The Better Together SNHN Primary Healthcare Symposium:  Our Speakers

Join us for an evening of engaging and thought-provoking conversations with influential healthcare leaders. 

Our expert panel, facilitated by Professor Ian Hickie AO, Psychiatrist will discuss what an integrated, place-based & person-centred approach to mental health includes.   

Speaker
Professor Hickie, AO, Professor of Psychiatry Professor Hickie is a Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director of Health and Policy, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Scientific Advisor for Innowell Pty. Ltd. He has led major public health and health services developments in Australia, particularly focusing on early intervention for young people with depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviours and complex mood disorders. He is active in the development through codesign, implementation and continuous evaluation of new health information and personal monitoring technologies to drive highly-personalised and measurement-based care.
Dr Esther Han – GP and Medical Unit Manager, Mental Health Drug and Alcohol, NSLHD. Dr Esther Han is a Drug and Alcohol Specialist with Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). She is a passionate and empathic doctor from a general practice background now working mainly in public hospital drug and alcohol settings. Dr Han enjoys teaching medical students, registrars & GPs and is involved in education with RACGP, RACP and the Sydney North Health Network. She is currently involved in research looking at improving shared care of patients with drug & alcohol issues.
Ros Knight – Clinical and Counselling Psychologist Ros is an Endorsed Clinical and Counselling Psychologist with 30 years’ experience. She runs a private practice in Chatswood focused on adults and adolescents with a broad range of mental health issues, and lives within the Northern Sydney area. Ros has over seven years’ experience as a Board Director and across her career has provided leadership, including representation on advisory groups within the Psychology Industry and Mental Health sector. She has a broad understanding of current issues and is the immediate Past President of the Australian Psychology Society. Ros is currently appointed as a practitioner member of the Psychology Council and is the current SNHN Chair.
Eugene McGarrell | General Manager, Commissioning, SNHN Eugene has over 45 years’ experience across health, social and wellbeing sectors in the UK and Australia. He has held clinical, community development, management and executive leadership roles, including CEO of Healthy Australia. He led initiatives such as Safe, feedAustralia and Thriving Together to improve children’s health and learning. He introduced innovative approaches in workers’ compensation, including social prescribing to prevent injury and support recovery. He co‑led a Kingston project that reduced suicide by 40%. He co-designed The Collective NSW, enabling community‑led solutions like the Greenway Wellbeing Centre and SILC. He holds a PG Dip in Care Policy and Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kerry Gleeson – Lived Experience Representative Kerry is a trauma-informed speaker and advocate whose lived experiences of childhood sexual abuse, family violence, mental health challenges, and suicide shape her powerful voice for change. With an Honours degree in Criminology & Education, she is also a STARS Licensed Practitioner, Reiki Master, and Holistic Counsellor. She guides organisations through a lived experience lens, fostering trauma-informed, person-centred approaches to mental health, suicide prevention, and service delivery. Kerry’s mission is to elevate lived experience as a catalyst for systemic change across health, education, and community sectors.