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aves Mental Health
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Meet Our Staff

Global Office Team

We are a dedicated team of experts by experience, committed to advancing lived experience empowerment and inclusion in global mental health

Charlene Sunkel

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

ORCID Profile

Charlene Sunkel is the Chief Executive Officer of aves Mental Health, an organisation she founded in 2018 to advance the rights and inclusion of people with mental health conditions. Drawing on her own lived experience, Ms. Sunkel has become a globally recognised advocate for mental health, human rights, and stigma reduction. She has authored and co-authored numerous influential papers from a lived experience perspective, published in leading international journals. In addition, she serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Mental Health, shaping discourse on mental health research and advocacy worldwide. Ms. Sunkel has held prominent roles in global initiatives, including serving as a Commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development and the Lancet Commission on the Future of Psychiatry. She also co-chaired the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health. Beyond these roles, she contributes her expertise to various international boards and committees. Her national contributions include membership in the South African Presidential Working Group on Disability and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health. She previously served as Principal Coordinator for the Movement for Global Mental Health. As a guest lecturer, Ms. Sunkel has shared her expertise with leading academic institutions worldwide, including Harvard University, King’s College London, and Indian Law College. Her leadership and advocacy have been recognised through numerous national and international awards, including: Inseta Women’s Award; Tributes Award for Human Rights; Jim Birley Scholarship; Swiss Foundation/WHO Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Mental Health; Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health; WPA Presidential Commendation; and AMHROA Mental Health Advocacy and Humanitarian Award. Through her pioneering work, Charlene Sunkel continues to redefine the role of lived experience in shaping mental health systems, policy, and global advocacy.
Claudia Sartor

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Claudia Sartor is the Deputy CEO of aves Mental Health and an internationally recognised lived experience leader specialising in global mental health, research, implementation science and systems transformation. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, she is the head of the organisation's Experts by Experience Consultancy Services Unit and Human Resources. Claudia collaborates with international organisations, researchers and policymakers to strengthen person-centred mental health systems and promote the recognition of lived experience as an essential form of expertise. She has co-authored publications in leading journals, including The Lancet Psychiatry, Nature Reviews Psychology, and BJPsych Bulletin, and is an invited speaker at global conferences and academic events. 
Passionate about systems change, Claudia champions authentic partnership, equity and inclusion, working to ensure that people with lived experience are recognised as leaders, decision-makers and drivers of meaningful change in global mental health. 
Sandra Ferreira

Global Network Manager

Sandra Ferreira has been a teacher, manager, and leader in various fields, primarily in Education and Mental Health Advocacy. She holds an Honours Degree in Educational Management and is an expert by experience. Her experience spans 25 years, and she is currently the Global Network Manager for aves Mental Health. Sandra heads up the P2P mentorship, education & empowerment unit for aves as well as the Youth Agents for Change (YA4C) & Peer Support (Benchwarmers) units. Sandra is actively involved in various global mental health initiatives and projects within research, policy and programme design, and she is a published author. Sandra’s particular area of interest and advocacy centres around Human Rights in Mental Health and alternatives to coercion. 

Edwin Mutura
Edwin Mutura

Communications & Services Officer

Edwin Mutura is the Communications and Services Officer at aves Mental Health, reporting to the Deputy CEO within the Experts by Experience Consultancy department. He has extensive experience in global mental health research, advocacy, and the evaluation of projects focused on improving mental health services. Edwin currently co-leads an implementation science project that evaluates the impact of lived experience involvement across a selection of Wellcome Trust-funded mental health projects. His work focuses on meaningfully embedding lived experience in research, policy, and practice to improve global mental health outcomes. A Certified ADHD Executive Function Coach (IAOTH), Group Peer Support (GPS) Certified Facilitator and Trainer, and Lived Experience Expert, Edwin combines lived experience with professional expertise to advance inclusion, equity, and meaningful participation in mental health systems. He has contributed to national and global advocacy initiatives with organisations such as Time to Change (UK) and Basic Needs Basic Rights Kenya, amplifying the lived experience perspective in mental health reform. Edwin brings over 10 years of professional experience in accounting and finance to his mental health work, offering a unique combination of financial insight and lived experience expertise. This background informs his approach to programme evaluation, accountability, and structural change. Edwin has co-authored several publications addressing stigma, workplace mental health, and the lived experience of mental health conditions. His most recent contributions include the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, The Experience of Depression in Diverse Contexts in the World Psychiatry Journal, and Putting Science to Work: Where Next for Workplace Mental Health, published by the Wellcome Trust.

Zak Martah
Anastasia Smith

Social Media & Advocacy Officer


Anastasia Smith is a mental health advocate, certified ADHD and Executive Functioning Coach, and self-published poet. Her work is informed by lived experience and a passion for creating greater understanding around mental health. She currently works as the Social Media and Advocacy Officer at aves, where she combines advocacy, communication, and creativity to support mental health awareness and meaningful conversations.

Zak Martah
Zak Martah

Management Assistant

Zakaria Martah is an Executive Assistant at aves Mental Health, providing executive support to the leadership team while managing the logistics and administration for communications, webinars, events, research activities and stakeholder engagement across the organisation's global network. He also supports internal initiatives that promote connection, wellbeing and collaboration.​ Zak develops creative content and designs promotional materials for international mental health and wellbeing awareness days, helping to raise awareness of mental health, wellbeing and lived experience through engaging communications. He also facilitates Grab-A-Cuppa, an internal monthly initiative that creates a welcoming space for advocates and colleagues to connect, share experiences and engage in meaningful conversations around themed topics.​ Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Zak brings empathy, creativity and dedication to his work. He is passionate about fostering connection, supporting inclusive conversations and contributing to positive change through compassion, collaboration and honest dialogue.