Our Team

At the heart of the Collaborative Centre is a diverse and dedicated team united by a shared vision: better mental health and wellbeing for all Victorians through collaborating and learning together.

Our team brings together a wide range of backgrounds, disciplines, and lived experiences – including people with consumer and carer lived and living experience, researchers, and practitioners working across the mental health and wellbeing landscape.

Together, we’re building a culture ingrained with respect and inclusion, where different perspectives are valued and every voice matters. We’re excited to share more about the people behind our work.

Co-CEO (Clinical/Academic)

Professor Sarah Wilson, Co-CEO, PhD, FAMHS, FASSA, GAICD (she/her)

Sarah is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and an internationally recognised clinical neuropsychologist and cognitive neuroscientist. Her work in music neuroscience has shown how music can shape brain function, recovery and wellbeing. She is passionate about translating research into practice and bringing lived, clinical and research expertise together to create a mental health system that truly works for people.

Professor Sarah Wilson (she/her)

The Co-CEO (Lived Experience) role is currently vacant and as the terms of the current Collaborative Centre Board members expire on 31 August 2025, the appointment of the Lived Experience Co-CEO will be the responsibility of the next Board.

How we operate

The Collaborative Centre is a public sector agency, funded by the Victorian Government. We were established under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic), and we work closely with the Victorian Department of Health towards our shared goal of transforming Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing system.

We have a skills-based Board, who are is accountable to the Minister for Mental Health, and our team is led by our Co-CEOs in partnership with lived expertise.

The Lived and Living Experience Governance (LLEG) Committee is a subcommittee of the Board, and they provide expert advice to the Board and our team.

The work of the Collaborative Centre is driven by our Board, which is made up of nine members with a diverse range of skills and perspectives.

Our Board members bring lived and living experience leadership, research excellence and clinical expertise to their roles in leading transformative change across Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.

Our Board

The work of the Collaborative Centre is strategically guided by our Board, consisting of nine members with a diverse range of skills and perspectives.

No one organisation can achieve what needs to be done alone. One of the primary reasons we exist is to collaborate with organisations and individuals to improve care, treatment and support for people living with mental ill-health or psychological distress, and their carers, families, supporters and kin.

Meet our Board members

Gerard Naughtin, Chairperson

Amelia Walters, Deputy Chairperson

Professor Lisa Brophy, Member

Gill Callister, Member

Dr David Fenn, Member

Associate Professor Bridget Hamilton, Member

Sheree Lowe, Member

Phong Nguyen, Member

Fionn Skiotis, Member

Our Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) committee

We have a Board-appointed Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) sub-committee. FAR is directly responsible to the Board and oversees the Centre’s risk and financial management and compliance with relevant laws and policies.

Our current FAR committee members

Suzie Thoraval (Chair)
Associate Professor Bridget Hamilton
Dr Gerard Naughtin
Lesley Ber
Professor Lisa Brophy
Roger Chao