Announcement: Co-CEO departure

The Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing announces that Carolyn Gillespie will be stepping down from the role of Co-Chief Executive Officer, effective 12 June 2025.

We extend our deepest thanks to Carolyn for her leadership and commitment to advancing mental health and wellbeing in Victoria. Carolyn commenced her position as Co-CEO at a critical time in the establishment of the Collaborative Centre. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the Collaborative Centre’s vision through our first strategic plan, fostering meaningful partnerships, and laying the foundation for a collaborative, lived and living experience-led approach to the Collaborative Centre’s work.

Carolyn's contributions have set a strong course for the Centre's continued development and lasting impact. We wish her every success in her future endeavours and are appreciative of the commitment and positive contributions Carolyn brought to the Collaborative Centre and the broader mental health sector.

The Collaborative Centre remains committed to centering lived and living experience in everything that we do. As the current terms for Board members expire on 31 August 2025, it is appropriate that appointment to the role of Lived Experience Co-Chief Executive Officer is the responsibility of the next Board. In the interim, we are delighted to announce Erandathie Jayakody will be our Special Adviser, Lived and Living Experience.

Erandathie is an experienced and respected Lived and Living Experience leader and works from a consumer perspective. She was a member of the Expert Advisory Committee to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System, and led the development of the Consumers Leading in Governance program, the first ever specialist governance program for mental health consumers. She is the co-editor of the book 'Peer Workforce in Australia: a new future for Mental Health'.

Terry Laidler
Chair
On behalf of the Board of the Victorian Collaborative Centre