Executive team
Rachel Green
Chief Executive Officer
Rachel Green, GAICD is one of Australia’s leading innovators in mental health strategy and reform, digital service design, lived experience leadership and large-scale implementation.
Driven by her passion for lived experience-led design of community services for individuals and families facing mental health issues and suicide and her background in human geography and political economics as well as her own lived experience; Rachel has been involved in major mental health policy reform, strategy and implementation for over 15 years.
At SANE, Rachel led the co-design and delivery of SANE’s Guided Recovery pilot, an Australian first digital mental health program delivering statistically significant outcomes for people with complex mental health issues.
As Director of Policy, Rachel led the establishment of the National Mental Health Commission, developing the Contributing Life Framework, crafting Australia’s first national consumer paid participation policy, and producing the first National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in 2012.
In her role at the Black Dog Institute, Rachel directed the implementation of LifeSpan $14M multi-site suicide prevention research trial, and directed implementation support for the National Suicide Prevention trials around Australia.
Rachel designed and implemented the Australian-first trial of ‘SPARC’ – an innovative peer led suicide prevention and recovery cottage, and opened Sydney’s first peer-led Prevention and Recovery Centre, a 28 day step-up, step down residential service in partnership with South East Sydney Local Health District; and during that same year whilst managing complex residential services safely through the COVID-19 outbreak, she designed and delivered eFriend, an Australian first virtual peer warm line.
Rachel has worked across senior roles in mental health, business development and public health policy for over 15 years, working previously for then-Health Minister Nicola Roxon, and in policy advisor roles with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Health.
Anna Gelling
Chief Digital Officer
As Chief Digital Officer at SANE Anna Gelling has deep expertise in experience design and supporting digital & data technologies
With 20+ years experience in the design and delivery of consumer products and services across multiple sectors – Life Sciences & Healthcare, Media & Publishing, Telecommunications Anna has played a role as the lead digital advisor to the SANE team for the design and implementation the SANE guided recovery program since 2021.
Formerly the international and ANZ CIO and Digital Transformation Director – Anna has proven experience leading complex multi national digital transformations in Life Sciences & Healthcare and is an ANZ Digital Health expert – having worked as an expert digital health advisor and consultant across the Australian health sector. Her roles have included serving as the primary care digital & technology advisor to the RACGP board, leading the development of the inaugural Alfred Health Digital Health Strategy and strategy advisor to St Vincent’s Health Chief Digital Health Officer); technology advisor to ANZCA Council and more.
Karen Hall
General Manager, Recovery Programs and Clinical Governance
Karen is a Registered Psychologist and experienced Executive manager of mental health, psychosocial disability, residential, digital health, peer and suicide prevention programs and services.
Motivated by social justice principles, Karen has led high performing multidisciplinary teams in the Youth Justice, Disabilities and Mental Health sectors, in Australia and the UK.
Karen led SANE to achieve accreditation with the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards, becoming the first organisation in Australia to attain this certification.
As General Manager – Client Services at ICLA, Karen led the transition to the NDIS, supporting over 90 people with psychosocial disabilities to become NDIS participants and access required supports and services. In this role, Karen also doubled the Supported Independent Living (SIL) accommodation, opening six new sites in eighteen months.
Karen is a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists. Karen's strengths lie in her ability to develop, support and enable leaders in her team to ensure that people, families and the community are at the centre of the design and delivery of quality. Programs and services.
Louise Rudzki
General Manager, Communications
As General Manager, Communications Louise leads the Marketing, Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships functions at SANE.
Driven by strong storytelling, engagement, data and results and extensive experience in health and member-based organisations Lou is passionate about creating engaging communications that resonate with external audiences, and drive engagement and community empowerment.
A former journalist with more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing, communications and content development, in Australia and the UK, Louise is a values-led leader who is passionate about working for organisations that improve the lives of Australians, spending the past decade working in health not-for-profits and peak bodies. She has a proven track record of leading teams, developing and implementing strategy, building brands and delivering integrated campaigns.
Andrew Simpson
General Manager, Finance and Risk
Andrew is an entrepreneurial and visionary leader who has successfully led growth; cost reduction; digital transformation and change management strategies; and risk and governance frameworks in For-Purpose, and For-Profit organisations.
His achievements include the financial Turnaround of BCNA from $1.3m deficit in 2017 to $0.3m surplus in 2019 and income growth of 50% from 2019 to 2023 and the successful delivery, on-time and within budget, of digitisation of the BCNA flagship “My Journey Kit” into The My Journey App.
He also led the successful start-up of the BETTER Timor charity already educating over 100 children in remote Timor Leste and delivered an average 10% annual growth over a 7-year period of the Australian Allied Pickfords business. Andrew is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Monash University, Melbourne and completed the Leadership Program, Macquarie Graduate School of Management. Andrew is also highly regarded for his experience leading people functions as a compassionate, people-centric and solutions-focused leader with a strong track record in improving safety and enhancing employee wellbeing.