Vanessa is the co-founder and Research Director at the McPin Foundation and has been working in mental health research for 25 years. She has published studies on stigma and discrimination, families and carers, social inclusion, experiences of the mental health system, wellbeing networks as well as more recently co-production in mental health research. The team at the McPin Foundation support patient and public involvement in a range of large mental health studies and deliver collaborative and peer-led research on topics such as peer support, life stories of people with psychosis, arts based programmes, and new mental health roles. Vanessa is an experienced health services researcher having worked in both university and charity sectors. She currently chairs the Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders. She has a PhD from University of Nottingham, Department of Geography.