beyondblue Chairman The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC today announced the appointment of Jessica Dean to the Board of beyondblue.
Mr Kennett said Ms Dean would add an accomplished young person’s voice to beyondblue’s diverse range of Directors.
Ms Dean is a former President of the Australian Medical Students’ Association, a Federal Councillor of the Australian Medical Association, and founder of sexual health promotion organisation ‘The Nookie Project’.
“I am delighted to welcome Jessica to the Board. She is an exceptional young woman who already has a wealth of valuable experience to draw upon from her roles with AMSA and the AMA, and as a member of youth advisory groups with the Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner, Mt Alexander Shire Council, and as a youth representative to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade relating to the UN Non-Proliferation Treaty Review,” Mr Kennett said.
“Jessica is immersed in the medical field, and will bring her experience as a young doctor, which is invaluable as we continue our work with doctors and medical students at risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, which if left untreated, can lead to suicide.”
“I have no doubt that Jessica’s contribution to beyondblue will be fresh and insightful, particularly in bringing a younger person’s perspective to our broad suite of programs for people of all ages.”
Ms Dean became involved with beyondblue in 2014, when she presented at an AMA/beyondblue roundtable and became a member of beyondblue’s Victorian Doctors’ Mental Health Advisory Group.
Earlier this year, at a beyondblue function attended by the Victorian Minister for Mental Health, The Hon. Jill Hennessey, Ms Dean addressed an audience of some of the Chief Executive Officers, chief medical officers and most senior doctors from Victorian hospitals. The event was convened to discuss the mental health of medical professionals and the culture in which they work.
Ms Dean is completing a Bachelor of Medicine and Law from Monash University, and will take up an internship at Monash Health in January 2016.
Ms Dean expressed her delight at joining the Board of beyondblue.
“I am thrilled to become a Board Director at beyondblue. It is one of Australia’s leading mental health organisations and I am deeply committed to the valuable work beyondblue does in raising awareness of depression, anxiety and suicide prevention” she said.
“As a Board Director, I hope to make a valuable contribution to the work beyondblue is undertaking with the medical profession, young people – and also the broader community.”
Image: Jessica Dean (Credit: AMSA).
