The 2026 Stigma and Discrimination Symposium and Roundtable project is being delivered in partnership by the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne and the National Mental Health Commission.  

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The project is governed by a steering group that brings together a diverse set of mental health leaders from across Australia.  

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Steering Group Co-Chairs 

Dr Chris Groot – Senior Lecturer, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne; Co-Chair, Global Anti-Stigma Alliance; Co-Chair, Mental Ill-Health Stigma Researchers Australia. 

Tim Heffernan – Chair, BEING Mental Health Consumers; Board Member, Mind.  

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Steering Group Members ​

Tracey Andrews – Deputy CEO, National Mental Health Commission.  

De Backman-Hoyle – National Manager, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Mental Health Carers Australia. ​

Professor The Honourable Kevin Bell AO KC – Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University.  

Priscilla Brice – CEO, National Mental Health Consumer Alliance.  

Professor Allan Fels AO – University of Melbourne; Chair, Mind Australia. 

Rachel Green – CEO, SANE Australia. 

Maria Katsonis – School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne. 

Ryan McGlaughlin – Chair, Wayahead; Co-Chair, Global Anti-Stigma Alliance. 

Associate Professor Amy Morgan – Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne; Co-Chair, Mental Ill-Health Stigma Researchers Australia. 

Mark Orr AM – CEO, Flourish Australia; Adjunct Associate Professor, UNSW International Centre of Future Health Systems. 

Professor Nicola Reavely – Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne. 

Representative TBA – Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre.  

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