Katie Acheson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at youth mental health charity batyr. Acheson will lead the Sydney-based organisation after working with children and youth for over two decades.
batyr Chair, Ellen Derrick described the incoming CEO as a “powerful voice” who is “deeply passionate about amplifying young voices and their lived experience, alongside equipping young people and their communities with the tools to live their lives and flourish.”
“Acheson’s leadership is centred around driving transformative change, with lived experience at the core of this,” Derrick said in a statement.
As a prominent figure in the Australian youth sector, Acheson has served as the CEO of Youth Action, Chair of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition and Executive Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Arafmi. She was the lead youth lived experience consultant for the United Nations World Youth Report in 2022, and earned the title of Financial Review’s Woman of Influence in 2019. Last year, she was a Bob and June Prickett Churchill Trust Fellow, researching the ways involving young people in decision-making can help address rising mental ill-health.
She is also the Co-founder of Numbers and People Synergy, a data analytics company working to improve social development policies.
Acheson said she is “beyond excited to join the batyr team.”
“I have been championing batyr from the sidelines for many years and it’s an absolute honour to now be stepping into the role as CEO to lead this incredible organisation,” she said in a statement.
“Their expertise in prevention and championing lived experience is being recognised and acknowledged in Australia and abroad for its proven impact.”
“I’m already proud of batyr’s work on the ground to date, and can’t wait to amplify this further. I’ll continue to ensure the team are supported, motivated and inspired to keep driving positive change for young people now and for generations to come.”
Derrick added that Acheson’s “depth of knowledge and experience across youth and mental health” is “inspiring.”
“We are excited to officially welcome Katie into the batyr family and see her leadership build on our strong foundations and guide batyr into the future.”
Acheson begins her role on February 19. Last week, the organisation launched its fifth Splash the Stigma swim fundraiser that will continue through the month of February. Splash the Stigma is batyr’s annual drive to “turn the tide on mental health”, where people are invited to take up swimming challenge to raise money for the charity’s education programs to help young people better understand their mental health.