WAAMH's new president and board changes
WAAMH would like to welcome board director Kerry Hawkins to the position of president, after outgoing president Alison Xamon decided to step down after after three years in the role.
Kerry has been a carer representative on the WAAMH board for four years and has acquired a solid understanding of the issues facing the mental health sector. This experience is complemented by her professional career in the private, education and public sectors, including working as a project management consultant at KPMG, a high school teacher, and a strategic advisor for Native Title Tribunal.
Kerry has previously worked as a senior program manager for the Mental Health Commission and as a Carer Consultant for North Metro Adult Health Service. Her other board appointments include vice president of Helping Minds, WA director for Emerging Minds, and director within the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
A graduate of Boston University's Global Leadership Institute's Recovery Class of 2013, Kerry is also able to draw on her lived experience as a family member.
In other board changes, Mental Illness Fellowship of WA CEO Monique Williamson (who has been a co-opted board member of WAAMH since 2014) and Richmond Wellbeing CEO Neil Guard were voted in as board directors, while Helen Lynes and Marina Korica's board positions came to an end.
Neil joined Richmond Wellbeing in May 2016, following a career spanning 15 years in the corporate sector and 17 years in both the government and and more recently, not-for-profit sectors in WA. From 2008 - 2015, Neil was the executive director of the WA Drug and Alcohol Office and he also played a leadership role in the development of two state policies: Mental Health 2020 and the Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs Plan 2015 - 2015.
Monique has a Masters in Social Change and Development and worked in community services since 1990, in both the NGO and public sectors in WA. She spent the past decade in senior sector development roles including with the peak body National Disability Services and as an executive director of the Disability Service Commission. As MIFWA’s CEO Monique works alongside people and their families, staff, volunteers and the Board of Management to develop and implement support and services for people experiencing mental health issues.
WAAMH would like to thank Alison Xamon, Marina Korica and Helen Lynes for their service, dedication and commitment shown to the board and WAAMH's objectives, and wishes them all well in their future endeavours.
At WAAMH's Annual General Meeting on Friday 4 November, Sheryl Carmody was made an Honorary Member and the 2015/16 Annual Report was unveiled.