Dr Alan Woodward has worked in mental health, crisis support and suicide prevention for more than 20 years.

He is an expert on crisis lines and community crisis support services. He established the Lifeline Research Foundation. His personal research interests have been on the experiences of those who call crisis lines.
Dr Woodward is an advocate for policy development for suicide prevention. He is the Policy Director for Lifeline International. He is the Chair of the Advisory Board to the Australian National Suicide Prevention Office. He served as a Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission and as an elected Board Director with Suicide Prevention Australia.

Dr Woodward holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, a Masters Degree in Social Science and Policy (UNSW), a Business Degree in Public Administration (CSU) and a Diploma in Arts/Communication. He is a Fellow of the Australian Evaluation Society. In 2022 he received the National Mental Health Prize and in 2021 received a LIFE Award for Leadership in Suicide Prevention.

Dr. Fredrik Lindencrona is a leading mental health policy & strategy expert with extensive regional, national and international experience. Fredrik has built and led the portfolio of strategic improvement, innovation and cross-sector partnership within the Swedish national mental health policy transformation program, Mission Mental Health since 2009.

He led the development of the new strategy for the promotion of mental health and well-being for Region Stockholm and has supported several other regions and municipalities to develop strategically with a focus on well-being. In all these endeavors, he has explored the possibilities of new innovative solutions including digital technology. Fredrik represents Sweden in IIMHL’s Sponsoring Countries Leadership Group and was the chairman of the group in 2017-2019.

He is actively engaged in many international networks in Europe and Globally and is regularly invited as expert to international organizations such as WHO and OECD.

“We are nowhere near what e-mental health could possibly be! My ambition is for eMHIC to become a place where we collectively rethink e-mental health in the context of population wellbeing”

Charles G. Curie is the principal and founder of The Curie Group, LLC, a management and consulting firm specializing in working with national and international leaders in public and private healthcare, particularly Mental Health (MH) services and substance use (SU) treatment and prevention arenas, to facilitate the transformation of services and to attain increasingly positive outcomes in the lives of people worldwide. Curie has over 40 years of professional experience in the MH and SU services and fields.

Curie holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Huntington University. He was appointed to the 2020 Behavioural Health Integration Task Force of the Bipartisan Policy Center, Washington, DC and serves on a number of corporate and non-profit boards.

In 2001, Curie was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to head the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Prior to his confirmation as SAMHSA Administrator, Curie was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge as Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (*OMHSAS) for the Dept. of Public Welfare in Pennsylvania. During his tenure he established a policy to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint practices in the state hospital system. This program won the 2000 Innovations in American Government Award.

Aida Ailarova is the Regional Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist at the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), based in Geneva, Switzerland. She is also the ECARO focal point for the uSupport Digital Mental Health Solution for Adolescents and Youth. Aida has over 23 years of experience with UNICEF, leading programs on Youth and Adolescent Development, Psychosocial Recovery, Mine Action, Disability, Sport for Development, and HIV. In her previous roles, Aida led upstream work on youth development and participation in the North Caucasus and Azerbaijan, focusing on policy and system reforms.

Her extensive experience includes managing a multifaceted Psychosocial Recovery program in Chechnya, overseeing the Psychosocial Response to the Beslan School Siege Crisis, and acting as the focal point for ‘Children and Women of South Ossetia.’ She also played a key role in Early Action Preparedness for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and youth mobilization for the ECARO Response to the Ukraine crisis.

Before joining UNICEF, Aida served as Head of Studies and Dean of Faculty at a private university in Russia. She holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature, with a concentration in Contemporary History, Political Science, and Philosophy from North Ossetian State University, Russia. Aida is fluent in English, Russian, and Ossetian.

Dr Becky Inkster has spent over 20 years in academia running multi-million-pound projects across a wide range of topics including neuroscience, mental health, and data science. She obtained her DPhil in Psychiatry at Oxford University and is currently affiliated with Cambridge University.

Becky has sat on the International Advisory Board for Lancet Digital Health for over 5 years. She has worked with The Alan Turing Institute (the UK’s National Hub for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science) across many of their programmes. She has further broadened her skills through self-employment and has since worked with numerous international universities, over 100 companies, and different governments. She is an Adviser to Wysa, a conversational AI system for supporting mental health and wellbeing.

She is writing a commissioned book by Nature Springer on “The Ethics of Global Digital Mental Health” and is a Co-Chair of the IEEE SA Ethical Assurance of Data-Driven Technologies for Mental Healthcare Program. Furthermore, music, art, and serving society, particularly disadvantaged groups, is also very important in her work. For example, she is a co-founder of Hip Hop Psych with over 10 years’ experience merging hip-hop music and culture with healthcare, including a recently published book entitled “Money, Mental Health, Hip-Hop” that emphasises the importance of understanding cultural contexts.

She is the Head of Science at Arts ARKADE, a new space in London, UK, dedicated to supporting youth in forward thinking ways.

Dena Trujillo, CEO at Crisis Text Line, has spent over 20 years operating at the intersection of nonprofit and for-profit, discovering and amplifying models that scale innovative solutions and maximize social impact. Prior to Crisis Text Line, Dena was a Venture Partner at Omidyar Network, where she spent 17 years driving philanthropic initiatives around the world and managing a grant/investment portfolio of over $150 million.

Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in English and Spanish. Guided by empathy and innovation, Crisis Text Line endeavors to build an empathetic world where nobody feels alone.

Judy Kuriansky, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned clinical psychologist, professor, author, and humanitarian. As a Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University Teachers College, she lectures globally and has extensive clinical experience with couples, families, and children. At the United Nations, she serves as an Advisor to the Mission of Sierra Leone, NGO Representative for the International Association of Applied Psychology, and co-founded the UN Group of Friends of Mental Health and Wellbeing. She has led successful campaigns to include mental health in the UN Agenda 2030 and supported the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.

Dr. Kuriansky has conducted psychosocial training and resilience workshops worldwide, including in disaster-stricken regions such as Haiti, Japan, and Ukraine. She co-founded Global Kids Connect and has advocated for mental health, women’s rights, and youth empowerment, notably through the Girl’s Empowerment Camp in Africa. As a board member of the United African Congress, she co-founded the “Health in Your Hands” platform, now part of the Health Innovation and Investment Exchange (HIEx).

A member of the Global Leadership Council of eMHIC and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, she co-wrote the first policy on mental health and climate change for the American Public Health Association. An award-winning journalist, Dr. Kuriansky has hosted top-rated radio shows and written extensively on global issues, with her latest book, “Resilient Health,” providing a comprehensive overview of healthcare transformation during COVID-19, including contributions from Dr. Anil Thapliyal about the eMHIC.

Vikas serves as a Digital Mental Health Specialist for uSupport, a digital platform designed and developed by UNICEF’s Europe & Central Asia Regional Office.

Vikas has extensive experience in developing and implementing innovative solutions across the globe. As principal architect for MHAGIC/Mastercare, he led the creation of one of the world’s most comprehensive clinical mental health electronic medical records (EMR). He also spearheaded innovative projects at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Monash University. His work with the Ministry of Health in Malaysia included the successful implementation of a national mental health community-based EMR.

As the CEO of Mentegram, Vikas has driven the development of a patient engagement solution that won the AIIA state award in 2023. He is also the CTO for Evermind Inc. (a NASA spin-off), where he developed an electronic problem-solving treatment (PST) solution for depression and anxiety.

Vikas’s current research focuses on harnessing artificial intelligence to create scalable, traceable, and reliable solutions for delivering CBT/PST online. His work with UNICEF uSupport has been recognised with awards such as the AIIA Australian National iAward 2023 for innovation.

With a focus on strategy, Vikas continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in digital mental health.

Learn more and connect with Vikas at https://hashcode.com.au/vikas.html

As a researcher and founder of Ainome, Taryn is dedicated to bridging the mental health care accessibility gap through innovative artificial intelligence technologies. Since its inception in September 2022, Ainome has focused on utilizing AI to predict mental wellness outcomes, particularly for remote and underserved communities. With a passion for expanding mental health accessibility, Taryn has successfully led Ainome to gain significant traction in this crucial field.

In previous clinical counselling roles, Taryn developed culturally sensitive treatment methodologies and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to meet the diverse needs of clients, including First Nations communities in Yukon. As a Mental Health Counselor at Assure Psychology and Evolution Psychology, she led intervention strategies, utilized harm recovery models, and improved client outcomes through innovative case management and data-driven approaches.

With a rich background in mental health counselling, technology-driven solutions, and community advocacy, Taryn continues to make a significant impact in both the mental health sector and broader community initiatives.

Dr Ken Carswell has a background in clinical psychology and is a Mental Health Specialist with the WHO Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use in Geneva. He is the departmental focal point for innovation, digital mental health and scalable psychological interventions.

He has been centrally involved in the development, testing, and implementation of WHO scalable psychological interventions for populations affected by adversity. These include Self-Help Plus, a multi-media stress management course and Step-by-Step, an online self-help intervention for depression, which is available as a free service across Lebanon. Most recently he has led the development of a guided self-help chatbot for adolescent and youth called STARS, which is currently being tested in randomised controlled trials in Jordan and Lithuania.

Ken can be reached at: carswellk@who.int

Fennie Wiepkema, Founder and General Manager of Thubble, is a visionary leader in value-driven mental health care with a background as a psychologist. Her journey began in the UK, where she gained extensive experience with digital solutions in the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) program while serving as Director for an eHealth platform. This experience laid the foundation for her innovative approach to mental health care.

Upon returning to the Netherlands, Fennie founded Thubble in 2019 under the Dimence Groep, where she developed an on-demand treatment model that combines frequent, supportive contact with smart digital tools. This model empowers individuals to actively manage their mental health in their own environment, integrating care into daily life and building lasting confidence. The initial results after four years of implementation speak to the potential of this approach to ensure the sustainability of mental health services: Thubble has doubled treatment capacity, while maintaining high-quality care through a fully remote workforce.

Fennie envisions a future where other mental health organisations can implement proven, effective value-based treatment elements. Through strong, trust-based partnerships, she is working to scale and test this model across the Netherlands, collectively improving access to care, enhancing treatment quality, and ensuring sustainable outcomes.

(Ngāpuhi Ngāti Hine)

Glynis joined Whakarongorau Aotearoa as Chief Operating Officer in June 2022. In that role she had overseen all of Whakarongorau Aotearoa’s operations, for the 30+ free to the public health, mental health, family violence, and sexual harm telehealth services across digital channels.

After a period as Acting Whakarongorau CEO, she was appointed CEO in April 2023.

Glynis had experience with large, complex, and dynamic organisations such as Auckland Council, and Westpac, and Oranga Tamariki – where she was Deputy Chief Executive, Services for Children and Families, before joining Whakarongorau.

Glynis has an extensive track record across private and public sectors leading and engaging in strategic partnerships, business development, and large transformation programmes. Her passion is to foster a team environment, inspire people, and drive positive organisational outcomes for those we are here to support, in particular the most vulnerable – giving everyone in Aotearoa the opportunity for wellness.

Dr. Ben Locke is a licensed psychologist and the Chief Clinical Officer for Togetherall, a clinically moderated peer support platform available to millions of people globally where he oversees an international team of clinical staff who provide 24/7/365 moderation and safeguarding.

Ben has worked in the mental health field since 1995 in a wide variety of settings including wilderness therapy, psychiatric hospitals, group homes, community mental health, and more than 20 years in college/university counseling centers with a focus on administration, operations, and research.

Prior to joining Togetherall, Ben served as the Senior Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State University where he oversaw mental health services across 25 campuses; was the founder and the Executive Director of the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, from 2004 to 2021, representing more than 800 colleges and universities; and served as an affiliate faculty member in Counseling and Clinical Psychology departments at Penn State University.

Dr. Locke presents and consults widely about mental health, the intersection of mental health/technology, and has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles in the field.

Dr. Zeinab Hijazi is a clinical psychologist, and Global Mental Health Lead at UNICEF. Zeinab has over 18 years of experience supporting mental health and psychosocial programs globally and currently plays a global role supporting across UNICEF’s 7 regions of operation.

She provides program guidance and technical support across sectors and divisions to enhance UNICEF’s multi-sectoral approach to the provision of mental health & psychosocial support for children and families in humanitarian and development settings, this includes policy, data, research, innovations & advocacy work at UNICEF headquarters, and supporting coordination across sectors of health, education, and child protection to aid UNICEF country teams and partners in designing and implementing locally relevant, comprehensive and sustainable MHPSS strategies.

Alex Savard is a Manager at Deloitte Canada specializing in healthcare transformation through innovative technology solutions. With nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Alex has served in various capacities including direct clinical experience, biopharmaceutical sales, public health, patient support programs, and health technology. His expertise lies in implementing and improving technology and surrounding care delivery models.

At Deloitte, he co-leads the Clinical Community of Practice and the Gen AI Community of Practice in Canada, enhancing healthcare and technology expertise across a multitude of projects. Alex is dedicated to harnessing the power of digital health technologies to enhance the accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of mental health services. His work focuses on breaking down barriers, reducing stigma, and providing personalized, data-driven care that supports equitable mental health accessibility. He is passionate about collaborating to shape a new digital mental health ecosystem that ensures no compromises in mental healthcare delivery.

Jahel Ménard-Lavigne has been working in Quebec’s health and social services network since 2010. Now, she works as Clinical-Administrator Coordinator for external services in the mental health and addiction department of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais.

Formerly a mental health social worker with adults, her expertise in population-based mental health needs and her extensive knowledge of the services offered to the population of the Outaouais region allowed her to conceptualize the Dcliq project.

This project, now a fully implemented service, consists of a digital platform bringing together in the same environment all the actors supporting the user in his or her recovery by integrating the user at the heart of his or her treatment. An environment dedicated to the entire mental health treatment continuum that promotes seamless, fair and equitable access to care.

Chuck is an impassioned leader, committed life-long learner and national mental health champion. A senior executive with deep knowledge of finance, operations and corporate governance, Chuck’s proudest professional achievement is his appointment as the inaugural CEO of Provident10.

In this capacity, Chuck oversees an $11B fund as the administrator of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Public Service Pension Plan. With over 57,000 of his community members entrusting him to manage their financial futures and safeguard their retirements, Chuck holds himself to the highest ethical standards.

With over 30 years of financial services under his belt, including designations as Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), Chartered Director (C. Dir) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chuck has recently undertaken the personal ambition of pursuing a post graduate degree in business law (LLM), further deepening and broadening his professional worldview.

Chuck believes that a successful company is a psychologically healthy one, a perspective that has been cemented through his tenure as Board Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. In this role, Chuck has a front row seat to some of the most exciting research and innovations in the mental health space, and has become an advocate for workplace mental health and suicide prevention.

Chuck’s other affiliations include:

• Association of Canadian Pension Management Board of Directors (Vice Chair)
• Canadian Coalition of Good Governance Board of Directors
• Canadian Public Sector Leadership Council Board of Directors
• Canadian Mental Health Association Pension Plan Board of Trustees

Professor Anil Thapliyal trained as Family Therapist in NZ and is widely respected by his peers for his long-standing unwavering commitment to create a responsive digital mental health ecosystem to ensure timely access to care, support and treatment at the time and place of service users choosing. He believes that “we must focus on the service user, their families, and carers. If the digital mental health solutions do not work for them, then they do not work at all”.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC), which is now widely regarded as the world’s leading Think Tank, and the global peak body, in the niche digital mental health domain for promoting international collaboration as a key method to efficiently develop and implement safe and effective scalable Digital Mental health solutions in sustainable ways. He works closely with the governments of the USA, Canada, Australia, England, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines and global peak bodies such as UNICEF, WHO, UN, APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health and World Federation of Public Health Associations.

In recognition of his expertise in the eMental Health domain he was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand in 2014. His work has received several national and international awards in areas as diverse as Innovation, Social Responsibility and Ethics & Compliance for his services to the digital mental health domain development globally. including one from Rt Honorable Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

He served as an advisor to the special committees at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in New Zealand on Mental Health and Data and Digital. He has been a key advisor to the eMental Health Section at the World Psychiatric Association and UNICEF. In 2020 he was appointed a Leadership Fellow at St George’s House, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, UK. He is also the proud father of three grown up boys and an avid scuba diver.

Shada is a post-secondary student pursuing a combined degree in Political Science and Social Studies Education at the University of Lethbridge. With a profound passion for advocacy and social justice, Shada has made significant contributions as the Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator for a student organization at her university, where she co-organized the 2023 and 2024 Student Advocacy Conferences, prioritizing student-led initiatives.

Shada’s dedication to mental health advocacy is exemplified through her work with Kickstand, an Integrated Youth Services organization in Alberta. As a Youth Action Committee member, she played a pivotal role in shaping Kickstand’s approach to youth mental health, including the development of the More Good Days positive texts initiative and the creation of the We Care 2! peer support podcast, which elevates the voices and concerns of young people.

Currently, Shada channels her advocacy efforts as a Youth Council Member with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, where she draws on her lived experiences to engage in meaningful conversations and collaborate with passionate mental health advocates across the country.

Growing up, mental health wasn’t a term Laetitia Satam (she/her) discussed in her community. Determined to change the status quo, she began advocating for youth mental health when she was just 12 years old by volunteering with Kids Help Phone (KHP).

Today, she serves as Co-Chair of KHP’s National Youth Council, sits on KHPs Board of Directors and is a member of the Campaign Cabinet. Laetitia is currently a third year Nutrition student at the University of Alberta, where is passionate about exploring the links between culture, diet, and mental wellbeing.

James Ehiagwina is a dedicated nursing student at York University, where he actively engages with various student groups to foster a strong sense of community on campus. Currently, he holds the position of president for the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA) York University chapter, where he works eagerly to promote diversity and inclusion in the nursing field. In addition to his role with CBNA-YorkU. James also dedicates his time to working part-time as a Student Success peer mentor for the Black Excellence at York University team (BE YU), where he provides guidance and support to his peers. He is also currently a student senator for the faculty of health on York University senate committee.

Beyond his academic pursuits and campus involvement, James remains deeply committed to making a positive impact in his community, particularly in the realm of mental health and wellness. He is currently a member of the National Youth Council for Kids Help Phone. As an advocate for mental health awareness, James utilizes this platform to raise awareness and support for youth struggling with mental health issues. In his leisure time, James enjoys partaking in activities such as playing frisbee with friends and indulging in his love for movies. He is eager to leverage his skills, knowledge, and compassion to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those he serves.

Em (they/them, she/her) is a queer parent, mental health advocate, and policy consultant from the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Their work focuses on supporting equity-seeking groups, people who have experienced trauma, and those facing systemic barriers to accessing quality care.

Em currently works in peer support service design and delivery in the non-profit and mental health sectors, supporting mental health and wellbeing of older adults and members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Em co-chair’s the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Youth Council, and is a member of the Patient Voice Advisory with the Canadian Medical Association.

Camiley Legerme serves as the Bilingual Outreach Coordinator for Good2Talk, where she has successfully engaged thousands of staff and students across Ontario, advancing the organization’s mental health initiatives.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Intercultural Relations from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she also played a key role in student engagement by organizing events aimed at empowering and supporting students.

Driven by a passion for diversity and equity, Camiley is dedicated to integrating these principles with mental health advocacy, striving to create inclusive and supportive environments.

Dr. Elisabeth Steindl is a distinguished legal scholar from the University of Vienna with a rich academic background in law and the humanities. Her research primarily focuses on technology regulation, data protection, and privacy, with a special emphasis on the regulation of emerging technologies, particularly AI and AI-driven disruptive innovations. Her specific focus on neurotechnology and emotion AI has led her to delve into the regulation of digital technologies for mental health between the priorities of regulation and innovation.

Her research adopts a global comparative perspective, examining cross-jurisdictional issues to address the legal and ethical challenges posed by e-mental health applications. Dr. Steindl’s pioneering scholarship in this area is gaining international recognition. Key publications relevant to e-mental health include:

• Steindl, E. (2023). Safeguarding privacy and efficacy in e-mental health: Policy options in the EU and Australia. International Data Privacy Law, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/idpl/ipad009
• Steindl, E. (2024). Consumer neuro devices within EU product safety law: Are we prepared for big tech ante portas? Computer Law and Security Review, 52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2024.105945
  

Dr. Steindl is an active member of the Competency Group Public Mental Health within the Austrian Society for Public Health (ÖGPH) and the IEEE IC Program on Ethical Assurance of Data-Driven Technologies for Mental Healthcare.

Anita has transformed her lived and living experience into a career in mental health and substance use advocacy, engagement, research and education. Anita co-chairs the Hallway Group, lived and living experience council, through the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). She participates in MHCC panels. projects and committees, including the E-Mental Health Strategy Advisory.

Anita works as a Lived Experience Strategic Advisor at British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) where she is involved in meaningfully engaging people with lived and living experience and their voices within the organization. In 2024, Anita was appointed to the inaugural international Lived Experience Council through the Global Leadership Exchange Through her personal and professional experiences, Anita has found passion and purpose.

Chris Boyd-Skinner is Director of Clinical Governance at the Australian Digital Health Agency. He is a practicing registered nurse with over 15 years clinical experience in neuro and trauma intensive care. His current work at the Agency focuses on stewarding the Agency’s Clinical Governance Framework and leading national and international clinical governance in digital health initiatives.

Chris is a consultant to the World Health Organization’s Quality of Care and Patient Safety Office in Athens, Greece and a founding member of the Ethical Assurance of Data-Driven Technologies for Mental Healthcare sub-committee hosted by the IEEE Standards Association and the Alan Turing Institute, London.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Nursing from ACU, post-graduate qualifications in Intensive Care Nursing from the UTAS, a dual Master of International Public Health and Health Management from UNSW and was the recipient of a distinguished Winston Churchill Trust Fellowship in 2022.

His other interests include international public health, mental health policy and legislation, safe and responsible use of AI and patient safety in the delivery of health technologies and digital therapeutics.
Chris has previously led national digital health transformation projects for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care including implementation of the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.

Maureen Abbott is a Masters-educated Manager and Certified Health Executive (Canadian College of Health Leaders) with the Innovation team at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). Her work focusses on e-mental health, including the standardization of e-mental health apps in Canada, e-mental health implementation, an e-mental health strategy for Canada, strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange.

Maureen is the Chair of the MHCC’s E-Mental Health Collaborative. Maureen has extensive experience with the not-for-profit health sector and has a background in standards and accreditation. Maureen led the development of national and international networks and is experienced with operations, strategic planning, and quality improvement. Maureen is a Chief Executive member with Digital Health Canada.

Taimi Allan was appointed Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia after serving as Tumu Whakarae (Director) of Ember Innovations (Aotearoa New Zealand), an organisation dedicated to implementing entrepreneurial solutions to mental health system gaps. She has also served on Te Hiringa Mahara (The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission of Aotearoa New Zealand), the national Suicide Mortality Review Committee and many other strategic systems change spaces.

Taimi brings a lived experience voice to service improvement, policy development, and suicide prevention. In all of her roles, she uses her personal experience of mental distress, addiction, service use and recovery coupled with a practical understanding of designing and delivering innovative solutions, to support, implement and advocate for holistic, positive and impactful change both within and external to the sector.

Taimi is passionate about improving wellbeing through a combination of face-to-face connection, technology and creativity. Some of her previous roles, projects and collaborations include leading the oldest continuously running mental health consumer advocacy organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand, implementing the world’s first national peer-supported holistic, online and fully accessible wellbeing sessions, co-designing an award-winning bicultural and fully accessible lived experience leadership programme, producing a virtual reality power of contact empathy-building interactive film platform, and creating a global arts, comedy and theatre festival.

She was honoured by the Australasian Mental Health Outcomes and Information Conference with Mental Health’s “Emerging Leader” award in 2019 and was a 2021 Local Hero Medallist in Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year Awards.

With a Masters in Social Work, Niki has spent her career working in the health sector both at the community and government level. As provincial director for mental health and addictions, Niki is responsible for the implementation of Towards Recovery: A Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador and the oversight of the 54 recommendations, nine teams, twenty-three working groups, two councils, and over 250 individuals who are contributing to system transformation.

Since joining the Department of Health and Community Services, in 2010, Niki has led the provincial management of several initiatives under the umbrella of e-mental health and virtual care. She brings both clinical and policy expertise to her work and recently co-led an e-mental health demonstration project with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Niki’s team recently were the recipient of the Public Service Award of Excellence for their contribution to the Towards Recovery Action Plan and system transformation.

Dr Fiona Pienaar was the founding Chief Clinical Officer for Mental Health Innovations / Shout and is currently the Senior Clinical Advisor responsible for ensuring the organisation is abreast of global and national mental health trends, research and developments. Fiona is also a Senior Clinical Advisor for Whakarongorau Aotearoa New Zealand Telehealth Services.

Previously, Fiona was Director of Clinical Services at the UK charity, Place2Be. Fiona’s professional background includes teaching from primary through to tertiary level, counsellor education, mental health research and resource development, private practice and consultation. Fiona has also taught on the postgraduate counselling/psychotherapy programmes at the University of Auckland, NZ and the University of Cambridge.

Fiona has a PhD in Behavioural Science from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, a MEd in Counselling, a Professional Certificate in Coaching and various other counselling and teaching qualifications. Fiona has a passion for increasing young people’s understanding of mental health and wellbeing, and their access to support.

Dr. Monica Bharel is a physician executive, internist, and public health innovator focused on using the power of data and analytics to drive innovations and equity in health. She is the Clinical Lead for Global Public Health and Public Sector Health at Google, based on the Google Health team.
Dr. Monica Bharel previously served as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Boston. She was appointed by Mayor Wu to lead the city’s response to the homeless crisis and oversaw a public health, equity-led approach focused on individual medical and treatment needs.

She previously served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Dr. Bharel served as the Commonwealth’s chief physician from 2015-2021. She helped lead the state’s aggressive response to the opioid crisis and was dedicated to reducing health disparities and developing data-driven, evidence-based solutions for keeping people healthy. Dr. Bharel led the Massachusetts public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Commissioner, Dr. Bharel oversaw a public health workforce of nearly 3000 and an expansive department addressing issues, from environmental health to injury prevention to infectious diseases. Under her leadership, Massachusetts ranked nationally as among the healthiest states in the nation.
Dr. Bharel is a board-certified internist who has practiced general internal medicine for more than 20 years, including at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Medical Center, neighborhood health centers, the Veterans Administration and nonprofit organizations. She has served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, Boston University Medical School, and Harvard School of Public Health, and has been recognized for her dedication to underserved and vulnerable populations. Prior to becoming Commissioner, she was Chief Medical Officer of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.

She holds a Master of Public Health degree through the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy. She holds a medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed a residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital/Boston Medical Center.

A pharmacist by training with over 30 years of experience, Weng Mooi currently leads in the development of healthy precinct and digital solutions to build up healthy living and mental well-being in the community. Development of healthy precincts involves co-creating tools and initiatives through movement for health with stakeholders including government agencies, business and community leaders and volunteers. She is also co-chairing the Digital Mental Health Implementation workgroup with the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) which aims to develop digital mental health plan and initiatives.

She was previously the Chief of Caregiving and Community Mental Health Division in the Agency for Integrated Care. She led a team in the development and implementation of the national plan on caregiving and community mental health. The national masterplan aims to maximise potential of individuals and support aging in place in the community. It achieved this through developing capacity and capability of providers, building integrated networks to enhance care coordination across health and social care. For over 20 years, she served in a variety of leadership roles from Director of Allied Health to Chief Operating Officer in Singapore’s leading mental health tertiary institution and as the Group Chief Operating Officer in a private organisation.

Weng Mooi is passionate and determined to push for the transformation of care (including mental health/dementia care) to be person centric, holistic, and empowering while integrating care with the natural environment.

Paul is a Senior Project Manager with the Policy Implementation Team for the Health Services Executive in Ireland, which involves leading national service development and improvement projects related to the use of digital technology in mental health, and to talk therapies.

Paul is a former clinician with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, a senior clinical manager for a voluntary sector youth mental health service provider, and chair of the statutory registration board for psychologists in Ireland. He has postgraduate qualifications in social work, systemic psychotherapy and healthcare management. He has taught at the postgraduate level on training programmes for systemic psychotherapists and social workers at Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin.

Always passionate, Nicole Waldron believes in working on projects that edify individuals and organizations to create positive impacts on society. As an impactful thought leader, she has guided groups in creating or rethinking their core values and mission statements.

An advocate at heart, Nicole works to raise awareness on Affordable & Co-op Housing, Mental Health for Family Caregivers, Violence Against Women, Sickle Cell, and various community issues. As a Mental Health Care Advocate, she is committed to improving support and care for Mental Health Family Caregivers and their loved ones, giving voice to caregivers (the first responders).

Ms. Waldron is a member of the MHA Provincial Coordinated Access Operational Standards Working Group and sits on Family Advisory Committees at CAMH and Stella’s Place, representing the lived experience of caregivers. She also contributes to the Ontario Family Caregivers Advisory Network (OFCAN) and advises various mental health care organizations.

Nicole created the Victory Speaks (Minding Our Mind Series) podcast to bring awareness to mental health and wellness issues, share family stories, and help individuals create a Victory Mindset.

Ms. Waldron serves on the boards of the Ontario Caregivers Organization, the Co-operators, and the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada, and is an honorary lifetime board member of the Cooperative Housing Federation of Toronto. She is the Past Board President of The Ontario Council of CHF Canada, Atahualpa Cooperatives Homes, Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, Scarborough Thunder Football Association, and The Urban Music Association of Canada.

Nicole Waldron has enjoyed a 35+ year career spanning fields as varied as project management, public relations, board governance, leadership renewal, and social advocacy. She is also a voice animator and CIHR-funded Research Collaborator.

Nicole has been named one of the Outstanding Black Women by the City of Brampton and Shifter Magazine (IWD), one of the 100 Accomplished Black Women in Canada, and one of the 150 Women by How She Hustles – HERStory in Black. She is the recipient of the 2020 Brian Burch Community Service Award from the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto and the Social Housing Service Corporation Kathleen Blinkhorn Award for Excellence in Volunteerism.

Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty (MD (Medicine), PhD (Medicine) and Advanced Global Clinical
Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School) is a physician scientist who works as a Senior
Lecturer in the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University. Dr Mittinty works
closely with national and international research teams to understand, mechanistic pathways in
experience and coping of pain and strategies for improved mental health, disability, and quality
of life.

Dr Mittinty’s benchmark studies on understanding the experience of pain and injury
from First Nations people’s and CALD communities perspective has led to culturally
appropriate adaptation of a widely used scales to assess pain and ongoing development of other
measures. Dr Mittinty has spearheaded; a National Curriculum Development for upskilling
healthcare professionals funded by Commonwealth grant and an industry funded national
clinical trial: Early Matched Care for Injured Australia Post Employees (EMCAP), which
demonstrated the importance of early intervention in enhanced mental health and wellbeing
and early return-to-work process. The trial was awarded the 2021 NSCA Foundation/ GIO
Workers Compensation and 2021 Comcare National Work Health and Safety Award.

The impact of her research work is evident through her strong (inter)national collaborations, grant
funding more than $2.8 M, invitations to join (inter)national committees and several awards
including 2024 Hind Rattan-Jewel of India, 2024 Gargi Science & Research Award, 2023
Deans Commendation Harvard Medical School, 2023 University of Sydney Vice Chancellor’s
sponsorship, 2023 Harvard Mobility Grant, 2022 National Emerging Leader in health award.

Satya, born Satya Hinduja is a composer, sound artist, producer and DJ working with a range of musical instruments, voice, field recordings and alternate tunings for spatial sound environments.
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Satya’s artistic practice embodies the synthesis of multiple trajectories: scoring for films and mixed-media installations and production, remixing and DJing (as Sound Underground). It was during this journey she discovered the interconnectivity between Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Kinesiology, Quantum Theory and Vedic philosophy.
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This path has evolved into her current project as founder of Alchemic Sonic Environment ( ASE ), a multi-sensory deep listening experience designed to invoke states of reflection, receptivity and exchange.

Merging her mother cultures’ origin of meditative sound with the art of music, ASE is steadily evolving into a NeuroSound research and technology platform leveraging the therapeutic potential of sound for health and longevity.
Bridging ancient practices of sound and energy medicine with emerging technologies, Satya’s work researches the essence of resonance and seeks to redefine the transformative power of sonic perception aiming to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
Since 2011 she has been collaborating with artists, neuroscientists and healing arts practitioners while exhibiting at various platforms such as Sages & Scientists Symposium, World Government Summit, Berklee India Exchange, the International Yoga Festival, MusExpo, Classical Next and Brain Mind.
Satya is currently working on her highly anticipated debut album, ‘The Athenaeum of Sound’, set to begin releasing in 2025. This groundbreaking project masterfully showcases the innovative integration of the ASE Method throughout the creative process, imbuing the very essence of the album with its transformative potential. Composed of seven meticulously crafted tracks, the first single, ‘Essence,’ is scheduled for release as the initial offering with the rest to follow over the course of the year, poised to captivate listeners as the heart and core of this unique auditory journey.
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She is a formally trained musician with a Bachelor of Music in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music (Boston) and a Masters in Electronic Music Production from Dubspot (NY). An ardent learner, she is in continuous studies with respected international sound arts and healing specialists including Aurelio C. Hammer (Svaram Musical Instruments & Research), EMPRES (Electronic Music Practice and Research Collective) Oxford University, Dr John Belieu, Joshua Leeds, Alexandre Tannous and Raz Mesinai.
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She was born in Mumbai and lives and works between London and New York.

Connect with Satya on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Instagram or Facebook

Dr. Victor Soji Ladele currently serves as Innovation Manager at the global innovation office at UNICEF, leading on Systems Innovation and the Mental Health Innovation Portfolio. With a background that combines public health emergencies and strategic innovation, he has been part of UN teams exploring fresh methodologies to solve our health-related social crises at scale.

Victor is a doctor and international development strategist specializing in intervening in complex systems, with a focus on applying technology leverage and systems innovation to global social programs. His experience working at all levels of humanitarian crises, from clinics in the field to the highest-level policy organizations, gives him a unique perspective on what is required to solve humanitarian challenges.

He lectures and speaks at conferences, aiming to share practical knowledge on tech-driven strategies, incorporating diverse voices from various sectors, and fostering local innovation ecosystems to develop relevant and impactful mental health solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s world. 

Connect with Dr. Victor Soji Ladele on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile

Dr Zsofia Szlamka is a developmental psychologist, researcher, and entrepreneur. She is an Economic and Social Research Council Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is also a Senior Research Associate at Orygen, Australia. She is the co-founder of Mentalica.io, the first mental health marketplace for evidence-based digital solutions. She is the founder of AMKA Counselling, a cross-cultural mental health consultancy.

In 2022 she was selected to be on the Forbes 30under30 list in Hungary for her work in workplace mental health. She completed her PhD in King’s College London, investigating health inequalities, service development and empowerment of families raising children with developmental disorders in Ethiopia and in Argentina. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Network and used to curate its Cambridge Hub. She co-founded VOICES, a women empowerment platform connecting young professional women with public speaking opportunities.

She is passionate about equality of opportunities, loves learning about international development and is crazy about travelling – and reports about all these on her blog, The Travelling Psychologist.

Andy is a seasoned professional at the intersection of technology, data, healthcare, and Mental Health. Andy is involved in a number of innovative Kiwi ventures, including The Gift Box, Possible, Makeshapes, Eightwire, Medicly and Propagator.

Andy has delivered key programmes across the public and private sectors, including a number of eMental Health initiatives – Small Steps, Depression.org.nz, The Lowdown, Like Minds/Nōku te ao through his role at the NZ Health Promotion Agency, as well as previously representing the Digital Health Association New Zealand as Deputy Chair of the board.

Andy’s journey is characterized by his dedication to leveraging technology for positive societal impact, particularly in the realm of mental health. His personal journey, coupled with his professional achievements, underscores his commitment to advancing digital wellbeing and making meaningful contributions to communities worldwide.

Ryan Napier, MA.Ed, has nearly two decades of experience dedicated to assisting public and
non-profit organizations define and achieve their strategic goals. His career is marked by a deep
commitment to fostering meaningful change and enhancing organizational effectiveness across
various sectors.

In his current role at Chorus, Ryan leads the company’s business development
and strategic partnership efforts, collaborating with state, county, and community-based
organization (CBO) teams nationwide. His work involves gaining a nuanced understanding of
the diverse needs of these entities and providing tailored support to help them succeed.