Emily Wheeler is a senior leader in mental health research and an advocate for lived experience–led change. Living with chronic migraine and mental-health challenges, she brings a deeply personal perspective to improving patient pathways and service design. Professionally, Emily is Director of Research Partnerships & Development at the International Charity MQ Mental Health Research and former Interim CEO, where she leads major national and global collaborations to ensure research accelerates better treatments and care. She works closely with clinicians, policymakers, and people with lived experience to ensure research and services reflect real-world needs and drive meaningful, patient-centred transformation.