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Meet the speakers
Throughout the two sessions of the Zero Suicide International Forum you will hear from some of our most prominent leaders involved in the implementation of the Zero Suicide Healthcare framework.
Click on their name to view the program with a short descriptor of their presentations.
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Prof Nicholas Procter
Professor Nicholas Procter is Chair: Mental Health Nursing and Professorial Lead for Nursing at the University of South Australia. He is author of more than 300 academic outputs and for the past 25 years has been working specifically in development of state and national policy, lived experience co-design, trauma informed practice and suicide prevention. He is a former member of the Expert Advisory Group to the Prime Minister’s National Suicide Prevention Adviser and the NMHC Steering Committee for the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. Professor Procter currently serves as Australia’s National Representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Ms Sarah Davis-Gilmore
Sarah Davis-Gilmore is a Carer Lived Experience Worker at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), in Gippsland, Victoria, where they lead and mentor Carer Peer Support Workers and advocate for systemic reform from a family/carer perspective. Sarah collaborates across the organisation, including as part of LRH’s Zero Suicide Improvement Team, to embed trauma-informed, family/carer-inclusive, and rights-based approaches. Drawing on both lived and learned expertise, Sarah is passionate about the transformational power of lived experience to drive meaningful cultural change and system reform.
Mr Matt Welch
Awaiting information
Dr Brian Ahmedani
Dr. Brian Ahmedani is a senior scientist and director of the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health in the United States. He is a licensed clinician and is one of the world’s leading experts in suicide prevention currently serving as Principal Investigator of several large research projects in the US and globally. He serves as Executive Director of Zero Suicide International at Henry Ford. He has published over 200 manuscripts and has served on numerous policy and advisory committees. Dr. Ahmedani received the 2022 Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Ms Michelle Galli
Michelle Galli is a highly experienced Registered Nurse and Midwife with 30 years of clinical and management expertise. As the Quality, Risk, and Safety Coordinator for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, she leads the implementation of a Restorative, Just, and Learning Culture across acute, aged, mental health, and community services. In her first project role, Michelle is embracing the opportunity to drive positive change, fostering a culture of healing, learning, resilience, and continuous improvement across the health community in rural South Australia.
Dr Kathy Turner
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Dr Mohammed Usman
Usman MBBS, PG Dip Cl Psych, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
Dr Usman is a senior Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with many years’ experience in public and private mental health services who provides clinical services to children and young people with developmental disabilities. He is committed to improving the mental health care of children and young people. Dr Usman as the Clinical Director, CAMHS, jointly leads CAMHS in South Australia, together with the Director, Strategic Mental Health Operations.
Ms Adie Gibbons
Adie is a Mental Health Nurse with close to 40 years’ experience working in Mental Health in the UK and Australia, including working in Inpatient, Community and Forensic units. She has over 10 years’ experience in senior management and leadership roles in WA and Tasmania. Adie is passionate about consumers’ involvement in their care, the co-design of services and the strategic planning of future services and improvements in the care WCHN delivers.
As Director Strategic Mental Health Operations Adie works closely with Dr Mohammed Usman, Clinical Director to lead Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services across the state.
Assoc Prof John Brayley
Associate Professor John Brayley has nearly 40 years of healthcare experience, holding leadership roles in mental health, general health, and the disability sector. Since May 2018, he has served as Chief Psychiatrist, overseeing standards, monitoring the sector, and developing policies, including suicide prevention recommendations. Under his leadership, the Chief Psychiatrist’s Office (OCP) has implemented inspections of mental health facilities and collaborated with the Mental Health Commission to create a Mental Health Services Plan for South Australia. Additionally, the OCP developed a Human Rights Analysis Tool for assessing new initiatives and supported the Suicide Prevention Council in establishing the SA Suicide Prevention Act.
Mr Keiran Kinsella
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Ms Merryl Whyte
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Ms Nicki Milionis
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Mr Adam Bryant
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Tuesday 1st April 2025
Queensland
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Victoria
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Ms Temisha Grohs
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Mr David Thompson
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Zero Suicide Breakout Clinics
Evaluation what to measure? When? How?
Dr Alan Woodward
Alan has worked in mental health and suicide prevention for 20 years as a policy adviser, evaluator and executive leader. He has led innovation and quality improvement initiatives in mental health and suicide prevention, including peer support and community-based programs. He has specific expertise in crisis helplines and digital support services. Alan holds a Master’s in Social Science and Policy, a Business Degree and a Diploma in Arts/Communications. He is a Fellow of the Australian Evaluation Society.
Dr Brian Ahmedani
Dr. Brian Ahmedani is a senior scientist and director of the Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health in the United States. He is a licensed clinician and is one of the world’s leading experts in suicide prevention currently serving as Principal Investigator of several large research projects in the US and globally. He serves as Executive Director of Zero Suicide International at Henry Ford. He has published over 200 manuscripts and has served on numerous policy and advisory committees. Dr. Ahmedani received the 2022 Research Award from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Engaging Family and Support Networks
Ms Leigh Murray
Awaiting information
Ms Sarah Davis-Gilmore
Sarah Davis-Gilmore is a Carer Lived Experience Worker at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), in Gippsland, Victoria, where they lead and mentor Carer Peer Support Workers and advocate for systemic reform from a family/carer perspective. Sarah collaborates across the organisation, including as part of LRH’s Zero Suicide Improvement Team, to embed trauma-informed, family/carer-inclusive, and rights-based approaches. Drawing on both lived and learned expertise, Sarah is passionate about the transformational power of lived experience to drive meaningful cultural change and system reform.
Staff wellbeing and support after suicide
Ms Bianca Lavorgna
BBSci, GradCertBerCouns, MCouns&PsychTh, CBP
Bianca is an experienced Bereavement Counsellor, Educator, Clinical Supervisor, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer with expertise in developing, delivering, and coordinating support services and programs. She is currently the Learning and Development Manager with StandBy and a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement.
Bianca comes with specialist knowledge and experience in working with suicide bereavement, children, and adolescents. She is the co-author of The Yellow Leaf, a children’s book that aims to help families to understand that grief is not linear and that there is no perfect way to grieve. Bianca is passionate about providing bereavement support, companionship, advocacy, and education, creating a community where grief can be talked about openly and support can be provided among friends, family, and wider society.
Dr Wendy Muller
BBus/BPsychSc(Hons) MHRM DPsychOrg
Wendy Muller is a registered Psychologist, endorsed in Organisational Psychology. As an experienced consultant, Wendy has established significant knowledge and skills in the provision of end-to-end facilitation of clinical and organisational interventions, including psychological assessments, organisational health reviews, workplace wellbeing, coaching and supervision. Wendy holds a Doctorate of Psychology (Organisational) in addition to a Master of Human Resources Management, and has spent several years gaining experience in the areas of organisational development and training, recruitment and selection, performance management and wellbeing practices. As a passionate researcher, Wendy is recognised for the qualitative investigation of work-related psychological stress on the romantic relationship.
Working with Indigenous Communities
Australia
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New Zealand
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Using data to assess need when designing for Zero
Mr Matt Welch
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TBC
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