Committees

Suicide Prevention Australia Committees

Our Committees are made up of Suicide Prevention Australia’s members and associate members. They bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, ensuring a well-rounded and inclusive approach to suicide prevention efforts.

The inclusion of individuals with lived and living experience in our committees provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by those at-risk and is integral to shaping our work.

You can read more about each committee and its members below.

Please note, members with LEP next to their names are currently involved in our Lived Experience Panel.

Meet Our Committee Members

The purpose of the Audit and Risk Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities, by reviewing and assessing:

  • Financial management and financial reports, including budgets, forecasts, internal and statutory financial statements
  • The independence and performance of external audit and the assurance provided by external audit
  • The effectiveness of risk management, including risks assessment, internal controls and other risk mitigations, and risk review

Members include Graham McLean, Darren Black and Rob Prugue.

The Governance Committee ensures that the board fulfills its legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities through adequate governance policy development, recruitment strategies, training programs, monitoring of board activities, and evaluation of board members’ performance. It also assesses and analyses constitutional changes and amendments as they relate to the ongoing development of the organisation.

Members include Phillip Cornwell (Chair), Angela Emslie, Graeme Holdsworth (LEP) and Nicolas Brown.

The Policy Committee provides advice to the Suicide Prevention Australia Board, and the policy team through the CEO, on priorities, content, activities and processes for policy development and advocacy.

Current members include Stan Piperoglou, Graeme Holdsworth (LEP), James Bell, Tara Hunt, Stephen Scott, Tom Riley, Jenny Smith (LEP) and Vickianne Smith.

The Research Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Don Nutbeam, guides the work of the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund with the support of expert researchers, service providers and people with lived experience of suicide.

Members include Professor Donald Nutbeam – Chair, Professor Myf Maple – Deputy Chair, Dr Zac Seidler, Professor Jane Pirkis, Professor David Crompton OAM, Associate Professor Fiona Shand, Dr Jaelea Skehan, Julie Robotham, Dr Jo Robinson, Dr Nikki Jamieson (LEP), and Rosiel Elwyn (LEP).

Learn More

The Joint State and Territory Committees have been established to enable Suicide Prevention Australia members to:

  • Share knowledge and discuss developments at Suicide Prevention Australia and across the sector.
  • Discuss State or Territory specific suicide prevention service delivery and policy updates, and key areas of concern.
  • Act as a conduit to Suicide Prevention Australia about current and emerging suicide prevention issues in the State or Territory.

ACT & NSW

Emily Brown (Chair)ACT
Ann-Maree Hartley NSW
Belinda ConnellACT
Jen WaltmonNSW
Jenny Smith (LEP)NSW
Glenn Cotter (LEP)NSW
David PointonNSW
Gillian HuntNSW

NT & QLD

Ally Kelly QLD
Justin Geange (Chair)QLD
Robyn LawrenceQLD
Melanie SchroderQLD
Ross RomeoQLD
Linda FieldingQLD
Michelle DicksonQLD
Lidia Di Lembo (LEP)NT
Rosiel Elwyn (LEP)QLD
James BellQLD
Dani LinossierNT

WA & SA

Karen McColl (Chair)SA
Jo DraytonWA
Suzi EvansSA
Lorna HirschWA
Jody O’Connor SA
Michael TraynorSA

TAS & VIC

Alison Asche (Chair) VIC
Cecily SchwabVIC
Graeme Holdsworth (LEP)VIC
Mark Davis (LEP)TAS
Michael Kelly TAS
Renee TsatsisVIC
Laura Grattidge TAS

Get Involved

Whilst we are not currently taking applications, expressions of interest will be sent to our members when positions on our committees become available.

Become A Member