Jane Burns has recently taken on the significant role of Chief Strategy People Officer at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), bringing with her an impressive background that spans over two decades in mental health advocacy, strategic leadership, and innovation in support services.
Burns’s career is marked by a series of impactful leadership positions, most notably as the Chair of Emotions Org, where she has served since October 2022. This role has allowed her to further her commitment to mental health and community support on a national scale. Additionally, her ongoing contributions as an Honorary Enterprise Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne since July 2020 have been instrumental in bridging the gap between academia and practical community services, particularly in the realms of mental health and global health initiatives.
Before her latest appointment at the NDIA, Burns held the position of Executive Director at Safer Care Victoria, where from December 2022 to March 2024, she played a pivotal role in enhancing the safety and quality of healthcare services across Victoria. Her expertise in co-design, mental health, and integrated systems of care has been a driving force in her ability to effect significant changes within the sectors she operates.
Burns’s dedication to fostering wellbeing and resilience through positive psychology has also been evident in her role as a Non-Executive Director at the Applied Positive Psychology Learning Institute (APPLI) since 2018. Her work with APPLI underscores her belief in combining traditional and positive psychology to promote overall wellbeing.
As Burns steps into her role at the NDIA, her extensive experience, spanning strategic advisory positions, executive leadership, and academic fellowships, positions her uniquely to lead with empathy, innovation, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within disability support services. Her commitment to co-design and partnership across government, industry, and the not-for-profit sector promises a forward-thinking approach to strategy and people management at the NDIA.
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