Hello, my name is Jacopo Villani and I am the Regional Patient and Service User Lead for the HSE West and North West Region.

I have worked in different parts of the world, including Africa and Latin America, supporting communities who have difficulty accessing healthcare. Since moving to Ireland, I have worked with members of the Traveller community and within mental health services.

In one of my roles, I helped lead a national group where individuals shared their lived experiences to improve mental health services. This ensured that the voices of those using these services were heard and respected.

I have studied health and community development. I hold two master’s degrees, one in Health Promotion and one in Development Studies. I am currently studying how to carry out research in a way that is inclusive and values the contribution of members of the public. Through my work, I have supported individuals to take part in a national mental health study as peer researchers, enabling them to lead interviews and analyse data.

These experiences have shown me how important it is to listen carefully and involve service users in shaping better health services. Their insights help deepen our understanding and remind us that healthcare is about people and their lived experiences.

This is an important time for partnership working. I hope my work will help make collaboration with individuals and communities a normal part of healthcare. Together, we can build a health service that is fair, respectful, and centred on those it serves.

Look forward to working with you.

My email address is: Partnership.WestNorthWest@hse.ie