Lou Wardlaw

Chairperson

A founder of One in Five, Lou was instrumental in establishing the organisation in 2003. Following her brother Matt “Mouse” Wardlaw’s death in 2001, she became a passionate mental health advocate and believes medical research is crucial to improving outcomes for people living with mental illness. 

As a mother of two daughters with mental health challenges, she hopes to help develop better treatments and find cures. For over 20 years Lou worked in senior operational leadership roles for Transurban. 

Josephine Hook

Secretary

Jo is an educational professional and qualified teacher with 18 years’ experience in research and education in secondary and higher education. She currently leads a team of education designers in the Arts Faculty at Monash University to develop academic education practices and improve student experiences and outcomes.

Jo has worked as a historian, authoring histories of Melbourne welfare agencies and contributing to collected works. As a parent, teacher and LGBTIQA+ ally, Jo is committed to building safe, inclusive cultures and communities which support wellbeing and mental health.

Katrina Somerville

Treasurer

Katrina joined the Board as Treasurer in 2023, bringing her extensive financial acumen and discipline.

Currently working in Commercial Management for ASX Top 20 organisation Transurban, Katrina has over 20 years’ experience in various financial and commercial roles. An enthusiastic contributor, Katrina is interested in bringing hope to those experiencing mental illness, and educating family and friends about research and related issues.

Kristine Cooney

Director

Joining the board in 2023, Kristine is the Executive Manager for Policy, Strategy & Impact at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), where she leads research, policy, evaluation, and program investments and partnership activities. 

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Kristine has over 20 years of leadership experience in health promotion, customer experience management, and large strategic operations in Australia and the UK. An authentic, passionate, and values-based leader, Kristine is known for her ability to drive impactful strategies and foster high-performing teams.

Cath Jowett

Director

Cath is a highly respected Partner at KPMG, bringing extensive expertise in leadership, strategy, and organisational transformation. Passionate about mental health advocacy, Cath combines her professional acumen with a deep commitment to driving change through mental health research.

She leverages her skills to drive impactful partnerships, fundraising initiatives and foster collaborations that enable cutting-edge research, ensuring tangible outcomes for those affected by mental illness. Inspired by personal experiences, she is dedicated to reducing stigma, raising awareness, and promoting evidence-based solutions to support those affected by mental illness.

Troy McInnes

Director

Troy has more than 20 years’ experience in People & Culture roles across a broad range of sectors and organisations including Austin Health, Swinburne University, Transurban and News Corp. He was appointed to the Board in 2023 and brings extensive commercial knowledge. Troy is passionate about the huge potential of research to improve the lives of those impacted by mental illness.

Lucy Cleeve

Director

Lucy is a copywriter and editor for Apple, and has written for major brands and publications across Australia and Asia. Previously, she worked as a speech pathologist. Lucy wants to support medical research into mental illness through clear, effective communication. She joined the Board in 2023.

Dr Nico Clark

Director

Dr Nico Clark has worked in the field of addiction medicine for over 25 years, including 10 years with the World Health Organisation in the Substance Use Team and as Medical Director of the North Richmond Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR). He is currently also Head of Addiction Medicine at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University in Melbourne.

Bruce Williams

Director

Joining the board in 2019, Bruce has over 20 years experience in the advertising industry. He is the Executive Creative Director at Bastion Brands, an Australian health communications agency, and has produce award-winning work for some of the world's most enduring brands.

Michael Dalic

Director

Michael is a leader of digital transformation and technology product, delivery and innovation, with experience working across a number of sectors, including Retail, Health and Utilities, in enterprise, SaaS and consulting capacities. Michael is Head of Product at Lumary, a software platform provider supporting Disability Support, Allied Health and Aged Care at Home providers. He is passionate about advancing the understanding of mental health challenges and the available support options.