Dr Megan Dutton

Megan Dutton brings over 30 years of expertise in the mental health sector, helping shape policy and service development in mental healthcare organisations.

Megan's qualifications include:
PhD (Uni Sunshine Coast), Masters in Nursing (Flinders University), Masters in Mental Health Nursing (Uni Adelaide), Grad Dip in Primary Healthcare (Community Mental Health) Flinders Uni.

Passionate about improving accessibility and transforming treatment journeys for those seeking mental health support, she excels in blue sky thinking and novel approaches to support.

Most recently, she was instrumental in establishing the Clinical Research Unit at the Thompson Institute, leading a program of research into novel therapeutics. Viewing mental healthcare from a holistic perspective, she sees a pressing need for change in how mental health conditions are viewed and treated and looks forward to contributing to the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, embracing research and innovation to achieve the best possible outcomes for people seeking support.

Megan is passionate about sharing knowledge and helping translate the impact of new research and findings into practice. An experienced presenter and speaker, she is particularly enthusiastic about opportunities to progress conversations relating to brain-based approaches in psychiatry and novel therapeutics.

She has authored numerous articles in academic journals relating to novel treatments in stress related disorders, completed a PhD focusing on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related conditions (suicidality, depression, anxiety, PTSD) and investigating the effects of dissociative psychedelic ketamine on key brain regions.

Her other interest is digital medicine, and she sees digital biomarker technology and digital therapeutics combined with psychedelic and other novel treatments, playing a pivotal role in future mental healthcare.