New Commission Chair and Commissioners announced

The National Mental Health Commission welcomes the announcement by The Hon. Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Ageing, of the Commission’s next Advisory Board Chair following the retirement of Mrs Lucy Brogden AM as Chair in July. The new Chair will be current Commissioner, Professor Ngiare Brown, whose term will commence on 1 August 2022.

Minister Hunt also announced the appointment of four new Commissioners, being Dr Mark Wenitong, Ms Heather D’Antoine, Ms Pheobe Ho and Ms Christine Jones.

Commission Chair Mrs Lucy Brogden AM, welcomed these announcements.

“As the Commission moves through its 10th year, at an inflection point of national mental health and suicide prevention systems change, we will continue to draw on the knowledge and expertise from our renewed Advisory Board.”

Professor Ngiare Brown is a proud Yuin nation woman from the South Coast of NSW and is recognised as the first identified Aboriginal medical graduate from NSW. Ngiare is a highly regarded clinician and researcher. She founded Ngaoara, a not-for-profit which provides clinical outreach for Aboriginal children affected by trauma, and in 2021 established Djanaba, a clinic for children and adolescents focused on social and emotional wellbeing.  Her work is focused on incorporating a strengths-based approach to breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and disparity.

“It is my great privilege to accept the role of the next Chair of the Commission. I have had a number of firsts in my career which have been humbling but have also allowed me a sense of pride and responsibility. I look forward to taking up this new role in July with the same consideration.

In addition to the Advisory Board appointments, Dr Michael Gardner has been appointed as the Head of the National Suicide Prevention Office, located within the Mental Health Commission.

Ms Christine Morgan, CEO of the Commission, said that the Commission is delighted with Dr Gardner’s appointment, noting that Dr Gardner’s expertise in suicide prevention in the context of whole-of-governments, whole-of-person, and whole-of-life policy reform will be an invaluable asset in helping to realise the Office’s national objectives.

“We look forward to Dr Gardner leading the Office and drawing on his government, academic, and in-community service provision experience, which is informed by his own lived experience of suicide.”

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