Executive leadership team

Emma Foreman

Emma Foreman is the Acting Executive Director. She has more than 25 years’ experience in mental health, disability, health and human services.

Emma has held senior leadership roles in Queensland Health, West Moreton Health and the former Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland, with responsibility for statewide and regional:

• mental health
• alcohol and other drugs
• suicide prevention
• disability services
• prison health and forensic mental health services
• workforce development and system reform.

Throughout her career, Emma has led major service reform, policy development and system improvement work. She has overseen major programs and new service models to improve outcomes for Queenslanders.

Emma works across government, health services, non-government organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, consumers and carers to strengthen mental health and wellbeing services. She is known for her strategic, practical and people-focused leadership style.

Deborah Pratt

Deb Pratt has almost 30 years’ experience leading and influencing system reform in social policy across the Queensland Government.

As a social worker, Deb is passionate about social justice and creating a system that supports and strengthens mental wellbeing for everyone.

At the Commission, Deb leads reform initiatives focused on:

• mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention
• mental health service system issues
• sector workforce issues
• addressing social determinants
• supporting First Nations-led social and emotional wellbeing
• implementation of Queensland’s whole-of-government mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention strategic plan.

Jordan Cotter

Jordan Cotter has more than 10 years’ experience working across government and non-government sectors in policy, program and frontline roles.

Jordan is passionate about suicide prevention. He has led projects to strengthen system responses in domestic and family violence prevention, child death prevention and suicide prevention.

At the Commission, Jordan leads:

• the suicide data and analytics team, including the Queensland Suicide Register
• policy and data integration initiatives that support data-driven suicide prevention and system reform
• implementation of Queensland’s whole-of-government suicide prevention plan.

Sean Popovich

Sean Popovich has more than 15 years’ experience in alcohol and other drugs treatment, workforce development, policy and system reform. He has worked across government and non-government sectors in frontline, policy and senior leadership roles.

Throughout his career, Sean has led major reform initiatives and strategic policy development. He has worked with the sector to strengthen service systems, informed by evidence, expertise and lived-living experience.

At the Commission, Sean leads:

• the alcohol and other drugs and trauma teams
• complex, cross-sector reform initiatives
• collaboration with government agencies, service providers, researchers and communities to improve systems and outcomes for Queenslanders
• implementation of Queensland’s whole-of-government alcohol and other drugs plan and trauma strategy.

Michelle Sanders

Michelle Sanders has more than 27 years’ experience working in designated Lived-Living Experience roles in diverse service settings and locations. She is a specialist in Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce development across community, non-government, public mental health and alcohol and other drugs services.

Michelle is the Commission’s first Director of Lived-Living Experience, appointed to the role in August 2023. She leads a designated Lived-Living Expertise team that supports the Commission’s commitment to strengthening:

• lived-living experience leadership
• peer workforce development
• lived-living experience engagement.

Catherine Gardiner

Catherine Gardiner has more than 25 years' experience in the Queensland public sector. She has led organisational improvement, digital transformation and corporate services initiatives, helping strengthen service delivery across government.

At the Commission, Catherine oversees business services and communications and engagement, with responsibility for:

• finance
• planning
• risk
• reporting
• ICT
• human resources
• stakeholder engagement
• integrated communications.

Catherine is passionate about user-centred design and bringing together people, technology and evidence to improve the way government works for Queenslanders. Her perspective is strengthened by her lived-living experience as a carer, reinforcing her commitment to accessible, inclusive and practical solutions.