WHO WE ARE.

Aves Mental Health, is an international organisation that builds capacity among people with lived experience of a mental health condition through empowerment, peer-to-peer mentorship and peer support. 

Formally known as the Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN), Aves was founded by Charlene Sunkel, a person with lived experience of schizophrenia and a global voice for the rights of people with lived experience of mental health conditions.  

Aves Mental Health was created to transform mental health care and service delivery globally, with a clear and compelling vision: to empower individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions. This vision is anchored in a mission to develop leadership among people with lived experience, to advocate for their integration in discussions and decision-making processes, and to engage them as colleagues in service delivery. 

Established in 2018, Aves works globally, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries, guided by the principle that lived experience leadership and expertise are essential to building inclusive and effective mental health systems 

www.aves-mh.org    

Julian Eaton is a public health psychiatrist and professor in Global Mental Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. His research focuses on strengthening mental health care in low-resource settings and understanding the intersection of mental health with climate change and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Julian has contributed to key global mental health guidelines for the World Health Organization, including mhGAP and QualityRights. He is a long-standing representative on the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and works on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in preparedness and response to humanitarian emergencies. As the lead for MHPSS in the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, Julian provides critical expertise in outbreak response and emergency preparedness.

From 2003 to 2017, Julian lived and worked in West Africa, where he focused on mental health system strengthening, stigma reduction and addressing human rights abuses.

Claudia Marinetti supports philanthropic organisations in investing for positive social change, drawing on extensive expertise in the areas of equity and well-being and its social determinants. With over 20 years of experience in management, policy, advocacy and research, Claudia has worked across sectors to improve communities including approaches based on human rights, access to quality services, HiAP, and social inclusion. Prior to being Director at Mental Health Europe (2018–2025), she held senior roles in European public health networks and research institutions, focusing on health promotion, policy translation, and international cooperation. She has collaborated with government agencies, NGOs, and academic bodies to develop evidence-informed strategies that foster population well-being. Claudia is a graduate of the University of Padua (Italy) and holds a PhD in Social and Applied Psychology from the University of Oxford (UK). 

Nasri Omar is Technical Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary for Health in Kenya, where she provides high-level technical guidance on national health policy and strategy, and supports the Ministry’s leadership across a range of public health priorities. Previously, as the Ministry’s focal point for Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention, she played a pivotal role in the Kenya Mental Health Investment Case – a national project co-led with the WHO-UNDP Joint Programme – enabling the design and implementation of coordinated, evidence-based, and cost-effective mental health interventions. Nasri is advancing her expertise as a Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellow focusing on mapping Kenya’s mental health stakeholders to strengthen sector-wide collaboration and coordination. Nasri serves as a member of the Africa CDC Advisory Committee on NCDs, Injuries, and Mental Health, and as an advisory board member for the Centre for Global Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and King’s College London. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a Master of Science in Global Mental Health.  

Dr. Erica Breuer is a global health researcher working at the intersection of participatory theory of change development, co-design, evaluation of complex interventions, health services research and implementation science. Her expertise is particularly focused on advancing mental health services in low-resource settings

Erica collaborates with a diverse range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience, to explore how interventions, programs and policies can be designed and implemented to create meaningful impact across health and social care issues globally. She has led key work packages within multiple research projects and offers consultancy and training to universities, NGOs, government agencies and international organizations.

Erica is an Extraordinary Associate Professor at the Institute for Life Course Health Research at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She holds a PhD, a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (with Honours).