Meet the team
Karen Wen
(Co-Founder)
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As a Co-Founder of Mind Axis, Karen applies her public health expertise to envision routes into mental wellness that are more inclusive, holistic, and accessible. With a BA in Psychology from Dartmouth College and MSc in Global Mental Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine/King’s College, she is skilled at directing mental health programs and finding innovative ways to center models in community assets. Previously, Karen has worked at a range of social impact organizations, from consultancies to NGOs to start-ups in the UK, USA, India, and Zimbabwe. She is experienced in managing non-profits, applying research to implementation, and leading strategic initiatives with a systems thinking lens. Karen is a former Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellow and a current Rotary Club Global Grant Scholar pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health.
A transplant from California to the UK, Karen is particularly interested in creating culturally safe spaces that acknowledge the diversity of mental health experiences.
Karen’s hobbies include trying new cuisines around the world and attending a weekly hot yoga class.
Favorite Beverages: Sparkling water/horchata
Diliniya Stanislaus Sureshkumar
(Co-Founder)
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Diliniya applies her expertise in mental health to envision systems that ensure individuals from diverse backgrounds with varying mental health needs can access inclusive mental healthcare. Holding a BSc in Psychology from the University of Glasgow and a Global Mental Masters from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine/King's College London, she is skilled at integrating community resources into mental health models.
Diliniya has six years of experience in the mental health field across community, healthcare, and research sectors. In community settings, she assisted individuals with severe mental health needs by providing support and facilitating their integration back into society. In her role within the NHS, her focus was therapeutic, providing mental health support and leading creative groups to enhance mental health symptoms of patients.
Currently a Global Mental Health Researcher at Queen Mary University of London, Diliniya leads projects aimed at understanding and improving the mental health of young people in South America. Her work centers on unraveling the role of social resources in mental health outcomes.
In her free time, Diliniya enjoys spending time with her niece and playing board games.
Favorite Beverage: Ceylon tea
Liliana Hidalgo
(Program Director)
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Liliana is a Clinical Psychologist and Global Mental Health graduate from the University of Glasgow. Liliana has experience working in mental health research, especially on depression and anxiety and mHealth interventions, with adolescents, young and older adults and mothers. She was also a member of “Radio Descosidos,” a project promoting the voices of people with severe mental illness to be heard in the community using a radio format.
Favorite Beverage: Inca Kola
Meet the Facilitators
Meet the Volunteers & PLACEMENT STUDENTS
Meet the Advisory Committee
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Chris Underhill MBE
Professional Mentor | Co-Founder of Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs | Chair of the Catalyst 2030 Mental Health Collaboration
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Dr Julia Puebla Fortier
Honorary Research Fellow, University of Bristol Medical School | Arts, Health & Wellbeing Researcher and Educator
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Dr Sam Fraser
Consultant Clinical Psychologist | Mental Health Lead for Health Innovation KSS | Implementation Lead for the Applied Research Collaboration