Appointed as a fulltime Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia in October, Taimi Allan was born in South Australia and has spent nearly two decades in New Zealand leading organisations championing Lived Experience Leadership and designing innovative responses to mental health system gaps.

Amongst other roles promoting systemic change, she served on New Zealand’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, and the Suicide Mortality Review Committee, and advised the Royal Commission on Abuse in State Care. Taimi blends her own lived journey through mental distress with a vision for transformative mental health care. Her focus in South Australia involves leveraging local, national and international partnerships to integrate global best practices. Committed to the "equally well" principle, she is passionate to see longer, healthier lives for those with mental health experiences. Recognised for her pioneering work, Taimi was awarded the "Emerging Leader" award by the Australasian Mental Health Outcomes and Information Conference and named a Local Hero Medallist in Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year Awards.’