Catherine O’Donnell is the Director Lived Experience Engagement with Mindgardens Neuroscience Network (Mindgardens). Catherine is responsible for ensuring the integration of lived experience perspectives and co-design in Mindgardens research and educational programs.

She brings her own lived experience of mental health challenges to her role, which involves developing the capacity and diversity of consumer representation and engaging with Mindgardens Members to support lived experience inclusion in their work. Catherine’s expertise is in facilitation and co-design and workforce capacity building.

Catherine has worked in the Mental Health and Physical Health care sector for the past 10 years as a Peer Support Worker for a community organisation and South Easter Local Health District as a Peer Health Coaching with the Keeping the Body in Mind clinical team. In addition Catherine work as a Project Officer Mental Health at Central and Easter Sydney Primary Health Network and now as Director of Lived Experience Engagement with Mindgardens.