A virtual international office is led by Steve Appleton, President and CEO.
A small global team works flexibly across multiple time-zones providing a wide range of expertise, network facilitation, membership coordination, communication and administrative support.
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We convene members and provide space to share their leadership experiences, knowledge and insights to help find solutions and overcome challenges to improve services and outcomes for people with a disability, mental health or substance use and addiction problems.
We have developed our Leadership Principles which we keep under regular review so if you have any feedback, please let us know.
We became Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) in November 2023.
Previously we had two separate entities known as International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) and International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL). We worked with our funders and members to launch oura new name and identity, creating one organization.
“Our membership of Global Leadership Exchange has been so valuable for the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities’ work. From our first engagement in 2019 through to today, we have used the creative challenge of GLE discussions, webinars and matches to drive forward the development of our organizational strategy, and especially our emerging leaders work. Scotland now has a bespoke leadership programme for leaders who have a learning disability and this would not have been possible without the knowledge exchange provided through GLE“
Charlie McMillan, former CEO, Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities
Global Leadership Advisory Groups (GLAGs) inform the work and strategic priorities of GLE.
Substance Use and Addictions is currently represented within the Mental Health and Disability Advisory Groups.
Dr Grant Sara
Director, InforMH, New South Wales Ministry of Health
Paul McCormack
Interim CEO, National Mental Health Commission
Karla Thorpe
Vice President, External Affairs and Development, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Stephanie Priest (Co-Chair)
Acting Director General, Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Public Health Agency of Canada
Fiona Walshe
Director, Mental Health and Disabilities, Shielding and Volunteering Policy, Department of Health and Social Care
John Meehan
Assistant National Director, Mental Health Head, National Office for Suicide Prevention & Planning, Health Service Executive
Dervila Eyres
Assistant National Director, Head of Operations, Mental Health Services, Health Service Executive
Donan Kelly
Assistant National Director, Child & Youth Mental Health Office, Health Service Executive
Brian Higgins
Assistant National Director, Change Planning and Delivery for Disability and Mental Health, Health Service Executive
Rene Keet
Director, Community Mental Health Service, GGZ-Noord-Holland-Noord
Sabien Raams (Co-Chair)
Executive Director, Emergis, Integrated Mental Health Care Service Provider
Jo Chiplin
Director Mentally Well, National Commissioning, Te Whatu Ora
Rae Lamb
CEO Te Pou, The National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development
Kiri Richards
Associate Deputy Director General, Mental Health and Addictions, Ministry of Health New Zealand
Robyn Shearer
Deputy Chief Executive, Ministry of Health New Zealand
Fiona McCausland
Head, Adult Mental Health Unit, Department of Health
Heather Stevens
Mental Health Director, Department of Health
Stephen Gallagher
Director of Mental Health, Scottish Government
Andrej Vrsansky
CEO, League for Mental Health
Fredrik Lindencrona
Research and Development Manager, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
Anita Everett
Director, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Brian Hepburn
Executive Director, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
Ron Manderscheid
Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University and University of Southern California
Mike Weaver
Patient Affairs Coordinator, South Carolina Department of Mental Health West Columbia, South Carolina
Shane Mills
Director of Quality and Mental Health/Learning Disabilities, National Collaborative Commissioning Unit, NHS Wales
Stephen Clarke
Mental Health Nursing Officer, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer, Welsh Government
Andrew Whitecross
Group Manager, Disability and Carer Programs, Department of Social Services
Luke Mansfield
Group Manager, Disability Reforms and Royal Commission, Department of Social Services
Ms Anne Skordis
General Manager Market Coordination, National Disability Insurance Agency
Andrew Whitecross
Group Manager – Disability and Carer Programs, Department of Social Services
Ross Chilton
Chief Executive Officer, Community Living British Columbia (CLBC)
Joanne Mills
Vice President, Quality Services and Indigenous Relations, Community Living British Columbia (CLBC)
David Nuttall (Chair)
Deputy Director, Dementia & Disabilities, Department of Health and Social Care
Ian McCreath
Head, Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP)
Clenton Farquharson
Associate Director, Think Local, Act Personal (TLAP)
Gerard Tully
Head of Stability and Sustainability, Assistant National Director, Health Service Executive
Bernard O’Regan
Head of Disability Strategy and Planning, Office of Disability Strategy and Planning, Health Service Executive
Brian Higgins
Assistant National Director: Change Planning and Delivery- Disability and Mental Health, Health Service Executive
Ernst Klunder
Board Member at VGN and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ‘s Heeren Loo
Brian Coffey
Chief Advisor to the CEO Whaikaha- Ministry of Disabled People
Amanda Bleckmann
Interim Deputy Chief Executive, Operational Design and Delivery Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
Peter Reynolds
CEO, New Zealand Disability Support Network
Stephen Gallagher
Director of Mental Health, Scottish Government
Charlie McMillan
Chief Executive, Scottish Commission for Learning Disability
Jennifer Johnson
Deputy Director, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Ruby Moore
Executive Director, The Georgia Advocacy Office
GLE’s Board is comprised of professionals with wide-ranging skills and experience. All experts in their field, their shared drive and ambition supports the values on which the organization was founded, ensuring it continues to grow – promoting values and behaviours that apply to our membership.
President and CEO
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Chair-designate
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President and Lead Executive Officer of the Canada Mental Health Association
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Chair of Board
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Senior Behavioral Health Advisor
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CEO, American Psychological Association, Washington
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Associate Director, Think Local Act Personal
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Vice-President, Center for Training, Technical Assistance and Consultation with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc; Senior Advisor to Inseparable, Inc.
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Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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CEO, Georgia Advocacy Office
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Chief Executive, Australian National Disability Research Partnership
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Executive National Director People Culture and Health and Safety, Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora
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A small virtual international office is led by Steve Appleton, President/CEO. A team of six part-time contractors provide knowledge and expertise, networking, connecting and operational support to GLE.
Both the Board and Team work closely with Country Liaisons.
If you have any questions please info@gle.world, who will direct your query to the right person.
International Consultant, Disability
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Canadian Lead
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Pacific Lead
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England Lead
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COO and European Lead
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Special Advisor to the President and CEO
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Addictions Lead
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We are a global collaboration funded by a range of countries, including:
Australia, Canada, England, Italy, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, USA and Wales.
We also work in partnership with leaders from other countries and regions including: Armenia, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Switzerland, Zambia to name a few.
We also work with a number of organizations including: MindForward Alliance, Global Mental Health Peer Network (GMHPN), United for Global Mental Health (UGMH), Pacific Behavioral Collaborating Council, Le Va, University of Auckland – Whāraurau, MHE, EUCOMMS, NASMHPD, NASDDDS, CBHL, NHS Confederation Mental Health Network.
Australia, Canada, England, Italy, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, USA and Wales .
“Working with GLE has been a great experience for our country. We’ve completely reversed the mindset of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.”
Andrej Vršanský, League for Mental Health Slovakia
View our Global Network
Our Leadership Principles and Framework are intended to include the important elements of leadership in delivering meaningful, positive change for people and their supporters living with a disability, mental health or substance use and addiction problems.
The Framework provides a focus on behaviours that promote fairness and transparency whatever the setting.
Lived Experience Council
GLE’s Lived Experience Council (LEC) was established in April 2024, as part of our ongoing commitment to engage with communities of people who have lived experience of mental health, disability or substance and addiction use.
The Council is comprised of people with lived and living experience of mental health, disability or substance use and addiction.
The LEC provides the Board and the organization with expert independent advice from a lived experience perspective. The scope of the Council is to offer direction and input to GLE’s activities, programmes and strategic development and to ensure that the voice of lived experience is not only heard, but acted upon.
For more information email jenny@gle.world.
Chair of the LEC (Europe Region)
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North America Region
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Australasia Region
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Australasia Region – incoming LEC member
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Europe Region
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Europe Region – incoming LEC member
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North America Region
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Europe Region – incoming LEC member
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Australasia Region
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Canada Region – incoming LEC member
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Our sincere thanks go to Dita Protopopovā and Sarah Hughes for co-chairing GLE’s Women’s Leadership Collaborative over the past few years.
We acknowledge and welcome Joy Brunson-Nsubuga, Akemie Jones and Georgea Madeira from Recovery Innovations, and Andrea Mellalieu from Arcus Community Resources who have partnered and kindly offered to facilitate the Women in Leadership Network over the next while. This is a significant partnership with GLE, which is led by women of sizeable entities.
Recovery Innovations is thrilled to partner in leadership with Arcus Community Resources in support of the Women in Leadership Network. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to empowering women, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting meaningful change within our communities. Together, we are creating space for dialogue, development, and innovation that will strengthen the impact of women leaders across behavioral health and beyond. We believe this partnership will elevate individual leadership journeys, support transformation in the systems in which we work and create enriching, lasting relationships along the way.
Watch out for podcasts from inspirational women leaders – these will be promoted via the GLE Update. Also, the Network will meet online with guest speakers and for planning towards the Leadership Exchange in Canada 2026.
To join the mailing list for the Network and for enquiries contact jenny@gle.world
Chief Operating Officer, Recovery Innovations
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Assistant Director of Learning and Development, Recovery Innovations
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VP Community & Operational Partnerships – Recovery Innovations
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Arcus Community Resources
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GLE welcomes leaders of all kinds (lived experience, policy, academic, treatment, public health, health promotion, early intervention, harm reduction, affected others), to connect across the range of substance use and behavioral health challenges.
The GLE framework positions substance use as an intersectoral connection with mental health and disability, while acknowledging approximately 10 – 15% of those with substance use challenges may not intersect at all. By separating addictions we perpetuate a silo focus, which is what we wish to avoid. Our substance use leaders join us with the knowledge we encourage strong connections with mental health and disability.
“The GLE community opened access to leaders in mental health and addiction that wouldn’t have been accessible otherwise.”
Greg Kyllo, Canada
Evidence shows that at least 85% of people with substance use (includes alcohol and drug, tobacco, vaping, gaming, eating disorders) issues experience some form of mental health challenge. At least 50% of people with mental health issues experience some form of addictive behaviour. People with physical disabilities experience substance use disorders at 2 – 4 times the rate of the general population. (1) Approximately 5% of people with an intellectual disability have substance use disorder (2). Approximately 20% of people who survive a traumatic brain injury will develop a new problem with substance use (3).
For those who have experienced and continue to experience substance use challenges, we acknowledge the value of lived experience and the recovery journey (recovery is a process rather than a single event, which takes time to achieve and maintain). Our treatment workforces globally also comprise people in recovery and many services are led by people in recovery. The peer support workforce is in various stages of development internationally. GLE is informed by lived experience through the Lived Experience Council. There is an active connection with the GLE Lived Experience Council and the GLE Addictions Leadership Collaborative.
A harm reduction approach brings a set of strategies that aim to reduce the harmful effects of substance use with a focus on prevention, risk reduction and health promotion. Abstinence can be a part of harm reduction, but harm reduction is not always based on abstinence. Harm reduction strategies can include safer use.
Of GLE membership countries, the term ‘substance use’ and ‘behavioural health’ is used in Canada, ‘substance misuse’ in America, ‘addictions’ in New Zealand, ‘substance misuse’ in the UK, ‘alcohol and other drugs’ in Australia. Behavioural addictions such as gambling, online gaming, internet, social media, sex all form part of unhealthy behaviours that can cause harm. Some countries include gambling harm prevention and treatment as part of their ‘addictions’ suite of services.
We welcome members who work in and represent a broad range of addiction themes. We acknowledge that member countries use differing terminology, and that sometimes this terminology is flexibly used to attract funding, promote treatment access, and address stigma and discrimination.
For enquires contact GLE’s Substance Use Lead jenny@gle.world
References:
“The ability to connect with others across the world is so important for us – especially being able to share experiences during Covid and its impact on young people.”
John Zonnevylle, New Zealand
