Speaker Group: Conference 2023

Raf Hamaizia is a leading mental health and social inclusion expert within the United Kingdom, with a track record in engagement, policy, quality improvement, campaigning and organisational culture change. As an Expert by Experience Raf uses his perspective as a former service user, to aid his professional and academic experience within a variety of organisations… Read more »

Emma used her Lived Experience to found The Recovery Foundation a charity based in Birmingham that provides peer support groups and training to individuals and organisations. She is passionate about helping individuals to find, grow and sustain hope, as an essential component to recovery from mental illness. She lectures at The University of Birmingham and… Read more »

Vicky is an experienced Interior Designer, who has spent 19 years working in the Mental Health sector. Following 14 years as Lead Interior Designer and later an Associate with Gilling Dod Architects, Vicky Joined Teal Furniture in early 2018 as Area Manager for Mental Health projects in the North. With a passion for furniture design,… Read more »

Dr Claire Iveson is an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical and Strategic Lead for Suicide prevention in Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Claire has worked in clinical practice in a range of settings for more than twenty years and has further training in specialist psychological approaches specifically for those who self -harm or are at… Read more »

Hannah Chamberlain, the new CEO of Design in Mental Health Network, is a long standing member of the DIMHN community. From 2012 – 15 she was a member of the organising group, speaking at conference, shortlisting awards, and introducing lived experience speakers to the Network and the conference audience. She has a background as an… Read more »

Steven Brown is Professor of Health and Organizational Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. He researches service user experiences of secure care settings and the psychosocial dimensions of remembering and distress. He is the co-author of Vital Memory and Affect (2015); Psychology Without Foundations (2009) and The Social Psychology of Experience (2005).

Dr Rodriguez-Labajos is a senior researcher with extensive academic and industry research experience in the healthcare-built environment and construction fields. This work spans from project initiation and development to evaluation and publishing. She worked for 4 years as the principal researcher for the collaborative program between Glasgow Caledonian University and Health Facilities Scotland conducting research… Read more »

Jo is an Interdisciplinary Consultant advocating for lived experience to help shape our world. She is an Interior Architect, Peer Support Worker and Community Researcher, and is also a User/ Survivor of Mental Health services. As the first Interdisciplinary Advisor and stakeholder at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, she has… Read more »

A well-known and highly respected Healthcare Architect and Practice Director with over 20 years’ experience of delivering exemplar award winning, Mental Healthcare projects ranging from complex refurbishments to major new build redevelopments. Previously head of healthcare for Devereux Architects (1996-2012), Rosemary founded Jenssen Architecture in 2012 to provide independent healthcare design advice. Through her firm… Read more »