Cathy has over four decades of experience leading people, managing organisations and projects, many as a Chief Executive Officer.  She has worked in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector at both CEO and State and National Peak levels since 2002. She has worked as the lead consultant with the Tropical Brain and Mind Foundation’s Mentally Healthy City Townsville developing the 7 Ways to wellbeing for Townsville sectors and community organisations.

She has a Masters in Metaphysical Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Diploma of Teaching TAFE, as well as Diplomas in Community Welfare, Frontline Management, Training and Assessment, and Business Management.

She is currently the President/Chair of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA), Immediate Past President/Chair Qld Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) and Carers Australia (CA).

As the former Federal Member for Herbert, Cathy’s work involved navigating social and economic policy, driving strategic direction, and serving on various committees.

Cathy has extensive experience relating to the challenges that face people living with mental ill health both in her private life and professional work as a leader, she also has a living experience in the role of an unpaid carer.

Randal Banbari Ross of the Jangaru (Sunset) coolengi (Eagle) is of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander descent from Townsville and surrounding districts. He is a Senior Law Man Yuru/Bindal and Umpila Aboriginal tribes and a descendant of Erub (Darnley Island) and his Australian South Sea Islander (Kanaka) connection hails from Tanna, Santo and Ambrym Island.

Randal currently works with North and West Remote Health as the Manager for Cultural and Community Relations covering more than 50 communities through Townsville, Gulf and Central Queensland as far as Longreach and Birdsville and east coast areas of Mackay, Sarina and Whitsundays through to Ingham.

Randal is currently still present on numerous boards:

• Townsville Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health (TAIHS)

• Garbutt Magpies Sporting and Cultural Association

• THHS – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Advisory Council

• THHS – Secure Mental Health First Nation Elders Council

• Ronald MacDonald Charity House Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group

• Central Queensland University – First Nations Elders & Leaders Council

Randal is also the Co-founder of a national recognized family therapeutic healing program Red Dust Healing which has been operating for over seventeen years nationally and internationally.

He currently works and represents several Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) for several organisations including the NWRH Innovate RAP, Ronald Macdonald House Charity Innovate RAP and Ausco Modular Homes Innovate RAP, Central Queensland University.

Randal is committed to ensure many of our Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian South Sea Islanders peoples have services available to access in this continual evolving society.

Lee Kynaston is Deputy Principal at Pimlico State High School, where she provides strategic leadership with a strong focus on inclusion and evidence-informed practice. Lee has maintained a strong interest in, and commitment to, mental health and wellbeing in education for over 25 years. She previously served as an executive member of the Tropical Brain and Mind Foundation Board. Lee brings an education-sector perspective to support research that meaningfully connects evidence with schools and community settings.

Craig Stack is a long time contributor to North Queensland’s business and community sector. A Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and the Urban Development Institute of Australia, he is also a Past President and Life Member of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, where he helped strengthen the region’s business advocacy.

As co founder and Managing Director of Knight Frank’s Townsville and Mackay offices, Craig brings more than 30 years of regional experience to numerous advisory and industry groups. He began his career as a valuer before settling in Townsville in 1987 and has remained deeply involved in local economic and community development ever since.

Craig now contributes his regional insight as a member of the Community Advisory Group for the Margaret Roderick Centre for Mental Health Research, supporting initiatives that benefit North Queensland communities

LTCOL Kylie Hasse is a senior defence health leader with over 20 years’ experience spanning clinical practice, organisational leadership, and strategic health capability development. She has held key appointments across Army, Special Operations Command and Joint Health Command, including command of 4th Health Battalion and management of Australia’s largest garrison health facility during the COVID 19 response. Her operational service on OP SLIPPER and OP OKRA included strategic health planning within coalition environments, for which she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Kylie now serves as the Deputy Director ADF Health Strategy, shaping enterprise level health policy and capability for the Australian Defence Force. She brings expertise in governance, risk, workforce management and health system integration.

Marianna Masiorski - First generation Australian – born of Polish parents who migrated to Australia a few years before she was born. English is actually her second language, speaking Polish at home until she started attending pre-school.

Marianna graduated from James Cook University of North Queensland in 1997 with an Honours degree in Psychology and become a fully registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australian in 1999.

Marianna has held positions ranging from supporting women through a domestic violence, private practice, working closely with GP’s, providing supports to Queensland emergency services including the Firecare program and the SES for which she received an Australia Day commendation in 2004. Marianna has also been the Chair of the Mackay and Sunshine Coast Branches of the Australian Psychological Society, representing those regions at state and national levels.

In addition to working directly with clients, Marianna has also engaged in managerial positions such as with NWRH, where she has worked for 8 years. In this role, Marianna has operationalised many early intervention and prevention, drug and alcohol support, disability support and mental health services ranging from supporting people experiencing mild to moderate mental health disorders through to severe and complex conditions.