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Meet the speakers
Throughout the two sessions of the Zero Suicide International Forum you will hear from some of our most prominent leaders involved in the implementation of the Zero Suicide Healthcare framework.
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Prof Nicholas Procter
Professor Nicholas Procter is Chair: Mental Health Nursing and Professorial Lead for Nursing at the University of South Australia. He is author of more than 300 academic outputs and for the past 25 years has been working specifically in development of state and national policy, lived experience co-design, trauma informed practice and suicide prevention. He is a former member of the Expert Advisory Group to the Prime Minister’s National Suicide Prevention Adviser and the NMHC Steering Committee for the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. Professor Procter currently serves as Australia’s National Representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Ms Sarah Davis-Gilmore
Sarah Davis-Gilmore is a Carer Lived Experience Worker at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), in Gippsland, Victoria, where they lead and mentor Carer Peer Support Workers and advocate for systemic reform from a family/carer perspective. Sarah collaborates across the organisation, including as part of LRH’s Zero Suicide Improvement Team, to embed trauma-informed, family/carer-inclusive, and rights-based approaches. Drawing on both lived and learned expertise, Sarah is passionate about the transformational power of lived experience to drive meaningful cultural change and system reform.
Mr Matt Welch
Matt has dedicated over 15 years to suicide prevention reform in Queensland, Australia, and internationally, building on a 25-year career in crisis intervention. He co-led Australia’s first zero-suicide initiative in an acute mental health service and has been instrumental in expanding this approach throughout Queensland. Matt has co-authored various publications on suicide prevention and developed innovative crisis care models. His contributions include statewide strategies, educational programs, and strategic stakeholder engagement. He was a finalist for the Suicide Prevention Australia LIFE award in 2018 and 2019 and received multiple Clinical Excellence Awards from Queensland Health for his impactful strategies.
Dr Brian Ahmedani
Dr. Brian Ahmedani is a senior scientist and director of the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health in the United States. He is a licensed clinician and is one of the world’s leading experts in suicide prevention currently serving as Principal Investigator of several large research projects in the US and globally. He serves as Executive Director of Zero Suicide International at Henry Ford. He has published over 200 manuscripts and has served on numerous policy and advisory committees. Dr. Ahmedani received the 2022 Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Ms Michelle Galli
Michelle Galli is a highly experienced Registered Nurse and Midwife with 30 years of clinical and management expertise. As the Quality, Risk, and Safety Coordinator for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, she leads the implementation of a Restorative, Just, and Learning Culture across acute, aged, mental health, and community services. In her first project role, Michelle is embracing the opportunity to drive positive change, fostering a culture of healing, learning, resilience, and continuous improvement across the health community in rural South Australia.
Prof Sidney Dekker
Sidney Dekker (PhD, Ohio State University, 1996) is a Professor at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and Director of the Safety Science Innovation Lab. With experience in seven countries across four continents, his research focuses on the human and organizational impacts of incidents and disasters. A trained mediator and Crisis Chaplain, Sidney aims to promote compassion, justice, and learning in the aftermath of harm. He is also a passionate piano player and pilot, flying Boeing 737s. As a bestselling author of numerous influential works on safety culture and human error, his research has garnered over 20,000 citations. More at sidneydekker.com.
Dr Kathy Turner
Dr Kathryn Turner is a Psychiatrist, Executive Director of Metro North Mental Health, a large mental health, alcohol and other drug service in Brisbane, Australia, and Chair of the Queensland Statewide Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Quality Assurance Committee. She has had an extensive career in public mental health services and a passion for improving the quality and safety of services. Dr Turner led the implementation of the Zero Suicide framework in her previous service, the Gold Coast Mental Health and Specialist Services which demonstrated significant positive outcomes of this work, and has built on that work in her current service.
Assoc Prof John Brayley
Associate Professor John Brayley has nearly 40 years of healthcare experience, holding leadership roles in mental health, general health, and the disability sector. Since May 2018, he has served as Chief Psychiatrist, overseeing standards, monitoring the sector, and developing policies, including suicide prevention recommendations. Under his leadership, the Chief Psychiatrist’s Office (OCP) has implemented inspections of mental health facilities and collaborated with the Mental Health Commission to create a Mental Health Services Plan for South Australia. Additionally, the OCP developed a Human Rights Analysis Tool for assessing new initiatives and supported the Suicide Prevention Council in establishing the SA Suicide Prevention Act.
Dr Mohammed Usman
MBBS, PG Dip Cl Psych, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
Dr Usman is a senior Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with many years’ experience in public and private mental health services who provides clinical services to children and young people with developmental disabilities. He is committed to improving the mental health care of children and young people. Dr Usman as the Clinical Director, CAMHS, jointly leads CAMHS in South Australia, together with the Director, Strategic Mental Health Operations.
Ms Adie Gibbons
Adie is a Mental Health Nurse with close to 40 years’ experience working in Mental Health in the UK and Australia, including working in Inpatient, Community and Forensic units. She has over 10 years’ experience in senior management and leadership roles in WA and Tasmania. Adie is passionate about consumers’ involvement in their care, the co-design of services and the strategic planning of future services and improvements in the care WCHN delivers.
As Director Strategic Mental Health Operations Adie works closely with Dr Mohammed Usman, Clinical Director to lead Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services across the state.
Ms Merryl Whyte
Merryl Whyte is the Director of Transformation for Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH) Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (AMHWS). Since 2022, Merryl has supported the hospital to transform its mental health and wellbeing services to align with requirements arising from the Victorian Royal Commission. Supported by Merryl, MBPH’s approach to reform takes both a place-based, whole of service system, data-driven approach – which is inclusive of implementation of the Zero Suicide Framework. Merryl will share the hospital’s experience in implementing ZSF within the context of a regional health service and in a time of concurrent ‘once in a generation’ service change.
Mr Adam Bryant
Mental Health Services have undergone their own Recovery in recent years with the Implementation of the Toward Zero Suicides over the last 5 years in NSW. Adam Bryant is the Director Mental Health at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and has worked in Mental Health Services across NSW and the NHS. As member of the District Mental Health Executive for the last 8 years Adam has been involved in the development of the Safe Haven, Suicide Prevention Outreach teams, Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams, Suicide Care Pathways and Restorative and Just Culture Initiatives including Colleague Connect.
Ms Nicki Milionis
Nicki Milionis is a workplace health and safety lawyer with over 20 years' experience. Nicki advises on compliance with both the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and the Work Health and Safety Act (in the relevant jurisdictions) and she regularly provides training to organisations including management of psychosocial risks to health and to boards and officers in relation to officer due diligence obligations.
Nicki also represents clients during the course of regulatory investigations, internal and external review of improvement and prohibition notices and in criminal prosecutions under safety legislation. Her experience includes conducting Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd's defence of proceedings brought by WorkSafe Victoria from the commencement to its appeal to the High Court (Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd v The Queen [2012] 246 CLR 92).
Mr Kieran Kinsella
Kieran Kinsella oversees the running of the Metro South Health Addiction and Mental Health Service. He's passionate about supporting staff so they can innovate and create better outcomes for consumers.
Kieran has held senior health management roles in the UK and Australia. He has managed a broad range of services, including mental health, oral health, public health and aged care. He has led several successful projects, including a home-based acute care service model reducing reliance on inpatient beds and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop programs for their community.
Kieran trained as a mental health nurse at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. He also has a Masters qualification.
Tuesday 1st April 2025
Ms Stephanie Zweers
Stephanie Zweers is a dedicated and passionate nurse with over 16 years of experience in the mental health sector. Her career spans frontline clinical roles, service leadership, and driving positive change management initiatives in line with statewide reform in Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs. Since 2021, Stephanie has focused her recent career on suicide prevention, working collaboratively within the Queensland Zero Suicide Multisite Collaborative to improve care for people at risk of suicide. Most recently, serving as the Acting Principal Project Officer for the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, leading the Zero Suicide in Health Services initiative.
Mr Anthony White
An experienced social worker from the UK, Anthony has 20 years of experience in the field. Commencing work in Child Protection in London he transitioned to mental health, mainly in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Anthony has worked across Northern Territory, South Australia, and Victoria, contributing to various services, including emergency department settings and community teams. With a strong passion for family work he believes in the importance of family involvement in mental health care. This extensive background in CAMHS has equipped Anthony with valuable skills and insights in managing risk while supporting young people, their families, supporters, and wider networks navigate complex mental health challenges.
Ms Temisha Grohs
Temisha is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience leading clinical, quality, and operational excellence programs, and is currently leading the development of a whole of health suicide prevention policy for NSW Health. Temisha has worked in a range of teams across health and education sectors to better understand systemic issues, operational drivers and enablers, and governance fundamentals that provide a catalyst for lasting change. A problem solver at heart, Temisha often finds herself interpreting and advocating across the corporate / clinical chasm to resolve long-standing challenges and loves seeing things reach their full potential.
Mr Shaun Dennis
Shaun Dennis is a Senior Mental Health Project Officer at Rural and Remote Mental Health, where he leads the implementation of a Suicide Prevention Pathway across rural and remote mental health services in South Australia. Shaun is also a Clinical Senior Occupational Therapist with extensive experience in mental health, rehabilitation, and recovery. He has authored 14 publications, contributing to research on behavioural activation for individuals with depression and schizophrenia.
Mr Mike Butcher
Mike Butcher is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Auckland District of Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora. Mike’s clinical speciality areas include child and adolescent mental health and youth forensics. He has worked within public mental health services in New Zealand for over 40 years, and has held leadership roles in CAMHS, and for the last 10 years has held the role of Allied Health Director in the Mental Health Directorate at Auckland District.
Mike leads the adverse events committee for mental health, and is a trainer for Just Culture. Mike has been involved in leading the Zero Suicide Framework implementation at Auckland District.
Zero Suicide Breakout Clinics
Evaluation what to measure? When? How?
Dr Alan Woodward
Alan has worked in mental health and suicide prevention for 20 years as a policy adviser, evaluator and executive leader. He has led innovation and quality improvement initiatives in mental health and suicide prevention, including peer support and community-based programs. He has specific expertise in crisis helplines and digital support services. Alan holds a Master’s in Social Science and Policy, a Business Degree and a Diploma in Arts/Communications. He is a Fellow of the Australian Evaluation Society.
Dr Brian Ahmedani
Dr. Brian Ahmedani is a senior scientist and director of the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health in the United States. He is a licensed clinician and is one of the world’s leading experts in suicide prevention currently serving as Principal Investigator of several large research projects in the US and globally. He serves as Executive Director of Zero Suicide International at Henry Ford. He has published over 200 manuscripts and has served on numerous policy and advisory committees. Dr. Ahmedani received the 2022 Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Engaging Family and Support Networks
Ms Leigh Murray
Leigh Murray is an experienced Whānau Advisor at Health NZ Auckland Mental Health services working alongside senior management to support whānau inclusive and responsive service delivery. Leigh is an active member of the Auckland Te Tira Tumanako (Towards Hope) Governance group overseeing the implementation of an Aotearoa adaptation of the Zero Suicide Framework and is looking forward to seeing staff empowered to engage natural supports in care planning. Leigh believes it is time for the sector to value whānau, recognise the leadership they can bring and give them the resources and respect they deserve.
Ms Sarah Davis-Gilmore
Sarah Davis-Gilmore is a Carer Lived Experience Worker at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), in Gippsland, Victoria, where they lead and mentor Carer Peer Support Workers and advocate for systemic reform from a family/carer perspective. Sarah collaborates across the organisation, including as part of LRH’s Zero Suicide Improvement Team, to embed trauma-informed, family/carer-inclusive, and rights-based approaches. Drawing on both lived and learned expertise, Sarah is passionate about the transformational power of lived experience to drive meaningful cultural change and system reform.
Staff wellbeing and support after suicide
Ms Bianca Lavorgna
BBSci, GradCertBerCouns, MCouns&PsychTh, CBP
Bianca is an experienced Bereavement Counsellor, Educator, Clinical Supervisor, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer with expertise in developing, delivering, and coordinating support services and programs. She is currently the Learning and Development Manager with StandBy and a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement.
Bianca comes with specialist knowledge and experience in working with suicide bereavement, children, and adolescents. She is the co-author of The Yellow Leaf, a children’s book that aims to help families to understand that grief is not linear and that there is no perfect way to grieve. Bianca is passionate about providing bereavement support, companionship, advocacy, and education, creating a community where grief can be talked about openly and support can be provided among friends, family, and wider society.
Dr Wendy Muller
BBus/BPsychSc(Hons) MHRM DPsychOrg
Wendy Muller is a registered Psychologist, endorsed in Organisational Psychology. As an experienced consultant, Wendy has established significant knowledge and skills in the provision of end-to-end facilitation of clinical and organisational interventions, including psychological assessments, organisational health reviews, workplace wellbeing, coaching and supervision. Wendy holds a Doctorate of Psychology (Organisational) in addition to a Master of Human Resources Management, and has spent several years gaining experience in the areas of organisational development and training, recruitment and selection, performance management and wellbeing practices. As a passionate researcher, Wendy is recognised for the qualitative investigation of work-related psychological stress on the romantic relationship.
Working with Indigenous Communities
Australia
Awaiting information
Mr Matthew Tukaki
Awaiting information
Using data to assess need when designing for Zero
Mr Matt Welch
Matt has dedicated over 15 years to suicide prevention reform in Queensland, Australia, and internationally, building on a 25-year career in crisis intervention. He co-led Australia’s first zero-suicide initiative in an acute mental health service and has been instrumental in expanding this approach throughout Queensland. Matt has co-authored various publications on suicide prevention and developed innovative crisis care models. His contributions include statewide strategies, educational programs, and strategic stakeholder engagement. He was a finalist for the Suicide Prevention Australia LIFE award in 2018 and 2019 and received multiple Clinical Excellence Awards from Queensland Health for his impactful strategies.
Ms Camilla Frumar
Camilla Frumar is a Senior Consultant at Gallup with over a decade of experience in learning and development. She specialises in data-driven leadership development, employee engagement, wellbeing, and strengths-based coaching. A Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, she applies positive psychology to help leaders create workplaces where employees thrive. Camilla consults across diverse industries across APAC and contributes to research and course design, focusing on women in leadership and wellbeing. She holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce (Liberal Studies) from the University of Sydney and a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Melbourne.