Speakers

PROFESSOR GABRIEL 'GABBY' IVBIJARO, MBE  

Professor Gabriel Ivbijaro is the President of the World Federation for Mental Health.  He is also immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health. He was recently inducted as an American Psychiatric Association International Distinguished Fellow at the 59th Convocation of Distinguished Fellows of the APA in Toronto, Canada on 18th May 2015.
International Distinguished Fellows of the APA are internationally recognised for their demonstrated skill in administrative, educational and clinical settings. They are also noted for volunteering in mental health and medical activities of social significance and involvement in community activities. Excellence, not mere competence is the hallmark of an APA International Distinguished Fellow.
Professor Ivbijaro is a member and past Chair of the Wonca Working Party on Mental Health, Medical Director of The Wood Street Medical Centre, London UK and Visiting Assistant Professor, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal.
Professor Ivbijaro initially specialized in Psychiatry and Neurology and subsequently specialized in General Practice. As a member of Wonca (World Organization of Family Doctors) he championed the cause of mental health globally among family doctors by setting up the Wonca Special Interest Group (SIG) in Psychiatry & Neurology in 2001.

Professor Ivbijaro is a specialist in Primary Care Mental Health and mental health service re-design. He worked in collaboration with the WHO to produce a ground breaking policy document published in 2008 entitled ‘Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: A Global Perspective’ which has influenced mental health delivery globally.

Professor Ivbijaro has presented papers and original thinking on primary care mental health integration at many local and international conferences and has published a range of articles in peer reviewed journals. He recently edited a book entitled ‘Companion to Primary Care Mental Health’ an international collaboration of 110 authors from all continents of the world, published in 2012, to promote access to and delivery of primary care mental health globally which received a five star (100%) Doody’s Review.
Professor Ivbijaro chaired and completed the Case for Change for Mental Health for London, UK in 2011 and has contributed to the Mental Health Service Pack in the European Union (EU) which advocates for the development of mental health services in all member states of the EU. His contribution to the National Health Service in the UK was recognised in 2012 when he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty the Queen. He is the founder of the World Dignity Project (www.worlddignityproject.com) a project dedicated to addressing the stigma of mental health and providing dignity in mental health care.

PROFESSOR ABD-ELMASIH MALAK, AM

Professor Abd-Elmasih Malak has worked in the field of health and social welfare for the past 40 years,  included  service provision, policy, planning and management.  He has written and published on various mental health issues. 

Prof Malak was the President of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) for four years.

Prof Malak is the current chair of the Multicultural Mental Health Australia Association, the vice president of the World Federation of Mental Health, Oceania Region, and the convenor of the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations (APRO).

In 2002, Prof Malak was honoured to be included in the Australian Honours List as a Member in the Order Of Australia for his service to immigrant communities. 

Currently Prof Malak is the Chief Executive of the MMM Group, a global health consultancy.

PROFESSOR STEVEN C. BOYAGES, MB BS PhD FRACP FAFPHM DDU

Professor Steven Boyages is a consultant physician endocrinologist and public health physician with over 25 years’ experience. He was formerly the Director of Diabetes and Endocrinology Department at Westmead Hospital from 1990 to 1999.  He has a national and international reputation with over 130 publications.

Steven has diverse research interests in thyroid disease, iodine deficiency disorders, the study of growth hormone deficiency and excess, other pituitary disorders as well as diabetes mellitus.

He has professorial appointments to The University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney.

In addition to his clinical, teaching and research leadership roles Steven has demonstrated extensive leadership experience in public sector management. Steven was the foundation director of the Centre for Research and Clinical Policy in NSW Health in 1999 was appointed as Clinical Advisor to the Director General of NSW Health. Thereafter, he was the Chief Executive of one of the largest area health services in Australia for almost 9 years. Steven was then appointed as the foundation Chief Executive for the Clinical Education and Training Institute (CETI). Most recently, he was the State’s Medical Director for eHealth NSW Initiative. He chaired the State’s Electronic Health Record Program and was instrumental in the design and rollout of innovative Health Business Intelligence systems.

Steven is a world leader in health information technology, models and systems of care and chronic disease management.

Steven is currently the Chief Executive of a new private sector company, Red Zeppelin, a Digital Media company.

MR FRANK QUINLAN

Public policy advocate, father of 3, husband of 1

Frank Quinlan is the CEO of Mental Health Australia, the peak body representing mental health organisations in Australia. Frank is responsible for implementing Mental Health Australia’s vision of "better mental health for all Australians".

Frank was previously the Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, a peak national body for social services organisations providing social and community services to over a million people each year.

Frank has a long history of working in the not-for-profit sector, having previously worked at Grassmere Youth Services, Tranmere Street Youth Refuge and the Australian Drug Foundation. He has also held senior positions with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian Medical Association.

Frank is an energetic advocate for disadvantaged Australians and for the community and not-for-profit sector, and has represented the interests of both his members and the sector on numerous government consultative panels and committees.

Frank completed tertiary studies at both Monash University and Melbourne University and has been a guest lecturer in public policy programs at the Australian National University.

Frank is the father of three daughters and is a recently qualified recreational pilot.

PROFESSOR MAX ABBOTT, CNZN

Max is Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Psychology and Public Health, Auckland University of Technology and Co-director of the National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research. He also directs two of the Institute’s Centres. 

Prior to becoming Dean in 1991, Max was founding National Director (CEO) of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, a position he held for ten years. During his presidency of the World Federation for Mental Health (1991–1993) he also co-chaired the first World Mental Health Day. 

Max is a board member and past Deputy Chair of the Waitemata District Health Board, an advisor to Health Workforce New Zealand, senior consultant to the World Federation for Mental Health and a member of the Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship. He is a director/board member of various other health and research organisations in New Zealand and internationally. His areas of expertise include mental health, problem gambling and addictions, public health, migrant health and psychiatric epidemiology.

MS JANET PALEO  

Janet Paleo is an advocate, a consumer and a person living recovery. She has lived a lifetime engaged in mental health issues and has learned the system from both sides, consumer/provider; public/private.

Janet received the SAMHSA Voice Award in 2010 and has received many local and state awards in recognition of her work in empowering people to live recovery. Janet has been an invited speaker in Taiwan, Greece, Australia and numerous places within the United States. She also is a guest lecturer at Incarnate Word University, St Mary’s University, and University Texas, San Antonio Health Science Center, School of Nursing and Psychiatry. Janet has co-authored several peer review articles.

She currently works for the Texas Council of Community Centers as the Director of Recovery Based Services, is Co-owner of PRO International, a recovery focus consulting and training firm and the Executive Director of Prosumers International, a non-profit organization she founded to empower people through readily usable tools to live life.

Janet is the current Board Treasurer for the World Federation for Mental Health. Janet also serves as chair of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) as well as a Board Member for Disability Rights Texas.

In her off time, Janet is also a concert producer, author, editor, inventor, radio station manager and broadcaster, artist, photographer, grandmother, mother, and encourager for all. For someone who was told they could not survive outside of an institutional setting, she has managed to put together a life that defies what most of us can aspire to.
 

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR BETTY KITCHENER

Betty Kitchener is the CEO of Mental Health First Aid Australia and the co-founder of the Mental Health First Aid training program. She has spread Mental Health First Aid training across Australia, with around 2% of the adult population now trained, and to over 20 other countries. In 2015, the one millionth MHFAider in the world was trained.

Having experienced recurrent episodes of depression herself, Betty brings an important consumer perspective to her work. She has held academic positions at the Australian National University and University of Melbourne, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at Deakin University.

She has received numerous awards for her work, including Member of the Order of Australia, Australia’s 100 Women of Influence Award, induction to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Australian Rotary Health Knowledge Dissemination Award, Exceptional Contribution to Mental Health Services Award, and Alumni Awards from the University of Canberra and University of NSW.

PROFESSOR PAUL YIP

Director, Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention
Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration
The University of Hong Kong

Prof Yip is the founding director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and a Professor at Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong. His research interests focus on suicide research and prevention, demography, biostatistics; and population health studies.

He is working on a number of research projects including Chief Executive Community projects on Suicide Prevention and alleviating poverty in Hong Kong, a strategic public policy on population policy.

He has won the Stengel Award by the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP), an outstanding researcher and student supervisor of the University of Hong Kong. Prof Yip also holds various positions at NGO and charity organizations such as Chair at Research Committee Family Planning Association of Hong Kong(2009-present), the Secretary General of Asian Population Association (2015- present); a Vice-President of the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) (2009-2012), Member of Population Policy Advisory Group of the Central Policy Unit of Hong Kong SAR (2012-2014), Board of Governors for Suicide Prevention Service (2006-present), and Associate Member of Central Policy Unit of Hong Kong SAR (2009-2010; 2012-2013).

MR YORAM COHEN

Yoram Cohen (Israel), 35-year volunteer in the field of Mental Health, seasoned director of leading NGO's in fields including mental health and child welfare in third-world countries. Dedicated leader who consistently strengthens organizations and who is continually involved in projects and consultations with organization leaders.

President of GAMIAN-Europe (Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks), Director of the WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health), Chairman of Enosh, the Israeli Mental Health Association and Chairman of Save A Child's Heart, Yoram represents GAMIAN-Europe at IAPO (International Association of Patient Organizations) and at the DDD (The Dialogue on Diabetes and Depression. He also represents the WFMH at the United Nations in Geneva.

Yoram has been a member of the Rotary Club of Holon, which is a part of Rotary International, since 1977 and has served twice as President of the Rotary Club of Holon and as District Governor of Rotary Israel (District 2490) from 1998-1999

Yoram Cohen is neither a doctor nor a psychiatrist, neither a mental-health care-provider nor an academic researcher but he has over thirty years of volunteer experience on the local, national and international levels leading organizations representing consumers and their families. Within that time Yoram has gained insight into the issues which concern patients, including patients' rights, treatment concerns, social and economic opportunity and combating ignorance about mental health. His experience allows him to speak about this issues from an informed and concerned point of view. Yoram Cohen is quite optimistic about the future of mental-health care and also about the continued integration of consumers into society.

Yoram and his wife Debbie live in Israel and have three children and nine grandchildren.

DR CARMELO AQUILINA

Speaker: Dr Carmelo Aquilina is the Director of Specialist Mental Health services for Older People with South West Sydney Local Health District. He graduated from the University of Malta in 1986 and started his psychiatric training in Liverpool in 1988 and trained as an old age psychiatrist in London in 1991 and has worked in the UK and New Zealand before coming to Australia in 2008. His academic interests include dementia, ethics, and health economics, the effects of air travel on cognition and self-neglect in old age.

MS SANDY GILLIES

Ms Gillies is a Gungarri woman from southwest Queensland. She has been involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health and mental health at local, state, national and international levels over the past 25 years. Sandy started her health career as an Enrolled Nurse in the 1990s in Charleville and then undertook other roles such as Senior Aboriginal Health Worker, Associate Lecturer University of Southern Queensland, and then Senior Management roles in both government and non-government organisations.

Sandy was the inaugural Director of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Hub for Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs. She was also part of a small team that established the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) where she fulfilled the role of Director, Engagement and Reporting, QMHC. Currently she holds the position of Acting Chief Operations Officer with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.

Sandy has a wealth of knowledge and background in key decision making roles, at senior-level policy and program development levels, through her various senior management positions both within the government and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health care sectors across Queensland. She has been an active member on a number of key Advisory Committees at both State and National levels and is currently a member on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health as well as the Western Queensland PHN Clinical Council.

Ms Gillies has been a strong advocate and leader in the provision of cultural awareness training over many years to both government and non-government organisations. She has co-authored a number of academic papers highlighting the need for the evaluation of cultural awareness training and its effectiveness in changing organisational culture and practice

DR LORAINE BARNABY .

DR. LORAINE BARNABY MB.BS. DM Psych (UWI) MPH (Hons) (Yale). I.F.A.P.A.

Dr. Loraine Barnaby is a Jamaican Consultant Psychiatrist. She is the National Representative for Jamaica and Co-Chair of the Council of National Representatives, on the .Board of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

She has been associated with IASP since 2003 and has made presentations at all the IASP conferences which she has attended.

She is a member of the Media Task force and collaborated with the team in the preparations for the booklet “Preventing Suicide: a Resource for Media Professionals”. She is also a member of the Special Interest Groups on Culture and Suicidal behaviour and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescents.

She has been Director of Jamaica’s Community Mental Health Service prior to working in the Bahamas, and then lecturing at the UWI. Retired, she last worked as part –time consultant at the Cayman Islands Hospital.

She was the local Chair of the IASP’s 2nd Caribbean Regional Symposium held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from December 3-5, 2015.

MR JORGE AROCHE

Jorge G. Aroche is a clinical psychologist and the Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). Jorge has worked with migrants and refugee survivors of torture and organized violence since before 1989, when he joined STARTTS, where he helped develop the then fledging service in various clinical and community development roles. He has led the organization since March 1997, through some of the most challenging times for refugee services in Australia.Under his leadership the organization grew in size, scope and complexity, from an organization with a staff of 25 in one office to over 180 staff in 8 offices, providing highly specialized and innovative services to assist in the rehabilitation of traumatized refugees.

STARTTS has played a crucial role since 1988 in the development and implementation of innovative approaches in the context of a systemic and integrative model of service provision to assist survivors of torture and refugee trauma to overcome the consequences of their traumatic experiences and rebuild their lives in Australia. STARTTS has assisted close to 50,000 individual clients from over 70 nationalities through clinical interventions and psychosocial programs. STARTTS also played important roles in Operation Safe Haven assisting 4,000 evacuees from Kosovo and in the development of mental health services in East Timor. STARTTS continues to be actively involved in national and international networks of agencies providing services to torture and trauma survivors.

Jorge is a member of the Executive Board of the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT), and held until the end of 2012 the posts of Secretary General of the International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR), and Vice President of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT).

In addition to his executive role Jorge continues to be actively involved in clinical and research activities at STARTTS and has presented widely on clinical and settlement issues for traumatized refugees on national and international platforms. He has also authored and co-authored several articles in refereed journals and book chapters on these topics.His contributions include a chapter titled “Ethno-cultural considerations in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers”, Chapter 4 in, Broken Spirits: The Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Refugees with PTSD. John P. Wilson and Boris Drozdek (Eds.) New York: Brunner-Routledge Press, 2004, and two chapters titled "The Search for Solutions: Programs, Services and Interventions to Facilitate Resettlement and Assist Refugee Families"(Ch.6); and "Culture, Family, and Social Networks: Ethno-cultural Influences on Recovery, Reconnection and Resettlement of Refugee Families (Ch. 10), in the four volume"Refugees Worldwide" (2012) Praeger Press, Ed by Uma A. Segal and Doreen Elliott; and The complex interaction between attachment, culture and refugee trauma: A challenge for clinical practice.(Ch. 7, pp 129) in Bindung und Migration (Atachment and Migration)(2016), K. H. Brisch(Ed), Klett-Cotta, Germany.

Professional qualifications

2013 Honorary Fellowship, University of Western Sydney
1993 Master of Clinical Psychology, University of Wollongong
1983 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of NSW

DR HENK PARMENTIER, MD DFFP

Dr Henk Parmentier, General Practitiioner, Croydon, South London, originates from the Netherlands and has been trained both in The Netherlands and in the UK where he finalised his GP training. He is a practising London General Practitioner with a special interest in Mental Health, facilitating and conducting Primary Care research.
He is a member of the WONCA (World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians) Working Party on Mental Health, Board Member and Director of the WFMF (World Federation for Mental Health), co-editor of the Journal Mental Health in Family Medicine and is a lecturer at the International Course in Primary Care Mental Health at the Nova University, Lisbon, Portugal.
He is also a member of the executive committee of PRIMHE (Primary Care Mental Health & Education), a charity that helps Primary Care Professionals and staff to achieve and deliver the best standards of mental health care, and an advisory board member of the EFPC (European Forum of Primary Care).
He currently holds the post of GP clinical Lead Out of Hours of Virgincare, a South London based Out of Hours Provider and is a co-author of "Companion to Primary Care Mental Health", a recently published textbook for primary care mental health.

PROFESSOR JEFFREY GELLER

Jeffrey L. Geller, M.D., M.P.H. is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) and Facility Medical Director of Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH), a 290 bed public psychiatric hospital. He received his undergraduate degree from Williams College, his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Masters in Public Health from Harvard University. Dr. Geller has spent his career focusing on the delivery of psychiatric care and treatment to those with the greatest needs and fewest resources. Before assuming his current position, Dr. Geller was the Director of Public Sector Psychiatry at UMMS for 26 years. Dr. Geller has served as a consultant to many U.S. states, to the U.S. Department of Justice, and to the FBI; worked as an international consultant; and served on many boards, e.g., Treatment Advocacy Center, Genesis Club, American Association of Community Psychiatrists, World Federation for Mental Health, Clubhouse International. Dr. Geller has long been active in the American Psychiatric Association including holding several positions on the Board of Trustees, and as the Book Review Editor and First Person Account Column Editor for Psychiatric Services. Dr. Geller is the author of over 125 articles in refereed journals, and of scores of book reviews and opinion pieces. He is the co-author of the book, Women of the Asylum.