We are fortunate to work with a talented team of UK and international experts and advisors, who help deliver our Gatherings and steer our future vision.
Core Team
Martin Kalungu Banda
Heart centred leader, facilitator and innovator of organisation and systems change, working with Global Leaders, business and civil society more…
Robyn Thomas
Writer, filmmaker and researcher & CMH's Resident Ethnographer
Brigid Bowen
Founder and curator of Compassionate Mental Health. Brigid is a freelance journalist, writer and editor with a special interest in health and wellbeing more…
Jenny Grewal
Marketing and Operations lead for Compassionate Mental Health. with over 25 years experience in the education and events sector more…
Claire Hanley
Compassionate Mental Health's Chief Financial Officer, a chartered accountant with over 25 years experience with a focus in global non-profits more…
Selena Støback
Partnerships Lead, Selena helps facilitate partnerships based around dialogue, deep listening and collaboration more…
Delivery Team
Malcolm Stern
Group psychotherapist and co-founder of Alternatives - a world renowned platform for leading spiritual teachers and alternative thinking more…
Benna Waites
Joint Head of Psychology, Counselling & Arts Therapies, for Aneurin Bevan Health Board, passionate about facilitating compassionate care in the NHS more…
Sarah Stone
Executive Director for Samaritans in Wales and former Deputy Commissioner for Older People in Wales, championing the rights of vulnerable people and groups more…
Wellbeing Team
Andrea Prevett
Clinical psychologist and mother bereaved by suicide, Andrea is a core member of our wellbeing team
Chloe Goodchild
International singer, author, educator and director of The Naked Voice Foundation - empowering people to discover their authentic inner voice to transform difficult feelings more…
Katy Bergson
Occupational Therapist and yoga teacher, Katy is interested in helping individuals develop resilience, using an OT led approach. more…
Mirabai Swingler
Founder of the Only Us Campaign, mental health, disability rights & peer support specialist. Spiritual Crisis Network member and activist more…
Karen Taylor
Trained psychiatric nurse and Director of Working to Recovery, providing innovative mental health training internationally and pioneers of recovery communities more…
Chris Salway
Consultant Psychiatrist, and former GP Chris is trained in Open Dialogue and is interested in compassionate, relational approaches more…
Claude Acker
Qi Gong and mindfulness teacher, passionate about spreading mindfulness for all more…
Trainers
Martin Kalungu Banda
Heart centred leader, facilitator and innovator of organisation and systems change, working with Global Leaders, business and civil society more…
Yasmin Ishaq
Social worker/psychotherapist and Open Dialogue lead for NHS Kent working with the whole family/network, rather than just the individual more…
Alexandra Cat
International trauma sensitive yoga teacher and trainer, supporting recovery from inter-relational abuse/neglect through embodied dignity, agency and righteous fury more…
Dr Russell Razzaque
London based psychiatrist with twenty years experience in adult mental health - specialising in Open Dialogue and mindfulness more…
Mirjam Luthe
Mindful self compassion teacher and International Affairs manager for the Centre for Mindful Self Compassion facilitating deep listening and ethical action more…
Pat Bracken
Psychiatrist, and co-founder of the Critical Psychiatry Network, Pat is passionate about collaborative change and reform more…
Rai Waddingham
International mental health trainer specialising in psychosis, trauma and dissociation, Rai works creatively with people who hear voices and have unusual beliefs more…
Catherine Thorley
One of the first Helsinki qualified Open Dialogue trainers in the UK and a clinical lead for Peer Supported Open Dialogue at NELFT more…
Dr Florian Ruths
Consultant psychiatrist, mindfulness teacher and cognitive therapist, leading the Maudsley Mindfulness Service at the Maudsley Hospital in London for the last 10 years more…
Dr Charlie Heriot-Maitland
Clinical psychologist, researcher, and trainer who integrates different therapeutic approaches, in particular compassion-focused therapy (CFT) more…
Margaret Jordan
Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Chartered Counselling psychologist and Complex Trauma specialist with over 30 years experience in the NHS, statutory and voluntary sector treating children & adults more…
Mirabai Swingler
Founder of the Only Us Campaign, mental health, disability rights & peer support specialist. Spiritual Crisis Network member and activist more…
Board
Leonora Klein
Barrister and writer, who has worked with asylum seekers, and survivors of domestic abuse and survivors of trauma more…
Catherine Collin
Clinical psychologist with a special interest in compassion focused approaches and Academic Director of Plymouth University's NHS doctoral programme for clinical psychologists more…
Brigid Bowen
Founder and curator of Compassionate Mental Health. Brigid is a freelance journalist, writer and editor with a special interest in health and wellbeing more…
Ambassadors
Sir Stephen O’Brien
Trustee of Foundation For Future London, Barts Charity and Music in Secondary Schools Trust. Stephen is Vice President of Business in the Community, Convenor of The Second Curve Network and he Chairs The London Communities Commission more…
Dr Sangeet Bhullar
Founder of WISE KIDS, supporting young people in developing their resilience, self-awareness and mindfulness in digital and face-to-face environments more…
Advisors
Beatrice Birch
Founder of Inner Fire, a year long residential programme for people experiencing mental distress and addictions to recover without meds more…
William Beharrell
Pioneering psychiatrist and Founder of the Fathom Trust - restoring wellness through crafts, conservation, and contemplation.
Pat Bracken
Psychiatrist, and co-founder of the Critical Psychiatry Network, Pat is passionate about collaborative change and reform more…
Dr Glenn Roberts
Contemplative Psychiatrist, expert on recovery and rehabilitation and one of the founders of Recovery Devon more…
William Sieghart
Author, instigator and entrepreneur, on a mission to bring libraries back to the heart of communities, and poetry into people's lives more…
Ewan Hilton
CEO of Platfform (formerly Gofal) - Wales' leading mental health and social change charity, supporting people and communities create a greater sense of connection, ownership and wellbeing more…