian is a peer researcher as part of the ARC funded Digital Mental Health Care and the Law project with the University of Melbourne. He also currently works with Australian National University, Deakin University, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford and he has previously worked with worked with Beyond Blue, Neami National, Wellcome, New South Wales Health, Joy Media and Living Positive Victoria. He is also currently supporting the design and evaluation of mental health programs in primary care through the national ALIVE research program where he is Consumer Co-chair of the ALIVE Researcher Collective. He also has experience as a biomedical scientist, a social researcher, a public health teacher, and is a communications and community engagement specialist. Ian was also a member of the Advisory Group in 2021–22.

Timothy Kariotis, Research Assistant (2021), is a research fellow in regulation and design at the Melbourne School of Government. Tim is also a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne School of Computing and Information Systems, where his PhD focuses on information privacy in the design of digital mental health technologies.

Steph Slack, Research Assistant (2021). Steph is a PhD Candidate at Monash University, where she examines issues of responsible AI and data ethics concerning health. Steph has advised top tier law firms on responsible business and oversaw the delivery of disability support services for the New Zealand Government. Steph was a TEDx speaker on men's mental health whose presentation has been viewed over 2 million times.

Andy Allen (he/they) is a mental healthcare professional working within community based organisations responding to the needs of LGBTIQA+ Australians and has also worked in hospital settings in both Australia and the United States. Andy proudly identifies as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community and is passionate about ethical data driven decision making across the healthcare sector. Andy holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Mississippi (Oxford, MS, USA) a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS, USA) and is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Sam Haffar is a provisional Psychologist undertaking a Masters of Clinical Psychology. Sam has worked as a research assistant, and received a Honours in Psychology from the University of Sydney, completing his thesis at the Woolcock institute of medical research clinic.

James Horton is currently Chair, VMIAC (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council), the peak body representing mental health consumers in the state of Victoria (Australia). He is also a member of the Interdisciplinary Clinical Advisory Group informing the Victorian Government Mental Reform Program and has previously sat on the Victorian Mental Health Ministerial Advisory Committee (2020–21), and Mental Health Plan Innovation Reference Group (2016–18).

He has served as a Civil Society Representative on the Federal Government Open Government Forum (2017–22), which oversees its commitments as a signatory to the Open Government Partnership. In this capacity, his engagement focused on commitments related to the ethics, governance and sharing of public sector data.

After a 25 year regional career with multinational technology enterprises, James has gone on to co-found an global aquaculture technology start-up addressing the financing and development of regenerative ocean farming.

Simon Katterl is a lawyer, consultant, researcher and media commentator. He has been advocating for improved mental health and community services by promoting human rights, co-design and consumer leadership across all aspects of service planning, delivery and evaluation.

Piper Knox is a proud Badimaya and Wajarri woman, born and raised on Waddawurrung country (Geelong). Piper is undertaking a Bachelor of Midwifery at Australian Catholic University. Piper has been a representative in Youth Parliament and holds a leadership position with Koorin Gamatji Institute at Richmond Football Club.

Ingrid Ozols AM is an active mental health and suicide prevention life experience advocate and consultant. Ingrid, founding director of Mental Health At Work (mh@work®), one of the first consultancies to commence workplace mental health, suicide prevention management, skills training and strategic initiatives 20+ years ago.

Emily Painter is a former youth peer worker and peer researcher at Orygen with lived experience of life-long mental health issues. She works on an innovative digital mental health platform as well as supporting early intervention psychosis research.

Hayley Purdon has been an advocate for the inclusion of lived experience voices in enhancing suicide prevention for the last 10 years. She is passionate about strengthening the way traditional "experts" in the sector work with those who have "expertise through experience" to promote individual healing and best practice in suicide prevention.