Governance

Our governance is overseen by Program Leadership and Program Management groups. The former, meeting twice a year, comprises partner RUN DVCRs, the CEOs or Directors of partner organisations, and the Federal Government’s Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Allied Health and Indigenous Health. The latter comprises the institute’s Chief Investigators, community partners, and First Nations and lived-experience representatives from regional Australia.

 

 Program Leadership Group

Professor Chris Armstrong
DVCR Research/Chair, University of New England

Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM
Director, EveryMind

Professor Grant Stanley
DVCR (Vice President, Research), Central Queensland University

Associate Professor Faye McMillan
Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Allied Health and Indigenous Health, Federal Government. First Nations representative

Professor Ross Young
DVCR (Research and Innovation), University of the Sunshine Coast

 
 

Professor Michael Friend
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation Charles Sturt University

Professor Mary Spongberg
DVCR, Southern Cross University

Professor John Bell
DVCR (Research and Innovation), University of Southern Queensland

Mr Robert Sams
CEO, Lifeline Direct Limited

Professor Remco Polman
Executive Dean Institute of Health and Wellbeing

VCST Lead Research Federation University (DVCR)

Professor Joe Fraser
Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy, University of Sunshine Coast. First Nations representative

Professor Alison Calear
Co-Head, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU

Mr Darren Wagner
Project Lead, Suicide Prevention Peer Worker Support Strategy, Wellways Australia. Lived Experience representative

 
 

 Program Management Group

Professor Myfanwy Maple
Director Manna Institute/Lead CI UNE, Professor, Social Work and Chair of Research, University of New England

Associate Professor Christian Swann
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University

Professor Chris Doran
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professorial Research Fellow - Health Economics/Research Cluster Lead CReW, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University

Professor Dixie Statham
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Associate Professor, Psychology, Federation University

Professor Sonja March
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Director, Centre for Health Research and Professor, Psychology, University of Southern Queensland

 
 

Professor Russell Roberts
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professor, Management, Charles Sturt University

Dr Mia Schaumberg
MCR Manna Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast

Professor Philip Batterham
Co-Head, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU

Professor Alison Calear
Co-Head, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU

Dr Sally Fitzpatrick
Program Manager, EveryMind

Dr Jose Cuenca
Research Lead, EveryMind

Dr Anna Brooks
Lifeline Research Office Chief Research Officer, Lifeline Direct Limited

Mrs Susan King
General Manager, Services, Lifeline Direct Limited

Dr Vicki Pascoe
ECR Manna Institute, Lecturer, Indigenous Studies (Arts) Discipline Lead, Central Queensland University. First Nations representative

Ms Laura Grattidge
MPH PHD Candidate, Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania. Lived Experience representative

 
 

Ms Shay-Lee Coulson
(Goojinburra) Year 3 Medical Student - Joint Medical Program, School of Rural Medicine, University of New England. First Nations representative

Ms Ashley Holzapfel
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist - First Nations. Goodstart Early Learning. First Nations representative

Mr Paul Klotz
Lived Experience representative

Mr Darren Wagner
Project Lead, Suicide Prevention Peer Worker Support Strategy, Wellways Australia. Lived Experience representative

 

 Project Management Office

Elizabeth Egan
Project Manager, Manna Institute, University of New England

Ruthie Rule
Project Administrator, Manna Institute, University of New England