Sophy Athan

Sophy has had diverse roles as a health advocate in the sector for over 15 years with a strong interest in mental health, disability, aged care and women’s health. She also brings experience from employment in senior executive roles at the state and local government levels. Sophy currently Chairs or is a member of a number of consumer and carer committees across the region and more broadly including Health Issues Centre (Chair), AHPRA Community Advisory Committee, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Community Advisory Committee (Chair), and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Community Advisory Committee, just to name a few. Sophy is currently a Director of Euroforce Music. She has presented at conferences and workshops on the consumer and carer perspective; a perspective she continues to share in her role as Chair for the Community Reference Group.

Wina Kung

Wina is a qualified social worker with a Bachelor in Social Work and a Masters in Social Work, together with a Masters in Social Science (Human Resources Management & Training). She has been working in not for profit sector for over 23 years across ageing, disability, community development, family, children and youth services. Wina has broad knowledge of the policies and services associated with these sectors. As the Senior Manager Community Care of Brotherhood of St Laurence and Executive Manager (Positive Ageing) at UnitingCare lifeAssist, Wina oversees the operations of the community aged care services and as well as provides strategic leadership for her organisations. Wina has built a strong reputation across the community sector and has constructively worked with a number of agencies in the inner and outer eastern region. Wina is also an active member on a broad number of state-wide, regional and local committees and has established relationships with many community groups.

Heather McMinn

Heather has more than 20 years’ experience in the health and community sectors. She is currently in the role of Manager for Inclusion and Diversity at EACH, which involves working collaboratively across all parts of the organisation to incorporate the voices, experience and opinions of all community members accessing EACH services, for themselves or family members. This includes consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community members, people who speak a first language other than English, the GLBTIQ Community, and people living with disability or chronic health conditions. Heather’s background has seen her provide a range of counselling and support services directly to families and through many community groups in the eastern region. In addition to a diverse and rich working life, Heather has family insight into degenerative chronic health conditions and living with a disability.

Marie Piu

Marie is the Chief Executive Officer of Tandem which is the Victorian peak body for mental health carers and volunteers as a member of the Women’s Health East Board of Governance. She has previously been a member of both the Network of Carers of people with a Mental Illness Board and the Executive of The Victorian Aids Council as well as participating in a variety of community advisory, steering groups and professional committees. As a carer of several close family members, Marie brings both professional and personal knowledge to the Community Advisory Council and in-depth knowledge of the system and processes relating to the health sector.

Hamish Russell

Hamish was a senior executive with the Victorian Health Department and is currently a consumer representative on the Quality and Clinical Governance Committee at Inspiro Community Health. He has served as a Board Member of several community and health organisations in the Outer East, including serving as Chair of the Yarra Ranges Council Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee for over nine years. He was involved in the creation and maintenance of a health profile for the Shire of Yarra Ranges and has strong links with a range of health service providers and community organisations in the area. Hamish is passionate about improving health outcomes for the ageing population and people with chronic disease issues.

Amelia Walters

As a Consumer Advisor and tender evaluation panel member to EMPHN, Amelia has assisted in tendering efforts for Youth Services, After-hours Care, and Stepped-Care models. Amelia is currently the Lived Experience Researcher to the ARTD Consultants and University of Melbourne’s independent evaluation of the EMPHN Mental Health Stepped Care model. Amelia is also an inaugural Youth Advisor to the National Board of headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. She has previously served as a National Young Ambassador for UNICEF Australia and in peer work roles with the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria and Qheadspace. Amelia is currently completing undergraduate studies in Sociology and Philosophy as a Chancellor’s Scholar at the University of Melbourne.