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Witness Statement of Professor David Leon Copolov Ao

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Witness Statement of Professor David Leon Copolov Ao WIT.0001.0184.0001 Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System WITNESS STATEMENT OF PROFESSOR DAVID LEON COPOLOV AO I, David Leon Copolov, Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement, of Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, say as follows: I make this statement in my private professional capacity as a psychiatrist, academic and former researcher, the long-standing Executive Director of the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria (from 1985-2004) and my previous governance experience as a Director of the Board of the Royal Women’s Hospital (my term having ended on 30 June 2020) and on the Board of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, with six years (2007- 2013) as Deputy Chairman of that Board and five years (2005-2010) as Chair of the Research Committee of that Board. My experience, since 2009, in Senior Management at Monash University, Australia’s largest university, has also guided my views and recommendations about ‘big system’ reform in the area of mental health. My opinions are not to be interpreted as being provided on behalf of Monash University, the University of Melbourne or any other institution or organisation that I am or have been associated with. 2 As detailed below, I do not have experience on the frontline of the public mental health system. However, I have had extensive peer contact with colleagues in the public mental health system, and am an ardent (but unappointed) advocate for those who are served by and who work in that system. I am also an aggregator of information from people associated with and documentary sources relating to the Victorian public mental health sector. 3 My evidence is either based on my own knowledge, or where I make statements on the basis of information provided by others, I believe such information to be true. Background Qualifications 4 My primary degree is a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, which I received in 1974 at the University of Melbourne. 5 I completed my psychiatric training at Prince Henry’s Hospital, where there was a strong emphasis on psychotherapy and consultation-liaison psychiatry. Please note that the information presented in this witness statement responds to matters requested by the Royal Commission. 86785136 page 1 WIT.0001.0184.0002 6 I also hold the following postgraduate qualifications and memberships: (a) Diploma of Psychological Medicine, University of Melbourne, 1979; (b) Membership of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 1980; (c) Fellowship of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 1982; (d) Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 1983; (e) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Monash University, 1983. My PhD thesis topic was Aspects of the Measurement and Physiology of Immuno-reactive Beta Endorphin; and (f) Master of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, 1986. 7 In 2011, I was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2016, I was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) “for distinguished service to tertiary education administration, to medicine in the field of psychiatry, to mental health research, and to the community.” Roles and responsibilities Current university roles 8 I am Pro Vice-Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student Engagement at Monash University in Clayton, Victoria. My roles include having strategic oversight of: (a) the Clayton, Caulfield and Peninsula Campuses in relation to the manner in which they provide the best possible experience for our students (approximately 76,000 students), with a particular focus on working with the Student Presidents of the University's undergraduate and postgraduate organisations, on fostering co- curricular engagements and on directing the strategic development of the Peninsula Campus as it entered a new growth and consolidation phase in its history; (b) the development and dissemination of the University's Mental Health Policy and Strategy as Chair of the Monash University Standing Committee on Mental Health; and (c) the University's central leadership programs, in particular the Vice Chancellor's Ancora lmparo Student Leadership program (as Director). 86785136 page 2 WIT.0001.0184.0003 9 I am also Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University and Professorial Fellow, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. In these joint roles, I am engaged in: (a) contributing to public mental health policy, including advocacy for enhanced services in the public mental health sector for patients with serious and enduring mental illnesses and also advocacy for and contributing to the understanding of the mental health aspects of Voluntary Assisted Dying; (b) ongoing involvement in research publications, particularly in the fields of auditory hallucinations, public mental health policy and psychopharmacology; (c) building collaboration and continuous engagement between Monash University and the University of Melbourne; (d) mentoring psychiatric researchers; and (e) contributing to the knowledge base regarding COVID-19, as a co-author of two Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF) reports from the Office of the Chief Scientist of Australia - one on the most promising COVID-19 therapeutics1 and the other on the most promising vaccines for COVID-19.2’3 Current leadership and governance roles 10 I currently hold the following appointments: (a) Governor and Professorial Fellow for The Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, since 2013; and (b) a Trustee for the Finkel Philanthropic Foundation, since 2002. 11 In addition, I still practise as a consultant psychiatrist with a small private practice. Prior roles 12 Between 2014 and 30 June 2020, I was a Director of the Board of the Royal Women's Hospital (RWH). The RWH Board's role is to have strategic oversight of the hospital's activities, including in the areas of risk management, health service monitoring. Its 1 See letter dated 17 May 2020 available at <https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020- 05/RRIF%20Q009%20Promising%20COVID-19%20Treatments%2017%20May%202020.pdf> [accessed 22 June 2020]. 2 See letter dated 11 May 2020 available at <https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/rrif- covid19-promising-vaccines.pdf> [accessed 22 June 2020]. 3 For further information about the RRIF, see Australia’s Chief Scientist, 'Rapid Research Information Forum (RRIF)' <https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/RRIF> [accessed 22 June 2020]. The opinions I express in this statement are not made in my role as a RRIF contributing author, and various assertions and predictions of mine extend beyond the content of the RRIF reports. 86785136 page 3 WIT.0001.0184.0004 governance scope reflects guidance from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in that it includes but is not limited to: (a) “developing the organisation’s vision, purpose, core values, strategic direction and objectives (b) evaluating executive management’s recommendations on important strategic and operational matters (c) ensuring that the service delivers safe, quality healthcare to all consumers, minimising risk and meeting, exceeding and continuously improving the required clinical performance standards (d) scrutinising key financial and non-financial risks to which the health service is exposed, and ensuring the implementation of an effective clinical performance, risk management, compliance and internal control framework (e) ensuring the adequacy of internal regulatory and policy compliance systems (f) adopting appropriate ethical standards, codes of conduct and appropriate behaviours, and ensuring that these are adhered to, including by directors themselves (g) communicating and reporting to DHHS, the Minister and other key stakeholders in a transparent and insightful manner (h) overseeing CEO performance management and management succession plans (i) [overseeing] board succession and establishing / reviewing the board processes for continuous improvement and effective governance.”4 13 Between 2015 and 30 June 2020, I was also the Chair of the Research Committee of the RWH. The committee is involved in providing strategic oversight of the hospital’s research programs, on behalf of the Board. 14 In addition to the roles described above, my other relevant prior appointments include: (a) Director of the Board of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) from 2008 to 2016; and (b) Director of the Bio21 Australia Cluster from 2008 to 2013, which became Biomedical Research Victoria (BioMedVic). 4 Department of Health and Human Services, The Directors’ Toolkit: A resource for Victorian health service boards’, available for download from Victoria State Government, ‘Directors’ Toolkit’, <https://www2.health.vic.aov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/boards-and-aovernance/education- resources-for-boards/directors-toolkit> [accessed 4 July 2020] at p. 18. 86785136 page 4 WIT.0001.0184.0005 15 I have also held several advisory appointments to the Federal and State Governments, including 12 years as a member of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health and eight years as the psychiatric expert on the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. 16 Attached to this statement and marked ‘DC-1’ is a copy of my Curriculum Vitae, which provides further details of positions I have held since I began my professional career in 1975, and my roles and responsibilities in those positions. Research contributions 17 During
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