Article summary:
- Voting is now open for the 2025 APS elections
- This year’s ballot includes two key roles: General Director, APS Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training, serving until the 2028 AGM; and President, serving until the 2027 AGM
- Election ballots will close at 10:00am AEDT on Monday 24 November 2025.
- The results of the elections will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at 6:00 pm AEDT on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
- Eligible voters will have received an email from Vero Voting earlier this month containing their unique voting link.
Ahead of the APS Annual General Meeting, which will be held on 25 November, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce your 2026 board nominees.
Voting is now open for the 2025 APS elections, with members invited to cast their votes for the positions of General Director (DPRET) and President.
Each year, APS members elect Directors to the APS Board – a process central to ensuring the Society remains member-led, forward-looking and guided by strong professional leadership. This year’s ballot includes two key roles:
- General Director, APS Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training, serving until the 2028 Annual General Meeting
- President, serving until the 2027 Annual General Meeting
These positions shape the strategic direction of the APS and influence priorities across research, education, training and the broader profession. Members are encouraged to exercise their vote and contribute to the ongoing governance of their professional community.
"For decades, we've walked beside our members and partners advocating for action that's grounded in science and shaped by compassion to help Australians to thrive and lead fulfilling lives. Each member has a role in protecting the APS's ability to continue doing this important work," says Andrew Chua, Acting President of the APS.
"Our Board of Directors is a highly experienced group of committed professionals who guide the APS on behalf of its members. The calibre of this year’s nominees reflects that same standard of professionalism and dedication."
Below, you can learn more about the candidates before casting your vote and helping to shape the future direction of the APS. The APS Constitution, approved by members, sets out the eligibility criteria for Board positions and nominations.
President nominees
Suzanne Chambers MAPS
Candidacy: President
I have a lifelong career in service of the psychological health and wellbeing of the Australian community. This has included working for cancer control non-government agencies, universities, and private practice psychology.
For more than 20 years in the NGO sector I led the development, evaluation and delivery of a range of community support services for people with cancer across nursing, health promotion and psychology, and in doing so I pioneered the application of rigorous research methods to ensure evidence-based practice.
At Griffith University I held the role of Foundation Professor of Allied Health Research supporting research development across all areas of allied health. I was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) 2018 for distinguished service to medical research particularly in the area of psycho-oncology and to community health through patient care strategies to assist men with prostate cancer.
Over the past eight years as Dean of Health at University of Technology Sydney, and then Executive Dean of Health Sciences at Australian Catholic University, I have had oversight of the tertiary education of psychologists, allied health, paramedicine and nursing/midwifery. In 2025 ACU holds the #1 Times Higher Education Ranking for Psychology.
Kelly Gough MAPS
Candidacy: President
I have built my career on collaboration across professions to improve community wellbeing. In my private practice, I work closely with GPs, psychiatrists, and allied health professionals to ensure clients receive integrated, evidence-based support.
My role as clinical supervisor at the University of Western Australia extends this further, where I supervise placement students in multidisciplinary addiction services and foster connections between psychology, medicine, and community support networks. My earlier leadership roles in community drug services also gave me extensive experience coordinating with psychologists, educators, medical staff, and volunteers to deliver holistic care.
These partnerships were critical to building referral pathways, shared care models, and training programs that reached vulnerable groups.
My commitment has always been to practical collaboration that reduces barriers, expands access, and translates research into outcomes. I believe the APS has the reach and credibility to lead these partnerships nationally.
Judy Tang MAPS
Candidacy: President
For nearly two decades, I have and continue to actively work closely with health, government, legal, and community partners to advance psychological wellbeing for all Australians.
My experience includes:
- Founding and creating the website Heartchat, a national network of multicultural mental health professionals to improve accessibility of mental health services for non-English speaking people.
- Community leadership as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, specially focusing on psychological health in multicultural communities for both regional and metro settings.
- Collaborating and connecting nationally with peak bodies and organisations around psychological health (e.g. Embrace, R U OK day, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).
- Providing community workshops and education promoting healthy ageing and psychological health.
- Connecting with State Government around providing equitable psychological health.
Camelia Wilkinson FAPS
Candidacy: President
My commitment [to] advancing psychological health and wellbeing across the Australian community spans over two decades.
I am an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist, Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society (FAPS), Fellow of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychology (FCEDP), and Board-approved supervisor with PsyBA.
My interdisciplinary approach involved collaboration across government sectors (Department of Human Services Disability Client Services, Department of Education Teaching and Training), professional organisations (SPELD Victoria, Australian Council for Educational Research), and private practice settings. This diverse experience has enabled me to work alongside educators, healthcare professionals, disability service providers, and families to deliver comprehensive psychological services for individuals with mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, ADHD), specific learning difficulties, and disabilities.
Beyond direct service provision, I contribute to workforce development through my roles as lecturer and placement coordinator in Master's and Doctoral programs at the University of Melbourne and ACU. As a researcher at Swinburne University investigating support for autistic students' transitions to tertiary education, I demonstrate commitment to evidence-based practice bridging psychological services with educational systems.
This multifaceted experience reflects my dedication to collaborative, cross-professional approaches that enhance psychological wellbeing outcomes for diverse Australian communities through integrated service delivery, professional development, and applied research.
General director nominees
Justin Kenardy FAPS
Candidacy: General Director – Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training
I am a tertiary and research sector leader and disseminator of evidence-based practice in clinical health psychology, behavioural medicine, and health service delivery. My work is outcomes focused and is engaged with health users, providers and industry. I am known for my interdisciplinary research work on the psychological aspects of illness and traumatic injuries including spinal, brain and burn injuries.
This places my work at the intersection of psychology, mental health, and physical health and encompasses the development and application of preventative, integrative and novel intervention approaches. My published work of over 300 publications is across a range of populations and practical problems.
This demonstrates extensive collaboration employing interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches between psychology, and medical specialities including general practice and psychiatry, physiotherapy, social work, occupational therapy, nursing, law and health economics.
As one example, working with teachers I developed an evidence-based teacher training program to assist in responding to children in the classroom exposed to acute traumatic events. This training has been disseminated nationally and has also been translated and disseminated internationally in Japan after the Fukoshima disaster, and also in South Africa. I am currently engaged in collaborations with psychiatry, nursing and physiotherapy.
Camelia Wilkinson FAPS
Candidacy: General Director – Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training
(See above for Camelia Wilkinson’s bio).
Bethany Wootton MAPS
Candidacy: General Director – Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training
I am passionate about improving access to evidence-based mental health treatment for Australians. Over the past 15 years I have led a program of research that has focused on the development, evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based treatment for anxiety and related disorders using digital health technologies.
This work has resulted in increased access to evidence-based treatment for patients with these disorders both nationally and internationally. My work has also focused on the development of best practice assessment tools and innovation in the delivery of face-to-face treatment for anxiety and related disorders.
I have contributed substantially to the literature on improving psychological health and wellbeing, publishing >110 peer-reviewed manuscripts, two treatment manuals, and five book chapters. My work in this space has allowed me the opportunity to work with many different health professionals. I value the perspectives of different health professionals with each bringing a unique perspective to the health and wellbeing of the Australian community.
How you can get involved
Election ballots are now open and will close at 10:00am AEDT Monday 24 November 2025. The results of the elections will be announced at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at 6:00 pm AEDT on Tuesday 25 November 2025.
Members eligible to vote will have received an email from Vero Voting earlier this month containing their unique voting link. Members who cannot locate the email are encouraged to check their junk folder and contact APS Member Services if they experience any difficulties accessing the system.
The APS Constitution, approved by members, sets out the eligibility criteria for Board positions and nominations.
To be eligible to nominate, or second a nomination, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria set out below:
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General Director, APS Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training
You must be a current Honorary Fellow, Fellow or member of the APS, and a member of the APS Division of Psychological Research, Education and Training.
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President
You must be a current Honorary Fellow, Fellow or member of the APS, and a member of the APS for at least four continuous years at the close of the nomination period on Sunday 26 October 2025.
This election is your chance to play an active role in shaping the APS’s strategic direction and to support our continued work in advocating for our profession. We encourage all eligible members to vote.
"The APS Board upholds high standards of governance, finance and regulatory systems. Directors work alongside our CEO Dr Zena Burgess and the rest of the team to strengthen and uplift the essential role of psychology in Australia," says Chua.
"I am encouraging all eligible members to take part in this election. Your ballot helps shape where we go together in 2026 and beyond."
Please contact us at [email protected] for more information. All enquiries and communications will be handled confidentially.
Candidate information has been drawn from each candidate’s submitted capability statement. Content may have been shortened for consistency of length. To view the full capability statements, visit the Vero Voting platform or go to psychology.org.au/about-us/our-governance/board-of-directors/2025-board-of-directors-election.