SERVICE USERS IN ACADEMIA SYMPOSIUM 2025
About the SUAS 2025 Organising Committee
Meet the team
The organising committee are members of Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) Lived Experience Advisory Group which consists of lived experience leaders and academics alongside their ally counterparts.
As you will see below, we are a diverse group with expertise across academia, research, teaching, co-design, consumer peer support lived experience workforce, workforce development, AOD, mental health, forensics, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and so much more. We are all extremely passionate about advancing service user academia and growing the capability of our lived experience and mental health/addiction workforce.
Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui
Regional Lived Experience Lead - Te Whatu Ora, HNZ
Lived Experience Expert at the University of Auckland
Proud Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji Woman
Consumer Academic, Centre for Mental Health Nursing, University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor
Occupational Therapy - AUT
Waikato/Tainui, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Hamoa
Regional Lived Experience Lead, Te Whatu Ora, HNZ
Principal Advisor, Mental Health & Lived Experience - Te Pou
Consumer Academic, Centre MHN University of Melbourne
Deborah Lampshire
Lived Experience Academic Auckland University & AUT
Lived Experience Project Lead at Te Pou
Registered Nurse and Professor of Forensic Mental Health - AUT
Our goals for SUAS2025
Goal #1
SUAS 2025 attendees have a memorable experience where they feel cared for, valued and can contribute to meaningful discussions and learn from others
Goal #2
Transforming SUAS as a space that empowers, uplifts and elevates the indigenous lived experience voice within academia and research
Goal #3
Looking back to look ahead - reflecting on where we have been and planning for the future of SUAS