Announcement of Changes to GLE Board Chair and Directors
28 Jan 2026
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As the term of the current Board Chair, Dr Barbara Disley ONZM, comes to an end in June 2026, the Board of Directors of Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) has completed its process to appoint a successor.
The Board is pleased to announce that the Rt Hon Paul Burstow will join GLE as Chair-designate, ahead of formally taking up the role following the Leadership Exchange in Ottawa.
Paul has a long-standing connection with GLE, having contributed to its work and participated in Leadership Exchanges over many years. He brings extensive experience from public service, having served as a UK Government Minister with responsibility for mental health, learning disability and care services. Since leaving government, Paul has held a range of senior governance and leadership roles across health, care and the voluntary sector, including chairing national and system-level organisations, alongside academic work in public policy.
Welcoming Paul’s appointment, outgoing Chair Dr Barbara Disley ONZM said:
“Paul impressed the appointment committee with both the breadth of his experience across mental health, disability and addiction, and the way he approaches leadership and governance. His commitment to GLE’s purpose, values and collaborative way of working gives us great confidence as we look ahead.”
Paul said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of GLE and to work alongside Barbara, Steve and colleagues across the organisation during this next phase. At a time when international leadership and shared learning are more important than ever, GLE plays a vital role. I am committed to supporting its mission and to working in partnership to strengthen knowledge exchange, leadership development and learning, including through lived-experience leadership, engagement with Indigenous leaders and communities, and co-creation.”
Paul will begin a transition process in February, working closely with Barbara, the Board, GLE’s Chief Executive Steve Appleton and a range of GLE’s global partners. He will formally assume the role of Chair at the conclusion of the Leadership Exchange in June 2026, ensuring a smooth and well-supported transition.
Announcement of new GLE Board Directors
As a result of vacancies created by the stepping down of Dr. Sarah Hughes (UK) and Anne Skordis (Australia) and the upcoming end of term for Geoff Huggins (Scotland) in March, GLE is delighted to announce the appointment of three new Board Directors.
Antonis is a highly respected leader in mental health. Originally from Greece, and now based in the UK, he currently leads the Global Mental Health Action Network, working with United for Global Mental Health. Prior to this he was the Director Research, Programmes and Policy at the Mental Health Foundation. He has led significant partnerships and fulfilled various senior advisory roles, including with the UK Government, the Mayor of London, the Welsh Government, the Government of Cyprus, and the American Presidential Taskforce on the Social Determinants of Mental Health.
A medical doctor who also holds a Doctorate in Public Health, Antonis is also a visiting lecturer with a number of international universities.
Dr. Barbara Disley said: “The Board Recruitment Committee were impressed with Antonis’s values and the knowledge he will bring from the range of positions he has held across the health sector. His professional and advisory roles across a number of mental health and addiction areas within the UK, Europe including within Cyprus and Greece and the US have honed his strong global knowledge and perspective.”
Antonis said: “I am looking forward to taking up my new role with the GLE Board. It is an organization I have been engaged with over many years, and I am keen to contribute to the development of its work. Leadership is critical to system and service improvement and I hope to bring new perspectives from my work to inform the GLE program.”
Mary serves as Chief Executive of the Australian National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP). The NDRP funds research led by and with people with disability, helping to facilitate a collaborative and inclusive disability research program that builds evidence for successful policy and practice. Mary was previously CEO of the national representative organisation Children and Young people with Disability Australia (CYDA), and worked for the Department of Prime Minister for Cabinet on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Independent Review.
Mary brings her own family experience of autism and ADHD, as well as her personal mental health and ADHD lived experience. Mary has significant expertise and experience gained through her work of the systemic, structural and attitudinal barriers people with disability face, and the significant impact of the social determinants of health on people’s lives.
Current Board Chair Dr Barbara Disley said: “The Board and I are delighted to welcome Mary to the Board of GLE. Her professional and personal experience in disability and also in mental health will bring valuable perspective to the Board and its work. My colleagues and I are looking forward to working with Mary.”
Mary said: “I have been fortunate to benefit from the work GLE does here in Australia and globally. I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the Board of an organization that does such important and valuable work in ensuring cross border learning and improvement.”
Robyn has had a long association with GLE, including being the Chair of advisory groups, co-ordinating leadership exchanges and contributing to a range of knowledge exchange events.
A nurse by training, Robyn is currently serving as the Executive National Director People Culture and Health and Safety at Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora, and a member of the Executive Team reporting to the Chief Executive. Her appointment to this role followed a year as Interim Deputy Chief Executive for the Central Region Health Care services and latterly the Interim Chief Human Resources Officer.
Prior to this, Robyn was Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Health, with the lead for mental health. This followed her 10-year tenure as Chief Executive of Te Pou, the leading mental health and addictions workforce development organization in New Zealand.
Robyn has led national and international initiatives, including representing New Zealand in a number of global settings. She brings particular expertise in system change, workforce, learning development and engagement.
Current Board Chair Dr. Barbara Disley said: “Robyn has demonstrated her commitment to knowledge exchange and international leadership over many years. Her work on system transformation and her leadership has drawn on those experiences. As I prepare to step down from the Board, Aotearoa New Zealand will be wonderfully served by Robyn’s membership of the GLE Board.”
Robyn said: “Having been engaged with GLE for many years, I am excited by the opportunity to serve as a member of the Board and to contribute to GLE’s mission to support leaders globally in transforming mental health, substance use, addition and disability systems.”
