Wellways is excited to announce the appointment of Mary O’Hagan as the inaugural Director of Lived Experience. Starting on 24 February 2025, Ms O’Hagan’s new role marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to embedding lived experience leadership throughout our organisation.
A new structure to embed lived experience
This groundbreaking operational role ensures lived experience is represented at the executive level, complementing the recently established Lived and Living Experience Authority, which works alongside the Board on a governance level.
The new role, under Ms O’Hagan’s leadership, is an unwavering commitment by the organisation to utilise lived experience to benefit others, uphold human rights and drive transformation.
Laura Collister, Chief Executive Officer, emphasises the importance of this central role in advancing Wellways’s strategic goals :
“By establishing this new executive role, we’re realising a core objective of our strategic plan. We fully integrate lived experience leadership into everything we do and are making it central to all decision-making at Wellways.”
“I’ve been following Mary’s work for many years and have deeply respected her steadfast dedication to the mental health sector. Her tireless advocacy for lived experience has been a source of inspiration for many. On a personal note, I’m incredibly excited to work with Mary,” Ms Collister said.
A global leader and advocate
Mary O’Hagan is internationally recognised as a pioneering advocate for mental health reform, with over 30 years of transformative leadership in the field. An accomplished speaker, consultant, and writer, Ms O’Hagan has dedicated her career to embedding the voices of those with lived experience into mental health systems worldwide.
Born in New Zealand, Ms O’Hagan’s personal experiences with psychological distress as a young woman ignited her passion for transformative change. Frustrated by services that failed to consider her preferences for treatment and support, she became a champion for embedding lived experience insights into mental health care.
Mary O’Hagan’s career highlights
- Playing a significant role in founding the service user movement in New Zealand during the 1980s.
- Serving as the first Chair of the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry.
- Advising the United Nations and World Health Organisation.
- Holding the position of Mental Health Commissioner for New Zealand.
- Authoring Madness Made Me, a myth-busting memoir providing an honest account of her own mental health and challenges navigating the system.
- Most recently, serving as the first Executive Director of Lived Experience for the Victorian Department of Health, Mental Health Division, where she ensured lived experience perspectives were integral to the reform of Victoria’s mental health system.
Ms O’Hagan’s expertise, vision, and dedication to fostering the next generation of lived experience leaders align perfectly with Wellways’ purpose and daily work. Her global and local contributions have been transformative, and we are excited about the contributions she will make and the unique value she will bring to our team.