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.