Ruairi White has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer by NSUN’s Board of Trustees, having served as Interim CEO since the beginning of the year.
Ruairi has been with NSUN since 2020, having led NSUN’s capacity-building and grant making work prior to becoming Deputy CEO in 2025. Before joining NSUN he worked in higher education and in the LGBTQ+ sector, with a particular focus on supporting user-led work by and for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Ruairi said:
“It’s an honour to lead NSUN at this critical moment. 2027 will see us celebrate two decades of user-led organising, creativity and solidarity as we mark NSUN’s 20th anniversary. Nonetheless, the current environment for many of us with lived experience is frightening, disempowering and exhausting. It doesn’t have to be this way. NSUN’s work and the work happening across our membership – carried out by user-led groups and campaigns – proves that there can be a world free from coercion, shame and discrimination targeting people who experience mental ill-health, distress and trauma. To help us all get there, NSUN will carry on supporting grassroots user-led groups, amplifying the voices of our members, and fighting for rights-based and consent-based frameworks in health, research and policy. I’m grateful to the Board, my colleagues and NSUN’s members for all the work we’ve already done together, and excited for the future.”
Julia Tinsley-Kent, NSUN trustee, said:
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’m thrilled to confirm Ruairi’s appointment as CEO of NSUN. He is taking on the role at a vital time as we expose harmful mental health systems, challenge policies that do not serve us and support our members to build collective power. During his time at NSUN, Ruairi has shown an unwavering commitment to NSUN’s values, mission and the wellbeing of the incredible staff and wider network. We’re excited to continue working together to create a mental health justice movement led by those with lived experience.”
Aiyana Goodfellow, NSUN trustee, said:
“The board and staff are so excited for NSUN to enter this new chapter with Ruairi as our CEO. I am confident that NSUN will continue building its successful and vital work through Ruairi’s hopeful, diligent, and kind leadership – which is so needed in our current political context.”