Board members

Our Board of Directors volunteer their time and expertise to guide Wayahead in all of the work that we do, and we are grateful for their dedication and support.

Board members
Meg Smith

Meg Smith

President • OAM

Member Since 1989

Meg is a registered community psychologist and a fellow of the Australian Psychological Society.

She is currently a part time member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and a community tribunal member of the Guardianship Division.

She has been active in mental health reform and advocacy for a number of years. Dr Smith has previously worked in women’s health and as an academic at Western Sydney University teaching and researching in the areas of community mental health, bipolar disorder, criminology and social advocacy. Meg has lived experience of mental illness and founded the Depression and Mood Disorders Association NSW. She has been active over many years in a number of national and state working groups on disability, mental health reform and development of assessment measures of mental health care delivery.

Ryan McGlaughlin

Ryan McGlaughlin

Chairperson • MNFPSocEntM

Member Since 2021

Ryan McGlaughlin has had an accomplished career dedicated to the not-for-profit sector, including over 21 years in executive roles. These have focused on mental health, suicide prevention, addiction, HIV/AIDS advocacy and LGBTQI+ rights. 

These leadership roles were pivotal in fighting for the rights of those with HIV/AIDS at People Living with HIV/AIDS (NSW), ensuring the voices of people with lived experience of suicide are heard at Suicide Prevention Australia, and driving evidence based addiction prevention programs at SMART Recovery Australia. Ryan led the establishment of SMART Recovery International to oversee the consistency and expansion of the program worldwide.

A theme that cuts across all the organisations that Ryan has led is the insidious and ongoing impacts of stigma and discrimination. He has been researching stigma and discrimination and scoping reduction initiatives nationally and globally.

Ryan has lived and living experience of the challenges of achieving mental wellbeing. He has direct experience of witnessing family members with acute mental health and trauma conditions, as well as experiencing stigma and discrimination throughout his life.

He is passionate about preventative health, harm reduction and reducing stigma across all aspects of the human condition. He is dedicated to help remove barriers so everyone can access comprehensive, timely and appropriate interventions to build purposeful and flourishing lives.

Anna Dawson

Anna Dawson

Co-Deputy Chair • MAPS (M.OrgPsyc, M.HealthSci(BehSci), B.Sci)

Member Since 2020

Anna is an Organisational Psychologist with expertise in psychological health and safety, employee experience and workplace wellbeing.

With a strong background in strategy, organisational development, leadership and safety culture, she has led programs to elevate the employee experience by designing inclusive and safe work. She played a pivotal role in leading the development of the psychological health and safety strategy for a WHS regulator.

In addition to her organisational psychology experience, she has also worked in the clinical setting supporting individuals with their health recovery. Anna has a vision that, one day mental health will be a key focus area on every business strategy and prioritise a preventative approach to protect employee’s mental health.

Jennifer Cains

Jennifer Cains

Co-Deputy Chair
Member Since 2023

Jennifer Cains joins the Wayahead Mental Health Association NSW as a newly appointed Board Director, bringing an impressive track record of over 25 years in people management and leadership within the digital technology sector, notably at Salesforce and Microsoft.

Her expertise in business transformation and technology leadership complements her deep commitment to mental health advocacy and education.

As the Founder of Healthy Workplaces Australia, Jennifer champions the importance of mental well-being in the workplace. This role dovetails with her active participation as an Instructor for the Mental Health First Aid Certificate at Mental Health First Aid Australia, and as a Member of Wayahead Workplaces and Blue Voices, Beyond Blue. These positions reflect Jennifer’s personal journey and lived experience with mental illness, offering valuable insights as both a carer and a professional

Sharyn McGee

Sharyn McGee

MA (UNSW) GrDipComm (UTS), BA (Hons) (MACQ)

Member Since 2006

A retired university lecturer and sociologist, Sharyn’s varied academic experience in sociology, including mental health, lends itself perfectly to her role on the Board.

Since 2006, she has been an active contributor, chairing the Policy and Advocacy Sub-Committee, and the Social Inclusion Working Party.

From 2009-2014 Sharyn represented WayAhead at meetings of the Agency for Clinical Innovation (Diabetes and Mental Health group) and was instrumental in the development and presentation of an educational forum (on Diabetes and Mental Health) for mental health workers in NGOs in April 2012. Since retiring, she has focused on promoting recovery-oriented, consumer-focused mental health services in NSW. Her extensive volunteer work includes Black Dog Institute, Being Mental Consumers, Health Consumers NSW, Older Women’s Network and Council on the Ageing.

Stephen Bourne

Stephen Bourne

Chairperson, Anxiety Disorders Committee

Member Since 2018

Stephen is a lawyer in private practice.

He has a lengthy history of working with individuals who are affected by mental health issues,

especially individuals whose mental health issues have led to their involvement in the criminal justice system, or to them having children removed into statutory care due to child protection concerns and allegations.

Stephen has post-graduate qualifications in law, psychology and forensic mental health.

As well as being on the Wayahead Board, Stephen is panel lawyer for Legal Aid NSW and the Department of Communities and Justice, Director of Kirklaw Pty Ltd and Medcalf Grant Pty Ltd, and Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance.

David Harper

David Harper

Member Since 2011

David is a project consultant with over ten years of experience in the not for profit sector. He is currently the General Manager of Programs and Research at Bipolar Australia, and Executive Director of AS Purposeful Limited.

During his tenure on the Board, David has contributed to projects including Collective Purpose, advocacy and policy, and information technology.

Peter Doukas

Chairperson, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, MBA (MQBS), BBA (MACQ), DFP (Kaplan)

Member Since 2022

Peter has 15 years of experience in financial services across investments, advice and insurance.

He has experience in the corporate sector across sales and operations, with a focus on managing relationships, leading teams, and managing projects.

He is currently a Senior Portfolio Manager at a Multi-Family Office where he is responsible for managing client relationships, researching investment opportunities, and developing investment strategies. He is also involved in building a tech start up in the superannuation sector.

Diane Bunch

Diane Bunch

Member Since 2023

Diane is a registered psychologist with over 20 years HR experience in the education and FMCG sector.

Diane is passionate about mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and has led some innovative workplace wellbeing programs. She has qualifications in psychology, occupational health and safety and business. 

Diane loves dogs and spending time with her family.

Daya Nanda

Daya Nanda

CPA, ACMC. BSc.

Daya is a finance and accounting professional with over 30 years’ experience in both the corporate and Not-for-Profit (NFP) sectors.

He migrated from Sri Lanka in 2005 and is an Australian citizen. Daya holds qualifications including a BSc. degree and he is an Australian Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

His experience spans budgeting, Policy Development, Funds Management, Investments, Financial strategies, Systems Implementation, Business Automation and Monitoring, Applications for Grants, Audit and Regulatory Reporting, Management of finance and administrative staff. Daya has worked in a variety of roles in the NFP sector in Australia over the last 19 years in relationship education, education and commissioning services. Daya’s current role is the Finance Manager, Primary Health Network within Wentworth Healthcare Ltd. He has a passion for the NFP sector and appreciates the value of services provided by this sector to the broader community.

Daya is also an active member of Toastmasters and is actively involved in MOVEMBER fundraising as a survivor of Prostate cancer.

Jeremy Heathcote OAM

Jeremy is a proud Aboriginal man from the Awabakal Nation, with deep community ties to Redfern, Sydney. A respected leader, advocate, and mentor, Jeremy has dedicated his life to improving the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of First Nations peoples through grassroots activism, policy influence, and education.

Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in June 2025 for his outstanding service to First Nations health, Jeremy’s contributions have been community focused. His work in suicide prevention, mental health advocacy, and community empowerment has earned him national recognition, including being named a 2022 Churchill Fellow, where he conducted critical research on First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention in USA, Canada and New Zealand.

Jeremy’s commitment to his community has been evident having received the 2013 he Pauline McLeod Award for excellence in reconciliation and the NSW (Northern Sydney) Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011 for his tireless dedication to Aboriginal causes.

He is one of the founding members of Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group, one of the longest running groups with over 21 years supporting the community. He continues to contribute in his role as Deputy Chairman, fostering cultural strength, mentorship, and health initiatives for Aboriginal communities.

As Deputy Chair of the Redfern Aboriginal Community Alliance, Jeremy plays a pivotal role in advocating for local Aboriginal issues.

Professionally, he serves as the First Nations Engagement Lead for the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney Additionally, he holds the position of Deputy Chair of the NTEU National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Committee, ensuring Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander voices shape education and employment policies.

His advocacy extends to raising awareness about mental health, suicide prevention, and the impacts of intergenerational trauma, ensuring First Nations perspectives lead the conversation.

Jeremy’s leadership is rooted in connection to community, and culture. Whether through policy reform, grassroots programs, or public education, his work embodies resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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