Maggie Toko, Interim Commissioner
Maggie Toko brings a powerful blend of lived experience and professional expertise to her role. With a background spanning consumer consulting to not-for-profit leadership and senior statutory appointments, Maggie has served as the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's Lived Experience Consumer Commissioner, the CEO of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, and the Assistant Commissioner of the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner.
Her deep understanding of the consumer movement, combined with her work in homelessness, sexual assault, and youth advocacy, fuels her drive for system reform. She is passionate about reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health. As an Indigenous person of Ngāpuhi – Ngāti Whātua descent and someone with lived experience of mental illness, Maggie is a passionate human rights advocate dedicated to amplifying the voices of those often unheard.
As the previous Lived Experience Commissioner, Consumer, Maggie’s work in the Commission has been focused on engaging with consumer groups, service providers, and communities across the system, as well as leading the development of guidance on the mental health and wellbeing principles from the Act, so that everyone can understand and follow them.
Maggie is also particularly interested in education, and has also focused on inducting lawyers working in the pro bono space to ensure they are aware of the Commission’s role and consumer rights.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Simon McKenzie
Simon McKenzie is an admitted lawyer with over 20 years of operational, senior management and executive-level experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors.
He also has experience in consumer rights, including at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and Public Transport Ombudsman. Simon’s work has contributed to system and service improvement.
Simon is driven by his work, engaging with consumer complaints, people with lived experience, and advocates of those who face barriers to accessing services, education, work and social connection. Simon has experience with the mental health system as a family member and supporter of someone experiencing mental illness.
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