Keynote Panel: Lived Experience at the Frontline: Stories that Shape Culture, Connection, and Change
Tracks
Prince Room and Virtual via OnAIR
Monarch Room - In Person Only
Marquis Room - In Person Only
| Monday, March 2, 2026 |
| 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM |
| Prince Room |
Overview
Moderator:
James Maskey
Panellists:
Tim Peck, Phoenix Australia
Luke Damon, Veteran, Executive & Lived Experience Advocate
Elisabeth Pookapund Goh, Volunteer Firefighter
James Maskey
Panellists:
Tim Peck, Phoenix Australia
Luke Damon, Veteran, Executive & Lived Experience Advocate
Elisabeth Pookapund Goh, Volunteer Firefighter
Details
Frontline mental health is lived, not just studied. This keynote panel brings together diverse voices from frontline service to share stories of trauma, moral injury, burnout, recovery, resilience, and the emotional, social, and professional challenges that shape everyday life on the frontline. These narratives reveal the profound human costs of service and show how individuals navigate their mental health through seeking support, reflection, and engagement with the systems, cultures, and communities around them.
The discussion will explore how connection builds resilience by creating networks that link personal and professional life, strengthen trust, and reduce isolation for individuals and teams. It will examine how culture grows when stigma is challenged, peer support is embedded, and mental health is treated as a central and visible part of organisational practice. The panel will also highlight how leadership drives meaningful and lasting change by guiding teams to work effectively under pressure, advocating for resources, and championing solutions that endure across complex environments.
By centring lived experience, this session goes beyond reflection and becomes a catalyst for change. The panel sparks honest dialogue and inspires collaborative thinking that can lead to practical strategies, stronger systems, healthier workplaces, empowered teams, and more resilient communities across frontline services.
Speaker
James Maskey
Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
Mental Illness Fellowship Of Australia
Keynote Panel: Lived Experience at the Frontline: Stories that Shape Culture, Connection, and Change
Biography
James Maskey is a social change leader committed to making compassionate, community-based mental health care the standard for every Australian. A former Queensland Police Officer, James’ lived experience with PTSD has shown how affirming tailored support can be, and how difficult recovery can be when that support is missing, shaping his work to strengthen services that are visible, valued, and responsive to need.
James will commence as CEO of the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) on 11 November 2025. For nearly 40 years, MIFA has led a national federation of member organisations supporting people living with severe mental health conditions, their families, and carers. Alongside its core advocacy and policy reform work, MIFA auspices initiatives including Psychosis Australia, Finding North, and Out from the Mist, shaping practice, supporting recovery, and driving impact across the sector.
Before joining MIFA, James held senior roles at the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, Fortem Australia, and Beyond Blue, focusing on government relations, policy advocacy, and national program delivery.
He remains committed to elevating lived-experience leadership, fostering collaboration, and shaping a mental health system that genuinely supports people with complex challenges, their families, and the organisations that walk beside them.
Mr Tim Peck
Co-director Responder Assist
Phoenix Australia
Keynote Panel: Lived Experience at the Frontline: Stories that Shape Culture, Connection, and Change
Biography
With a 20-year background in Victoria Police, Tim has transitioned from Detective Senior Sergeant to a pivotal role in emergency worker mental health. As Co-Director at Phoenix Australia's Centre of Excellence, he applies his extensive experience to develop targeted mental health care models. Tim's career includes emergency services mental health related roles at Beyond Blue and The Police Association Victoria. His approach uniquely blends project management skills, lived experience, and deep understanding of mental health challenges faced by emergency responders. This distinctive perspective allows Tim to create innovative solutions, addressing complex systemic issues in emergency services mental health support.
Luke Damon
Veteran, Executive & Lived Experience Advocate
Keynote Panel: Lived Experience at the Frontline: Stories that Shape Culture, Connection, and Change.
Biography
Luke Damon is a veteran, executive and lived experience advocate who brings a unique perspective shaped by service in Australia’s Special Forces, senior leadership in financial services, and a profound recovery journey through psilocybin-assisted therapy. After enduring combat loss, moral injury, and complex PTSD, Luke became the first veteran in Australia to legally access psychedelic treatment outside a trial, an experience that was profoundly transformative. Today he shares his journey to highlight the importance of connection, culture, and leadership in frontline mental health, and advocates for safe, ethical, trauma-informed approaches to healing and post-traumatic growth.
