Emily Wheeler

Emily is Director of Research Partnerships and Development at MQ Mental Health Research, where she leads the charity’s largest team, overseeing strategic partnerships and income generation. She previously served as Interim CEO, guiding MQ through a period of organisational transition and growth.

Her background spans philanthropy, medical research, and social impact, with over a decade of experience across charities, funders, and higher education. At MQ, she established the organisation’s partnerships function and has led the development of major cross-sector initiatives involving government, academia, philanthropy, and lived experience leaders. She has secured multi-million-pound support from major donors, trusts and foundations, and helped shape national and international mental health research collaborations.

Emily sits on the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Impact Advisory Board, the international BEING Initiative’s Scientific and Strategy Advisory Board, and The Migraine Trust’s Involvement Panel. She previously chaired national alliances for student mental health and peer support. She is also a regular speaker at conferences and events on lived experience involvement, research strategy, and the role of philanthropy and investment in driving health system change.

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