Speakers

Katie joined MATES in Construction in 2025 to prepare for the North America pilot of an Australian-born, industry-backed, peer-led, and evidence-based suicide prevention program. The pilot program will begin in March 2026 and include program delivery and evaluation at multiple sites across North America. For the program, Katie oversees stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and growth. For the past 20 years, she has been promoting a public health approach to mental health promotion and suicide and violence prevention. She most recently worked for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, implementing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, managing a portfolio of suicide prevention grantees that are implementing comprehensive suicide prevention programs across the US, and advancing suicide prevention messaging and communications. She previously held leadership, training and technical assistance (TTA), and subject matter expert roles while helping different sectors and organizations—such as education, healthcare, juvenile justice, law enforcement, military, and Veteran-serving organizations—strengthen systems and improve outcomes. A nationally recognized expert in suicide prevention, she worked for nearly a decade for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, providing TTA to suicide prevention grantees and coalitions, developing trainings and resources for the field, and serving as the inaugural Deputy Secretary of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Her educational background includes public health, psychology, and special education. Outside of work, you can find her spending time with family and friends, sipping coffee on her porch, and getting on a yoga mat or behind a camera.