Tara is a qualitative researcher, keynote speaker, and internationally published author with nearly two decades of experience as an operational firefighter. She was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for her doctoral research on the impact of suicide on firefighters and is deeply passionate about transforming mental health approaches within the emergency services sector. Tara specializes in embedding the voice of lived experience into translational research to tackle the complex challenges of mental health, trauma, and suicide prevention. Her unique perspective as a frontline firefighter, who has journeyed through her own experiences of trauma, combined with a diverse academic and professional background, fuels her advocacy for meaningful change in the emergency services. Recognized with multiple awards for her contributions, Tara focuses on collaborative solutions that drive impactful change at individual, organizational, and community levels. As conference chair, she brings warmth, authenticity, and a strong commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all attendees.