Our people
Our staff
Lisa Kelly: Chief Executive Officer
Lisa is a passionate advocate striving to influence change that has a positive impact on people, communities and the community services sector. As the CEO of Mental Health Community Coalition ACT, Lisa works in partnership with the Board, members, consumers and carers to build a mental health system that offers people support and belonging with their community.
She has extensive knowledge in mental health and is passionate about wellbeing, equity, social impact and the value of collaboration. Lisa is passionately committed to ensuring that consumers and carers receive high quality supports and services, and the community mental health sector receives recognition of its role within the community.
Lisa has worked in the community sector for nearly 30 years in a range of positions for organisations including Carers ACT, Lifeline Canberra and headspace. She has a strong background in working with young people, particularly in the areas of mental health and suicide. She has also had a long involvement with supporting young carers and has been involved in advocacy for carers for many years. Lisa has received many awards and accolades and is a well-respected member of the community sector.
Lisa is Deputy Chair of the ACT Council of Social Services and is part of many advisory and reference groups in the ACT.
Stephen Dunkerley: Chief Operating Officer
Stephen came to MHCC ACT in October 2024 with over two decades of experience in management, mentoring and leadership development in IT, Government and NGO sectors through roles spanning Program Manager, CIO, CFO and COO.
Stephen is an impassioned practitioner of the servant-leader philosophy devoted to nurturing the next generation of leaders.
He is a lived and living experienced carer and passionately committed to improving outcomes for mental health consumers and carers in the ACT and regional community.
Angel Hellyer: Program and Communication Manager
Angel is a passionate communication professional with significant experience in strategic planning and content development across a wide range of digital, print, media and marketing channels. Their professional objective is to apply their combination of analytical and creative skills to make a positive impact in their workplace and community.
With experience across the public and non-profit sector, Angel first worked with MHCC ACT in 2022–23 as our Communications and Events Manager and Mental Health Month ACT Coordinator. They returned as our Program Manager in October 2024.
Smera Naik: Operations and Administration Assistant
Smera brings a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable members of our community, with experience across various areas including case management for vulnerable jobseekers, education, user-focused design, and strategy consulting.
With a background in Psychology and Economics, she is dedicated to understanding how our society and economy influence wellbeing and life experiences, and finding ways to enhance these for all Canberrans and beyond.
Working towards these aims, Smera is dedicated to providing operations and administrative support to ensure the effective delivery of MHCC ACT programs and advocacy work.
Jessica Turtledove: Operations and Administration Assistant
Jessica is passionate about helping others and making a positive impact on people’s lives. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2024 and is currently pursuing her Honours year to expand her knowledge.
Over the past three years, Jessica has gained valuable experience working in the mental health sector, specifically in mental health education, and continues to dedicate herself to improving her understanding of how best to support individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Jessica was thrilled to join MHCC ACT in February 2025. She is eager to contribute her skills and enthusiasm to facilitate and promote the organisation’s programs.
Jess Whaler: Member Engagement Specialist
Jess is a skilled communications and engagement professional with over 20 years of experience across government, journalism, higher education and community sectors. A proud Gamilaroi woman, she is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering inclusive, supportive environments.
Beginning her career in APS Indigenous affairs, Jess developed a strong foundation in policy, advocacy and community engagement. As a journalist for the National Indigenous Times and producer for ABC Radio Canberra, she told complex and important stories focused on community, culture and social issues.
Jess brings a unique combination of lived experience and professional expertise. With qualifications in HR Management and ongoing studies in psychology and communications, she is committed to building authentic relationships, fostering meaningful member engagement and ensuring lived experience is at the heart of mental health service development.
Associate Professor Sebastian Rosenberg: Contractor: Outcomes development specialist
Sebastian is Associate Professor at the Mental Health Policy Unit, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra and Senior Lecturer, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney.
He was a public servant in both state and federal departments of health for 16 years, before joining the (then) Mental Health Council of Australia, as Deputy CEO, from 2005-09.
Sebastian’s expertise is in mental health policy, leading the Mental Health Policy Unit at the University of Canberra and the Economics and Systems Science stream at the Brain and Mind Centre. He is a member of the EMPOWER Project Consortium, jointly funded by the EU Horizon Scheme and the National Health and Medical Research Council. Sebastian has numerous journal publications and is a regular contributor to public debate about mental health policy in Australia.
Our Board
Leanne Heald: President
Leanne has worked in the community sector for over 20 years, supporting vulnerable people across government and not-for-profit settings. Her experience spans community development, welfare, mental health and disability, with the past six years spent in management roles.
Leanne is an active contributor to the sector, serving on community boards and participating in collaboratives, working groups and forums to drive positive outcomes for participants. She is passionate about building capacity—both at an individual and community level—so that people have the tools they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Leanne has been on the MHCC ACT Board since 2021 and was elected President in January 2025.
Prue Slaughter: Vice President
Prue is the CEO of Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT). With a diverse professional background across the not-for-profit, international development, education, IT, and defence sectors—including international experience in Cambodia, South Africa, and the UK—Prue brings a global perspective to her work. She has a proven track record of leading complex projects, building collaborative partnerships, and driving sustainable impact.
Prue combines strategic vision with compassion, transforming challenges into opportunities to grow resilient communities. Her commitment to addressing mental health through education and lived experience advocacy exemplifies her belief in the power of prevention and the importance of fostering connection and understanding within our communities.
Anne Kirwan: Treasurer
Anne Kirwan is the CEO of Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn and has worked in community social services for over 30 years.
A Registered Psychologist, Anne has held varied leadership roles across the mental health, child and youth, ATOD, housing and homelessness, disability and aged care sectors, leading multi-disciplinary teams focused on improving opportunities and outcomes for all.
She is committed to working with both government and community partners to build a stronger sector with greater diversity of service options, by pursuing initiatives which disrupt fractured systems, improve service integration and support self-determination for clients.
Anne has held various Board positions across the social services sector and has completed the AICD Company Directors course. She became the Treasurer of MHCC ACT in February 2025.
Yvonne Luxford: Director
Yvonne is the CEO of the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre and previously led Palliative Care Australia. She has experience interacting and collaborating with all levels of government, health professionals, service providers and advocacy bodies to achieve high-quality health care which is accessible and culturally appropriate.
Yvonne has particular interests in perinatal wellbeing, First Nations health, chronic disease prevention and equity of access to healthcare. Before a long history in management positions in healthcare organisations, she was a university lecturer in various health-related subjects. She has qualifications in philosophy and higher education, and her doctoral thesis explored a mixture of policy and medical issues with a focus on child oral health.
Yvonne has been on the MHCC ACT Board since 2019, including four years as Board President.
Rob Antich: Director
Rob has extensive management and governance experience in the public sector, which includes senior executive roles at the Commonwealth Department of Finance and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
He has a strong background in regulatory policy, compliance frameworks, financial frameworks and risk management, and since 2017, has specialised in governance roles for government organisations, the World Bank and not-for-profits.
Brenton Higgins: Director
Brenton is a workplace, employee and industrial relations specialist with a keen focus on psychological safety and wellbeing in the workplace. He holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Relations and has honed his skills in this area though union positions and membership of committees including the ACT Labour Hire Licensing Advisory Committee and the Work Health and Safety Council ACT, through which he helped develop and implement the Psychosocial Safety Code of Practice. Brenton is also the Vice President of the Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association (ALERA) and the President of the ACT ALERA branch, through which he has developed governance experience.
Brenton joined the MHCC ACT Board in January 2025. He believes that we all need to participate to make a difference in reducing stigma related to workplace psychosocial risks, and that focusing on mental health and wellbeing in all aspects of a person’s life is critical to ensuring they can live a healthy and safe lifestyle.
Bianca Rosetti: Lived Experience Director
Bianca is a Peer Support Worker with Woden Community Services, and also holds advocacy roles with the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (where she also held the Board Chair position from 2016 to 2024) and MIEACT, where she collaborates with mental health services to identify gaps and together work on solutions to empower the community.
She is passionate about improving wellbeing for consumers and carers with mental health issues, and believes that strong community connections support individuals in their recovery.
Katerina Powick: Lived Experience Carer Director
Katerina joined the MHCC ACT Board as a Lived Experienced Carer Director in February 2025.
As a single mother with two autistic sons, this position aligns with Katerina’s passion for enhancing the quality of care and wellbeing for people in our community.
Having worked in the public service, including the Department of Health and Aging, Katerina holds qualifications in mental health, community education, youth services, community services, training and assessment, leadership and management, and is currently completing a psychology degree. She also has a long history of volunteering in the Canberra community.
Katerina’s strengths lie in meeting people where they are, in collaborating with compassion to realise collective potential and drive meaningful change.