The 2025 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award is Krista Vanderheide.

Krista Vanderheide is a passionate social policy executive whose decades of leadership have shaped mental health care across Australia. With extensive experience in senior roles within both the Australian Commonwealth Government and the Victorian State Government, she has consistently championed the wellbeing of vulnerable populations through strategic policy reform and evidence-based initiatives.

Krista has been a driving force behind the implementation of a national digital mental health service in Australia, demonstrating the transformative potential of e-mental health to reach people across a geographically dispersed nation. She has earned recognition for her leadership, including being named one of the “Top 50 Women in Leadership” by the Australian Institute of Public Administration in 2023 for her role in the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Her approach to leadership prioritises inclusivity, empathy, and flexibility, setting a high standard for policy development and system-wide transformation in mental health. Krista’s vision, dedication, and enduring impact have left an indelible mark on the mental health landscape in Australia.

Congratulations to Krista Vanderheide.