Peter McGeorge

During the past 20 years he has been involved in national policy development, reviews of mental health services, and the establishment of systems of integrated community and hospital-based mental health care.  He has previously held positions as Director of Mental Health Services in Auckland and Wellington, and has worked extensively as a consultant to various health boards, government departments and non-government organisations.  He currently combines his work at the Mental Health Commission with his role as the Director of Mental Health Services at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.

Dr McGeorge is a co-patron of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and he has been a board member and advisor to a number of other organisations, including the Youth Horizons Trust (NZ) for young people with Severe Conduct Disorders.  He is a Life Member of the World Federation for Mental Health, and in 2004 he was made a Companion of the Queens Service Order for contributions to public service in New Zealand.

Ray Watson

Ray has wide leadership experience within the health sector, particularly mental health.

His iwi affiliations are Kai Tahu and Te Atiawa. Previously Chief Executive of the Ngai Tahu Development Corporation (2001-2005) and Chief Executive of Lakeland Health (1996-2000) in Rotorua and Taupo, Ray also held the roles of Manager Mental Health Services (1994-1996) and Director of Area Mental Health Services (1994-1997 with Lakeland Health. He was Acute Services Manager for Canterbury's Healthlink South Mental Health Services (1993-1994) and Manager Service Development of Otago's Mental Health Services (1992-1993).

Bice Awan

Bice Awan brings extensive leadership and governance experience to her role as a Commissioner.  She is currently the Chief Executive of the Skylight Trust, an organisation that has led the way in providing support for children facing all kinds of change, loss and grief, and she has more than 30 years of involvement in the public, private and consulting sectors in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. She has also worked extensively in the health and disability sector, including time as the Director of Rehabilitation for a 2500-bed teaching hospital in Canada.

Selwyn Katene

Selwyn is the General Manager. He reports to the Chair Commissioner by providing strategic advice and overseeing the daily operations of the Commission. He is also responsible for managing the Commission's staff in work programmes and budgets. Maintaining and developing strong relationships with stakeholders, in particular service users and their families, is also a key consideration.

Vanessa Mackay

Vanessa provides executive assistance to the General Manager and the Commission's Project Team.

Keith Hartley

Keith is the Commission's Manager of Strategic Projects.  He is supported in this work by a team of three senior analysts.

Cushla Managh   (listen)

Cushla is the Commission's Communications Manager, and is responsible for communicating the Commission's vision of mental health.

Karen Coutts

Karen, who is the Manager of Sector Development, is responsible for five staff working to support the Commission's broad advocacy responsibilities.

Jane Dugdale 

Jane is a senior analyst providing policy advice in the field of child and adolescent mental health and addiction. She is currently looking at legal, clinical and ethical issues relating to family inclusion in the care of this group of service users.

Murray Coppen

Murray is a senior analyst providing policy advice on funding elements involved in the provision of mental health services. He focuses on the ring-fenced funds targetted at service development to meet the needs of the 3 percent of the population considered severely unwell but also takes into account funding streams across health and the wider social services sector.

Catherine Inder  

Catherine's position is the result of a partnership between the Mental Health Commission and the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, and it involves working on issues that have the potential to make a positive difference to people requiring support for their mental health problems and/or addictions.

Susan Cuthbert

Susan is a senior analyst and is involved in a number of commission work areas at a strategic and policy level. She has a particular focus on promoting socially inclusive practices within the mental health and addiction sector, and across sectors.

Constance Lehman

Constance is the Manager of Monitoring and Research, and is responsible for measuring progress on the implementation of Te Tahuhu as well as research addressing matters of concern to the mental health and addiction sector.

Shari Mason

Shari provides data and statistical analysis to the Commission relating to the DHBs' and mental health providers' performance in terms of implementing the national mental health strategy.

Jaime Greaves

Jaime is a Senior Analyst and is involved with a number of Commission work areas including strategic policy development, sector monitoring, funding and accountability and peer support.

Debbie Peterson

Debbie is a Senior Research Advisor responsible for fulfilling the Commission's function to stimulate and undertake research into any matter relevant to mental illness.

Sue Shotter

Sue is the Commission's Administration Manager.

Jolene Phillips

Jolene provides executive assistance support to the three Mental Health Commissioners and organises district sector visits.

Carin Posthuma

Carin is the Commission's Finance Officer.

Christine Frewing

Christine is the Commission's receptionist.

Elizabeth Tomescu

Elizabeth is developing the Commission's databases.

Lynn Evans

Lynn is an administration assistant.