Our Board

Suicide Prevention Australia is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with our Constitution. The Board is supported by Suicide Prevention Australia Management, Suicide Prevention Australia Members and people with lived experience of suicide. Suicide Prevention Australia Board committees include the Governance Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee.

In addition to supporting the effective governance of Suicide Prevention Australia, directors, members and people with lived experience of suicide help to guide our work as members of Suicide Prevention Australia program advisory committees and the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. Members of our Board, governance and program committees are passionate advocates for suicide prevention in Australia and bring a wealth of insights and lived experience to their role. We’re grateful for their guidance and input.

See below for further detail on our Board composition and how directors are elected.

OUR BOARD

GRAHAM MCLEAN

Chair

Graham McLean joined the Board of Suicide Prevention Australia in 2021 as an independent director and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.

Appointed 2021

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Tom Brideson Suicide Prevention Australia Board member

TOM BRIDESON

Deputy Chair

Over the past 30 years Tom Brideson has been active in mental health and health policy, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), clinical mental health care, suicide prevention, education, and mental health leadership.

Appointed 2022

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DARREN BLACK

Director & Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

Darren Black is the CEO of SuperFriend, an organisation that designs and delivers mental health initiatives that enable workplaces to thrive. 

Elected 2021

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PROF FIONA SHAND

Director

Fiona Shand is Associate Professor and head of suicide prevention research at the Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales.

Elected 2021

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JORDAN FRITH

Director

Jordan Frith is a lived/living experience representative with personal experiences of suicidal distress and bereavement. Over the past six years she has worked collaboratively across government and not-for-profit agencies to enshrine the voices of people with lived experience in system design and governance.

Chair, Lived Experience Advisory Committee

Appointed 2024

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CATHIE ARMOUR

Director & Chair of Governance Committee

Cathie Armour joined the Board of Suicide Prevention Australia as an independent director in 2024. She is a member of the Governance Committee.

Appointed 2024

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Rachel Fishlock, Suicide Prevention Australia Board member

RACHEL FISHLOCK

Director

Rachel is a proud descendant of the Yuin Nation and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.

Elected 2024

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JAMES BELL

Director

James has been involved with Suicide Prevention Australia for many years, formerly chairing the NSW-ACT Joint State Committee, being a member of the QLD State Committee and member of the National Policy Committee.  

Elected 2024

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DAVID BUTT

Director

David has worked in health and human services for more than 40 years, for much of that time in CEO and Non-Executive Director roles. Originally a journalist, David first worked in the health system on the introduction and sustainability of Medicare. 

Chair, Policy Advisory Committee

Appointed 2024

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JORGEN GULLESTRUP

Director

Jorgen is currently CEO of MATES in Construction Australia.  A plumber by trade with a lived experience of suicide and mental ill-health Jorgen was part of establishing the MATES program to reduce suicide and improve mental health across the construction industry.  Jorgen has worked in executive roles over the past 25 years as a trade union leader and not-for-profit CEO.

Elected 2025

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ANGELA RILEY

Director

Angela is a seasoned global financial, operational and risk management executive. Her industry experience includes financial services, manufacturing, utilities, port operations, indigenous community development, agriculture, higher education and property development and management.

Appointed 2025

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Governance Structure

Board composition

The Suicide Prevention Australia Board is currently comprised of a maximum of 11 Directors in accordance with Clause 5.1 of our Constitution, and includes both Elected Directors and Independent Directors. Up to five Elected Directors are elected by vote of the authorised Representatives of Organisational Members (Clause 5.2), and up to eight Independent Directors are appointed by the Board (Clause 5.3). Each Director must be a Member, or the authorised Representative of an Organisational Member. In general, Directors are elected for a three-year term with an overall maximum term of nine years.

Becoming a Director / Nomination Process

For the election of Elected Directors, Suicide Prevention Australia gives Members at least 60 days’ notice ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) inviting nominations, in accordance with Clause 5.2(a) of the Constitution. Nominations must be made in writing, signed by the candidate, and lodged with the Secretary using the official Nomination Form at least 30 days before the AGM (Clause 5.2(b)). If the number of candidates equals the number of vacancies, the candidates are taken to be elected. If the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies, a vote is conducted among the authorised Representatives of Organisational Members ahead of the AGM, with results announced at the AGM.

Details of current vacancies, key dates and the Nomination Form for the current election cycle are available in our annual Call for Nominations which is circulated to Members.

Imagine a world without suicide.
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