I found out about HOMS through the Social Impact Hub. I started my career as a banking and finance lawyer and worked in financial services in various capacities over the years. About 12 years ago I decided it was time to work more in the not-for-profit and social justice sector. Through my NFP board positions I have gained understanding of the competing priorities and lack of resources many organisations encounter. My legal background plus my practical experience has been useful background to assist NFP’s. I have done some consulting work in the areas of governance and legal structuring of NFP’s and charities as a member of the Social Impact Hub’s Professional Impact Network. SIH put me in contact with HOMS when they were undertaking some changes to their legal structure.

I recently became aware of the lack of mental health services, particularly in regional areas, and the huge un-met need for help. It appeared to me that many services were directed to picking up the pieces after a crisis, when greater impact could be achieved through earlier intervention. Once I heard about the work of HOMS I thought their work was a great way of empowering people and opening up conversations. I am delighted to be able to help HOMS in their new journey as a charity.

Aleesha first saw Mitch sharing his personal story on LinkedIn and was immediately invested in the HOMS mission. She was captivated by the vulnerability and strength that Mitch was able to portray and knew that there was great power for change in his message. Aleesha knew that she wanted to be involved with this cultural movement of authenticity.

At the foundation of Aleesha’s passion for mental health is her own lived experience. Through drawing upon this, as well as her education in Psychology and Counselling, and professional experience working in both mental health and child protection, Aleesha hopes to add value to HOMS campaigns and educational resources, with the goal of contributing to effective change in the mental health space. She has a strong dedication to the HOMS mission of eradicating the loneliness and shame associated with mental health and boosting human connectivity.

Aleesha has experienced the power of wearing her heart on her sleeve and reaching out for help when needed, she believes that giving back is an important part of the non-linear healing journey, which is why she feels so strongly about the HOMS mission.

Aleesha is honoured to be part of HOMS and believes that it is a privilege to be able to support others in understanding that vulnerability is truly a sign of strength.

After looking for a way to help make a powerful difference in an important field, Janvi is excited to join HOMS as an Expertise Advisory Committee member. Personally, Janvi has grappled with talking about her mental health challenges, often hesitating to speak up due to the prevalent stigma that associates mental struggles with weakness or abnormality.  Janvi's commitment to HOMS is rooted in a desire to support those who, like her, may be reluctant to share their experiences.

Janvi looks forward to contributing to this transformative cause.

The affirmations below align with HOMS' mission, guide her well-being and speak into her values of fostering a positive mindset; reinforcing resilience and promoting self-empowerment.

I am very grateful to be part of the team that initially developed the HOMS proposition and brought it to life alongside Mitch Wallis and the original board members. Serving as Vice Chair for almost seven years has been an absolute honour of mine and a genuine highlight of my professional career.

I was attracted to HOMS through Mitch, Mitch and I worked closely together at Microsoft and I’ve always been such a fan of his talents. I’m also drawn to HOMS through my wife’s experience of PND and her own broader mental ill health challenges. Wanting to learn to be the best possible supporter whilst drive a behavioural and impact change in the sector is what drives my participation.

I hope to continue to serve HOMS in an EAC capacity to best ensure that it continues to thrive and change the world. Ideally, I want to see HOMS drive the removal of stigma and such change that there’s serious pride in wearing your heart on your sleeve.

I was very lucky to be part of the early Heart On My Sleeve journey. My story appeared in the very first HOMS book written, which served the mission to further the destigmatisation of mental health struggles in workplaces and industries. Since then, I have made both my own and my team’s wellbeing a priority in our business.  I have remained values aligned with HOMS through the years, and had the pleasure of being on a panel with Mitch, as we share a passion to help the people around us feel psychologically safe to speak up when they are not ok. I am very excited and privileged to part of this next phase of HOMS.

After advocating for mental health improvements among his friends and family for several years, Jesse's introduction to HOMS occurred in 2019 at a charity breakfast where Mitch passionately spoke to their mission and envisioned changes. Instantly captivated, Jesse, driven by personal experiences and witnessing the struggles within his own family, felt compelled to embody the societal change he aspired to see. HOMS stands out by offering resources that resonate with individuals, fostering engagement, and inspiring actionable transformations. Jesse perceives acknowledging one's struggles as a testament to strength, and believes that collaborating with HOMS can not only educate, but also instigate this transformation, empowering people to break their silence and speak up.

Sometimes in life, serendipity works. Brandon has a long history of working with communities who face marginalisation, including those living with poor mental health outcomes, and at the same time has had ongoing concerns about their own mental health. After an intervention from friends that ended up with some hospitalisation and access to better treatment and support, Brandon happened upon HOMS, whose key message of support when things are not okay, and openness and honesty about those times, really resonated with him.

Brandon hopes that they can provide some of their lived and professional experience to ensure that HOMS is a place where all feel welcome and heard, and that constructive, considered and sometimes difficult choices about inclusion and equity can continue to be woven into the fabric of the organisation.

In 2012 Holly moved from the UK to other side of the world, Sydney Australia and landed at Microsoft where she became fast friends with Mitch Wallis the HOMS founder. Holly was moving (or running) away from a challenging start to life, forced to build resilience and to overcome mental health challenges without the support of a stable family network. Realising that her lived experience could minimise the suffering of other young people, Holly has always mentored those who were dealing with mental health challenges. When Mitch launched HOMS in 2017 she jumped at the chance to contribute and share her story more formally.

Holly hopes to keep building on her capacity to help others, through public speaking and contributing to the incredible programs that HOMS provides to the community. To stay mentally well you will find Holly exercising at her awesome boxing gym and community where she has found chosen family. She has also built an incredible network of friends and mentors that have her back for when life throws her those curveballs she doesn't want to face alone.

Back in 2019, Julia responded to a call out for trainers to deliver an incredible new mental health program. She’d been following HOMS since it was founded. With a history of complex, yet all too common lived experience of trauma, and 2 decades of tenacious therapeutic investigation, Julia felt ready to start “giving back”. Through teaching, we find new learnings, and being a wellbeing facilitator introduced even more opportunities for Julia to self-reflect and navigate growth. HOMS moves like the breath of a living organism, as it responds to its potential, available resources and the needs of the community it serves. With each expansion and contraction, Julia has been able to operate within every crevice of the business, along all axes, which suits her divergent personality and skill sets perfectly. Julia believes that this era of passionate dedication to empowering people suffering in silence to seek help, is one of the most hopeful for our charity yet.

James (Jim) Kelly recently joined the board of Heart on my Sleeve to share his wealth of experience gained as a leader in workplace health safety and wellbeing.
Jim is passionate about helping others be the best version of themselves. Like many of us he has faced his share of personal challenges, supported loved ones through some of their worst days and worked with many to prevent harm, empower community and enable individuals to thrive. Through HOMS, Jim looks forward to breaking down stigma and expanding our support network for everyone for when they need it the most.

Following 11 years of first aid community service as a St John Ambulance volunteer, Nicki took a long hiatus to enjoy motherhood. Like many of us, her pandemic journey was filled with anxiety and loneliness, but also hope, determination and a renewed appreciation of the importance of health and wellbeing. HOMS is a journey to learn, to take on new challenges with others who are making a difference, and a reengagement with her community service roots. Mental health is often a neglected or secondary concern in the Asian community, Nicki hope to foster understanding and acceptance of the importance of mental health in her community.

Lainie has been with Heart On My Sleeve (HOMS) from the beginning, formally taking up the role as Non Executive Director in 2023.

Lainie has experienced first-hand the value and impact of HOMS at an individual and societal level. She is deeply committed to working with HOMS to lead the power of storytelling and vulnerability, so as each person is empowered with the confidence to share in a safe space to heal.  

Having witnessed the effects of not speaking up and seeking help from those around her, Lainie has been driven to play an active role of service in her work across Mental Health and IDE within the workplace. Lainie is passionate about mapping meaningful connection and the language of human experience.

Lainie leads with a community heart and business mind and is committed to doing her part towards a healthier society and building mentally healthy workplaces for all.

Alex has been with HOMS as a legal advisor since 2017, before taking up a post as a non-executive Director in 2023. As a person with lived experience of mental health issues and neurodivergence, Alex has always wanted to do all he could to assist HOMS’ growth and has always believed in the healing power of storytelling and providing a safe space for people to be authentic and vulnerable. Alex has seen HOMS grow over a period of years and has witnessed the drive of HOMS’ dedicated team members in taking forward its message, and hopes that he can continue to work with HOMS until every person who struggles is equipped with the tools to empower themselves to heal.

Bruce’s path to HOMS was both circuitous and direct in equal parts.

Raised in a family that valued a sense of community that always spurred the question ‘how can I help?”, assisting various NFP’s over the years has been a natural extension of those values.

A genuine interest in people and their ‘situation’ encouraged a natural enjoyment in talking and listening to learn new things and points of view.

Conversely, over the years with the jarring loss of family, friends, neighbours, and employees loved ones, the ability to have more serious conversations was identified. In the aftermath of these traumatic events, the variation of the question “why didn’t I/they say something?” rings raw to those left behind.

A chance introduction by mutual acquaintances brought Mitch and Bruce together and allowed Bruce to both ‘lean in’ to support HOMS and those we are here for, and ‘lean on’ HOMS to better prepare for that very important conversation we may need to have in the future.

Darren approached HOMS in 2022 as he wanted to make a positive impact on reducing the stigma around mental health and encourage others in emotional distress to reach out for support.

He brought empathy from having personally experienced the depths of anxiety and depression and supporting his daughter through mental health challenges.

Darren was energised by the work HOMS was doing to transform our mental health culture and loved the movement to recognise that speaking up is a sign of strength, not weakness.

He also saw a superpower in HOMS which is the incredible team and community who are harnessing their own experiences with emotional pain to help others in a way that is authentic and compassionate.

Darren’s work with HOMS since 2022 has been transformative for him personally and has shown him that he is part of a vast and supportive community with shared experiences.

Darren’s aspiration as a board member is to help HOMS empower anyone who is in emotional distress to seek support and know that they are not alone.

HOMS wasn’t the incredibly impactful charity it is today when I first started it. In fact, it wasn’t anything more than a single belief that “you must be real to heal”. After a lifetime of struggling with mental ill health, I was very familiar with the pain of masking my true feelings and pretending I was ok whilst suffering immensely beneath the surface. One person’s story saved my life by wearing their heart on their sleeve and inspired me to go “toward the pain” which I avoided my whole life. I’ve come to realise that our deepest psychological desire is to feel seen and understood; something that can’t happen while we put on the brave face and keep everything inside. Over the last few years, I’ve proudly watched as our movement of emotional authenticity  has spread around the world creating a more mentally healthy society. In it’s wake is a community of people who value true connection and put their hand up to be role models for positive cultural change. HOMS will continue to lead the way in shaping the future of open and honest conversations, whilst uniting those who’ve experienced pain to turn their demons into purpose & service. I am as committed as I was on day one to build a organisation that makes a positive dent in the world, and I’m grateful for every human being that joins us on that journey.