DR. AMY YIN MAN CHOW
PH.D., M. SOC. SC., R.S.W., F.T

Dr. Amy Y. M. Chow is an Associate Professor with the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the University of Hong Kong. She is a board member of the prestigious International Workgroup on Death, Dying and Bereavement, a registered social worker with the Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board. She also serves the Body of Knowledge Committee and Grief Counseling Standards Task Force of Association of Death Education and Counseling.

Dr. Amy Y. M. Chow is the first Fellow in Thanatology awarded by the Association of Death Education and Counseling in Asia. Her achievement in bereavement research is well recognized locally and internationally. She received the Association for Death Education and Counseling 2005 Cross-Cultural Award, Cadenza Fellow in 2008, Distinguished Alumni Award 2013 of Department of Social Work, CUHK, 2013 Rainbow of Life Outstanding Individual Award, 2014 Outstanding Social Worker Award and 2014 Outstanding Teaching Award of the University of Hong Kong. She is a popular international speaker in bereavement and hospice conferences around the world.

DR. PAUL QUINNETT

Dr. Paul Quinnett is currently the President and CEO of the QPR Institute, an educational organization dedicated to preventing suicide.Author of eight books and an award-winning journalist, he is also Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington.

In addition to directing a large, public sector mental health program for adults and elders for 30 years, and serving as director of an American Psychological Association-approved internship in clinical psychology, he maintained a limited private practice in psychotherapy, law enforcement, and corporate consulting.

Together with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers, he founded the QPR Institute in 1999 to help prevent suicide through “excellence in education.”

Similar to the brief intervention model of CPR, the QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention program has been taught to more than two million citizens and professionals by more than 15,000 certified instructors worldwide and in more than 13 languages.

In the early 1960’s Dr. Quinnett served in the US Army Security Agency in Asia (now NSA).Much of his work in suicide prevention is based on his military training in surveillance, signal detection, intelligence gathering, threat assessment and analysis of human behavior.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR DIEGO DE LEO

Diego de Leo is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the Griffith University in Brisbane. He is Director Emeritus of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention. He was the founder of the Life Promotion Clinic, a research facility that represents the only outpatient service in Australia dealing exclusively with suicidal clients, and also the former convenor of the Master Courses in Suicidology at Griffith University.

Professor de Leo is Past President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and co-founder and Past President of the International Academy for Suicide Research (IASR) of which he also co-founded the journal Archives of Suicide Research.

Prof. De Leo has been the initiator of the World Suicide Prevention Day (2003). Member of the Editorial boards for several international journals, he is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal CRISIS. Professor de Leo has published extensively with more than 400 peer-reviewed journal articles, 180 book chapters, 38 volumes, and over 250 conference presentations. Winner of several national and international awards, in 2007 he was given the title of Doctor of Science by Griffith University for his work on Suicide and Psychogeriatrics. On 26 January 2013 he received the title of Officer of the Order of Australia. His current research topics include definitional issues and data quality in suicide statistics, suicidal behaviour across different cultures, and bereavement from suicide and other traumatic deaths.

ADELE COX

Adele Cox is a Bunuba and Gija woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Adele works as an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in a range of areas, specifically mental health and suicide prevention. She was previously engaged as a National Senior Consultant on the National Empowerment Project and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project and is also involved on state and national Indigenous suicide prevention projects across Australia.

Beginning her career working as a broadcaster/journalist covering Indigenous-specific content as well as mainstream media, Adele has spent the majority of her working life devoted to advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Adele has been involved in organising and contributing to large scale community festivals and events, such as National NAIDOC celebrations and the Stompem Ground Festivals and has also spent time working at Telethon Kids Institute as a Senior Research Officer on a range of projects, including leading the communications and dissemination of the WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey.

Later, Adele went on to provide input for large research projects focussed on Aboriginal health and suicide prevention, which also led to her involvement as an Academic at the University of Western Australia. Through her work on various committees and councils, Adele has been able to influence the way that programs and policies are developed and implemented to ensure that they reflect the current needs of Aboriginal people.

Adele is a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Advisory Group and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Leaders Group.

Adele is the Project Director of the National Indigenous Critical Response Project.

KIM RUOCCO
MCSW

Kim Ruocco is presently the Chief External Relations Officer for Suicide prevention and postvention for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Ms. Ruocco is an international public speaker who has a unique combination of personal and professional experience, education and training that provides a comprehensive understanding of suicide prevention and postvention.

Ms. Ruocco has been instrumental in raising awareness using the voices of military suicide survivors. She developed suicide survivor panels that testified in multiple venues including the DOD/VA suicide prevention task force, National Action Alliance and DOD/VA conferences. She assisted in the development of the Department of Defense Suicide prevention Office (DSPO) Postvention Toolkit, and was a reviewer for the current national strategy for postvention.

Ms. Ruocco assisted in the development of the USMC’s “Never Leave a Marine Behind” program and is a participant in the training video. She was the Family Liaison Contact for the USMC/AAS psychological autopsy research project that provided key prevention information for the USMC. Ms. Ruocco regularly briefs the DSPO and Navy on the family perspective of risk factors and gaps in service. She has also testified before the Senate and Congressional Committees on Veterans affairs and is considered a SME for suicide pre and postvention.

Ms. Ruocco has developed comprehensive, peer-based programs that offer comfort and care to all those who are grieving the loss of a service member to suicide. She created a team of peer-professionals who provide care and comfort to nearly 5000 survivors of military suicide. The most impactful of these services is the TAPS Annual Survivors of Suicide Loss Conference, which offers hope and healing to 1000’s of survivors, and provides a camp and military mentoring for the children of the fallen. Her programming has been ground breaking in the field of postvention and has been incorporated into many civilian postvention programs. Ms. Ruocco is currently the co-lead on the National Action Alliance Military and Family Task force and a member of the National Expert Advisory Panel for Research. She was awarded “Survivor of the Year” by the American Association of Suicidology.

Ms. Ruocco holds a BA in Human Services and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University. She is also the surviving widow of Marine Corp Major John Ruocco, who died by suicide in 2005.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR JUDY ATKINSON
EMERITUS PROFESSOR, SCU, PH.D.

Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson (SCU) Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson identifies as a Jiman / Bundjalung (Aboriginal Australian) woman who also has Anglo-Celtic, and German heritage.

Her primary academic and research focus is in the area of violence and relational trauma, and healing for Indigenous, and indeed all peoples. She developed the We Al-li program which was used as a foundation stone for the Masters in Indigenous Studies (wellbeing) ;the undergraduate degree Trauma and Healing, and the Diploma of Community Recovery.

In 2011 she was awarded the Fritz Redlich award for Mental Health and Human Rights from the Harvard University Global Mental health Trauma and Recovery program. Judy retired at the end of 2010, so can focus on writing and working with communities in Australia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea educational healing work, what she calls educating.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR IAN W WEBSTER AO

Ian Webster AO is a physician and Emeritus Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine of the University of New South Wales and Patron of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia. He has held senior appointments in the Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales and had appointments at Monash, Sheffield and Sydney Universities.

He was Chair of the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council from 1998 to 2015 and is Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, University of New South Wales, and immediate past President of the Governing Council of the Ted Noffs Foundation. He was Foundation Chair of the Foundation for Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation (AERF) now known as the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) and appointed by the Prime Minister as Commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission from 2012 to 2014). He chaired the NSW Ministerial Advisory Group on Alcohol and Drugs from 1999 to 2013 and was a member of an expert advisory committee to the NSW Law Reform Commission from 2011 to 2013. He has chaired a number of Commonwealth and State Government inquiries and reviews in disability, health, mental health and alcohol and other drug problems.

He practises as a consultant physician in the Shoalhaven Area of NSW and has practised as a physician in Whyalla, South Australia, and in public hospitals in the UK and Australia. For thirty five years he has worked as a physician in free clinics for homeless people at the Matthew Talbot Hostel, Woolloomooloo, Sydney and the Exodus Foundation, Ashfield, Sydney.

At the time of the Hawke Government, in 1985, he chaired the national consultation prior to the establishment of the National Campaign Against Drugs later to become the National Drug Strategy. He was interim Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in 1986-87. In 1992 he chaired the review of the National Campaign Against Drugs for the Commonwealth Government.

His research and publications have been in medicine, community health, alcohol and other drug problems, mental health, homelessness and social issues.

In June 1995 he was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia and in 2009 received the Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding work in the field of drugs and alcohol.

ALISON XAMON

Alison Xamon is a human rights lawyer who works with people with mental illness and who also works as the Co-Lead for the statewide WA Department of Health Mental Health Network, a network which brings together clinicians, both public and private, NGO’s, primary health and Lived Experience to engage in system wide reform of the mental health system. Alison is the former President of the WA Association for Mental Health, Vice Chair of Community Mental Health Australia, Director of Mental Health Australia and Member of the WA Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention. Prior to working within the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention sectors Alison was a State Member of Parliament where she was the spokesperson for many portfolios including Mental Health.

Alison has a lived experience of suicide having lost her father to suicide when she was only 11 years old. Alison has been integral in lobbying for the establishment of Australia’s first dedicated public service for children bereaved by suicide and in advocating awareness of the impact of suicide on the children who have been left behind.

JILL FISHER

Internationally recognised for her work in the areas of suicide prevention, postvention and mental health, Jill Fisher has a special interest in the areas of crisis and traumatic loss & grief. Her media background and professional experience in research and national community development has further enhanced her skills in establishing integrated community responses to traumatic events. With active memberships on several national and international committees, Jill has also served as a professional advisor or peer reviewer to several national and international suicide prevention initiatives. Jill was honoured to receive the internationally acclaimed IASP Norman Farberow Award 2011 in recognition of her work in the field of suicide postvention and the national Australian LiFE Award for Excellence in Suicide Prevention for Leadership Award in 2013.Until 2014 Jill was also the editor of the International Assoc. for Suicide Prevention (IASP) Special Interest Group on Postvention Newsletter. Currently Jill is a member of the IASP Postvention Taskforce, the Roses in the Ocean Advisory Committee and the New South Wales Mental Health Commission Suicide Prevention Advisory Group.

Jill Fisher’s most recent role was as the National Coordinator for the StandBy Response Service based at United Synergies Ltd. on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, overseeing the development and implementation of the StandBy model to several Australian sites. StandBy is an evidenced based community-based active postvention programme, providing a 24-hour coordinated response to assist families, friends and associates who have been bereaved through suicide.

Jill's interest and passion in addressing the needs of those affected by suicide has been greatly advanced by achieving her Masters of Suicidology with the Australian Institute for Suicide Research & Prevention at Griffith University, under the directorship of internationally renowned suicidologist Professor Diego De Leo. Jill also completed her Masters in Health Studies (Grief & Loss) at the University of Queensland, under the directorship of Associate Professor Judith Murray and has been privileged to share memberships of various advisory groups with Emeritus Professor Graham Martin also at the University of Queensland. Under the directorship of Associate Professor Myfanwy Maple, Jill is currently undertaking her Professional Doctorate studies with the University of Armidale to undertake further research into suicide bereavement including the emerging field of postvention practice.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JUDITH MURRAY
BA (HONSL), BEDST, PH.D., B.NURS

Associate Professor Judith Murray is Professor in Counselling and Counselling Psychology at The University of Queensland Australia. Judith has been the Director of the Master of Counselling Program from 2003-2010 and since 2015. She also assisted in the establishment of the Master of Applied Psychology (Counselling) at UQ. Previous to this position she was responsible for the establishment of a Loss and Grief Unit in the Centre for Primary Health Care in the School of Population Health. Judith is also a registered nurse having worked part time from 2010-2016 in Haematology and Oncology at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland.

Judith is a qualified secondary school teacher, psychologist, and nurse. She is the author of numerous papers, and resource packages and books. She has served on a number of national consultations for bereavement, postvention and children’s grief and is on the Board of a national aid organization. Judith has worked consistently to further the use of loss as an integrative concept within the health, welfare and education sectors which is articulated in the book “Understanding Loss: A Guide for Caring for Those Facing Adversity” (Routledge).

DR. AMY YIN MAN CHOW
PH.D., M. SOC. SC., R.S.W., F.T

Dr. Amy Y. M. Chow is an Associate Professor with the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the University of Hong Kong. She is a board member of the prestigious International Workgroup on Death, Dying and Bereavement, a registered social worker with the Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board. She also serves the Body of Knowledge Committee and Grief Counseling Standards Task Force of Association of Death Education and Counseling.

Dr. Amy Y. M. Chow is the first Fellow in Thanatology awarded by the Association of Death Education and Counseling in Asia. Her achievement in bereavement research is well recognized locally and internationally. She received the Association for Death Education and Counseling 2005 Cross-Cultural Award, Cadenza Fellow in 2008, Distinguished Alumni Award 2013 of Department of Social Work, CUHK, 2013 Rainbow of Life Outstanding Individual Award, 2014 Outstanding Social Worker Award and 2014 Outstanding Teaching Award of the University of Hong Kong. She is a popular international speaker in bereavement and hospice conferences around the world.

KIM RUOCCO
MCSW

Kim Ruocco is presently the Chief External Relations Officer for Suicide prevention and postvention for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Ms. Ruocco is an international public speaker who has a unique combination of personal and professional experience, education and training that provides a comprehensive understanding of suicide prevention and postvention.

Ms. Ruocco has been instrumental in raising awareness using the voices of military suicide survivors. She developed suicide survivor panels that testified in multiple venues including the DOD/VA suicide prevention task force, National Action Alliance and DOD/VA conferences. She assisted in the development of the Department of Defense Suicide prevention Office (DSPO) Postvention Toolkit, and was a reviewer for the current national strategy for postvention.

Ms. Ruocco assisted in the development of the USMC’s “Never Leave a Marine Behind” program and is a participant in the training video. She was the Family Liaison Contact for the USMC/AAS psychological autopsy research project that provided key prevention information for the USMC. Ms. Ruocco regularly briefs the DSPO and Navy on the family perspective of risk factors and gaps in service. She has also testified before the Senate and Congressional Committees on Veterans affairs and is considered a SME for suicide pre and postvention.

Ms. Ruocco has developed comprehensive, peer-based programs that offer comfort and care to all those who are grieving the loss of a service member to suicide. She created a team of peer-professionals who provide care and comfort to nearly 5000 survivors of military suicide. The most impactful of these services is the TAPS Annual Survivors of Suicide Loss Conference, which offers hope and healing to 1000’s of survivors, and provides a camp and military mentoring for the children of the fallen. Her programming has been ground breaking in the field of postvention and has been incorporated into many civilian postvention programs. Ms. Ruocco is currently the co-lead on the National Action Alliance Military and Family Task force and a member of the National Expert Advisory Panel for Research. She was awarded “Survivor of the Year” by the American Association of Suicidology.

Ms. Ruocco holds a BA in Human Services and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University. She is also the surviving widow of Marine Corp Major John Ruocco, who died by suicide in 2005.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR JUDY ATKINSON
EMERITUS PROFESSOR, SCU, PH.D.

Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson (SCU) Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson identifies as a Jiman / Bundjalung (Aboriginal Australian) woman who also has Anglo-Celtic, and German heritage.

Her primary academic and research focus is in the area of violence and relational trauma, and healing for Indigenous, and indeed all peoples. She developed the We Al-li program which was used as a foundation stone for the Masters in Indigenous Studies (wellbeing) ;the undergraduate degree Trauma and Healing, and the Diploma of Community Recovery.

In 2011 she was awarded the Fritz Redlich award for Mental Health and Human Rights from the Harvard University Global Mental health Trauma and Recovery program. Judy retired at the end of 2010, so can focus on writing and working with communities in Australia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea educational healing work, what she calls educating.

CHIEF INSPECTOR GARY RAYMOND
APM, OAM (RET'D), DIP. VET 

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Raymond APM, OAM performed duty as an Ambulance Officer with the NSW Ambulance Service for 5 years. He then completed 34 years as a sworn police officer with the NSW Police Force. Gary was stationed at Redfern Police Station General Duties. He then completed 10 years fulltime with the NSW Police Rescue Squad performing over 1500 rescue missions. These included vehicle crash extrication, vertical rescue (heights & depths), search & rescue, industrial rescue, domestic rescue, missions on the police helicopter, animal rescue, armed offender situations, improvised explosive device situations, riots, search for offenders & murder weapons, body recovery and swift water rescues. Gary attended the Granville Train Disaster and Thredbo Landslide Disaster.

Gary performed 200 suicide crisis negotiations mainly people threatening to jump from heights. He became a designated detective working on criminal investigations for 10 years. Gary was on the team to solve the Anita Cobby Murder. Gary was a police peer support officer and specialised in emergency management and crime scene management. Gary attended the scene of the assassination of John Newman, Member of NSW State Parliament.

Since his retirement, Gary is Chaplain to the Police Post Trauma Support Groups NSW, Welfare Officer for the Retired Police Association, the Parramatta/Hills Branch and member of Postvention Australia. Gary presents workshops on Suicide Prevention, Suicide Crisis Negotiation and Suicide Postvention, Grief Awareness, Critical Incident Stress Management and Post-Traumatic Stress Management. Gary has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), Australian Police Medal (APM), National Medal, Australian Police Service Medal, Commissioner’s Olympic Citation, Commissioner’s Certificate of Merit for Security Assessment of the 2003 Ruby World Cup, and the Granville Train Disaster Medal.

Gary has a Diploma in Vocational Education & Training (Dip.VET).

BEATE STELLER

Beate Steller brings 30 years of experience in a variety of sectors to her role as a Training Consultant and a Spiritual Care Team Leader in Aged Care. Beate has been an adult educator and counsellor for the last 20 years which included working at Lifeline's (Sydney/Sutherland) Telephone Counselling as Trainer and Telephone Counsellor. Beate was a facilitator of Sutherland's Postvention Suicide Support group and Mention My Name Suicide Bereavement Group and presents suicide prevention and postvention support training. Beate's experience in the Health Services' Industry includes specialising in HIV AIDS, palliative care and aged care. In the last 10 years Beate has specialised in loss and grief education/counselling and transition counselling. Beate has been a Board Member of NALAG (National Association of Loss and Grief) since 2009. She has both a graduate and post graduate qualifications in Adult Education, Social Work and Nursing.

DIANA SANDS
PH.D.

Diana Sands, PhD, Director, Bereaved by Suicide Centre for Intense Grief, is a postvention and prevention clinician, researcher and educator. Diana provides counseling following sudden, violent and traumatic death, and in particular individual, couple and family counseling and group programs, for those who have lost a loved one through suicide. Her counseling and group programs draw on a range of theoretical perspectives including narrative and family systems theory and incorporate expressive artwork. She is a Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counseling Federation of Australia, and the past Deputy Chair of Postvention Australia, and the Honorary Advisor to the Wings of Hope Charity. Diana has served on the NSW Executive Committee, National Association Loss and Grief, and as the NSW representative with Suicide Prevention Australia. Diana is a Member of the International Work Group Death, Dying and Bereavement, and a recipient of the Vice Chancellor Post Graduate Research Grant, Australian Government Research Scholarship. Diana has presented seminars and workshops in Australia and Internationally drawing on her clinical experience and research. She has published a number of peer reviewed academic articles and book chapters and is the author of a book and DVD resource, "Red Chocolate Elephants: For Children Bereaved by Suicide".

MARY BURGESS

Mary Burgess is a hand weaver. She runs the Woven Memories project www.wovenmemories.com.au. She works with people who have kept precious clothes, fabric, scarves and buttons, often when a family member has died.Collaborating with individuals and family groups she takes apart and then re-works their loved items through the medium of hand weaving. Mary creates unique keepsake pieces such as baby blankets, bedspreads, throw rugs and scarves. These new pieces nurture and comfort and hold memories of loved family members and special times.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JUDITH MURRAY
BA (HONSL), BEDST, PH.D., B.NURS

Associate Professor Judith Murray is Professor in Counselling and Counselling Psychology at The University of Queensland Australia. Judith has been the Director of the Master of Counselling Program from 2003-2010 and since 2015. She also assisted in the establishment of the Master of Applied Psychology (Counselling) at UQ. Previous to this position she was responsible for the establishment of a Loss and Grief Unit in the Centre for Primary Health Care in the School of Population Health. Judith is also a registered nurse having worked part time from 2010-2016 in Haematology and Oncology at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland.

Judith is a qualified secondary school teacher, psychologist, and nurse. She is the author of numerous papers, and resource packages and books. She has served on a number of national consultations for bereavement, postvention and children’s grief and is on the Board of a national aid organization. Judith has worked consistently to further the use of loss as an integrative concept within the health, welfare and education sectors which is articulated in the book “Understanding Loss: A Guide for Caring for Those Facing Adversity” (Routledge).

LOUISE FLYNN PhD

Louise Flynn has been a psychologist for over twenty years and the Manager of Support After Suicide for over 12 years. Her PhD thesis involved interviewing the participants of an 8-week support group for people bereaved by suicide and exploring their experience of the group and also their experience of stigma. She has a particular interest in the complex impact of grief and trauma and also in the provision of group support for people bereaved by suicide.

LYNDALL STAFFORD

Lyndall Stafford has been a psychologist for 14 years and has been facilitating suicide postvention groups in Brisbane with Lifeline, which is partnered with UnitingCare Community, for 10 years. She also works with individual clients and has worked in a number of settings including the public mental health system. Presently her work life is divided between her postvention groups and working at headspace Capalaba. Her interests lie in the areas of postvention, psychotic and dissociative disorders and trauma.

ANNE GILJOHANN

Anne Giljohann is a social worker and has worked in the bereavement field for over 25 years; 10 years with the SIDS Foundation, 10 years with the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement where she was the Manager of the Bereavement Counselling and Support Service and for the past six years Anne has worked as a Bereavement Counsellor with Support After Suicide. She has extensive experience as a bereavement counselor, group facilitator, supervisor and educator. She has also worked in health and community family support programs. Her thesis for her Master of Social Work related to understanding what helps families following the sudden and unexpected death of a young child. She has a particular interest in the diversity of supports that assist bereaved people, including peer support programs, groups, individual and family counseling, strengthening natural social networks and creative activities.