Dr Michelle Blanchard is a Special Adviser at the National Mental Health Commission, leading the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. Prior to joining the Commission, Michelle was Deputy CEO at SANE Australia and the founding Director of SANE’s Anne Deveson Research Centre which partners with people affected by mental illness, trauma and distress to catalyse social change. Michelle is also an Honorary Senior Fellow at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Previously, Michelle held senior roles at the Butterfly Foundation for Eating Disorders and the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre.
Michelle was also a Non-Executive Director of youth mental health organisation batyr, Co-Chair of the Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue and a participant in the United States Government’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
Michelle holds a PhD in Youth Mental Health, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology and Political Science, a Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare and a Diploma in Leadership and Management.