It is with mixed emotions that Mind Australia announces that Katie Larsen, our Executive Director of Lived Experience, will soon leave Mind to take up the newly created role of Deputy Commissioner with the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
Katie’s appointment is positive news for the mental health sector in Victoria, and a well-deserved opportunity for Katie to continue driving lived experience-led transformation, innovation and system change. While we are deeply saddened to see Katie leave, we are incredibly proud of her achievement and excited to see the impact she will have in this important leadership role. Her departure is a significant loss for Mind, but a tremendous gain for the broader mental health sector in Victoria.
Katie joined Mind as Diversity and Inclusion Manager in October 2018 before progressing through several inclusion and participation roles. In September 2023, she was appointed Executive Director of our newly established Lived Experience division.
During her time with Mind, Katie has played a central role in advancing lived experience leadership across the organisation and strengthening our reputation as a sector leader. She has helped shape and champion lived experience-led and centred service models, including Mind’s LGBTIQA+ Aftercare program, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres in Victoria, and The Peer Healing Space – Victoria’s first lived experience-led residential mental health service. The Peer Healing Space represents the culmination of many years of dedicated work, built on decades of advocacy by people with lived and living experience.
Under Katie’s leadership, our Lived Experience team has developed a range of influential thought leadership resources, including our first Lived Experience Strategy, the Connection and Community lived expertise-led practice framework, and the Lived Experience Governance Framework. She also led the establishment of the annual Mind Stratford Lecture and Scholarship, honouring lived experience pioneer Anthony Stratford. The Lecture and Scholarship continue to inspire ideas, leadership and action informed by lived experience, helping drive ongoing system transformation.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said Katie leaves an extraordinary legacy that will continue to shape the organisation and the broader sector for years to come.
“Each and every day, Katie poured her heart into her work in a way very few people could. Through her leadership, passion and unwavering commitment, Katie has strengthened our organisation’s commitment to lived experience in lasting and meaningful ways,” Gill said.
“While this is a significant loss for Mind, Katie’s appointment sends a powerful signal about the importance of lived and living experience leadership in shaping Victoria’s mental health system. The Victorian Government should be commended for this appointment and its ongoing commitment to system transformation led by lived and living experience.
“On behalf of everyone at Mind, thank you, Katie, for everything you’ve contributed. You will be greatly missed, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of your leadership in creating a more human-centred mental health system.”
Katie’s last day at Mind will be 16 September. Mind will now commence a recruitment process for the Executive Director of Lived Experience position.