"I would like to acknowledge Jorgen for his significant achievements during his time as the Chief Executive for MATES in Construction Queensland. For over 14 years Jorgen has been a not-for profit pioneer and leader within the field of mental health and suicide prevention. Within the first 5 years of operation, Queensland’s construction industry achieved an 8% suicide rate reduction under Jorgen’s leadership. He has continued to lead the expansion of the Queensland program, and MATES has reached over 138,000 workers across four Australian States. His work is recognised nationally and internationally."

​- Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner

"I have had the privilege's of working side by side with Jorgen for 14 years. He has an amazingly strategic mind which sees things that often don't occur to the average person. While we had robust discussions over our time, his honesty and genuine care and compassion meant no grudges were ever held - its always about the issue not the person. Jorgen took the embryo of an idea about working with male dominated industries around offering help rather than seeking help and lead a team that created MATES in Construction as world's best practice in suicide prevention and mental health in the workplace. As i write over 200,000 workers have been through the program and 25 pieces of research that deliver evidence of the efficacy of this approach. Jorgen is an outstanding leader and a genuine authentic bloke. I could not recommend him highly enough."

- John Brady, CEO MATES in Construction Qld/NT

"Have really valued our time working together Jorgen - your ability to find the solutions in the most innovative and meaningful ways has always impressed me! You are a true visionary, and a fabulous colleague in the world of transformation and reimagining a mentally healthy world."

- Dr Leanne Geppert, Senior Executive in Health and Human Services

"I first met Jorgen in 2014 when he was CEO of MATES in Construction (Australia) and I was General Manager of The Lendlease Foundation (Australia/NZ). Jorgen and I worked together, over many months, to develop a Corporate / Not-for-Profit Partnership between Lendlease and MATES, focused on promoting mental wellbeing and suicide prevention for construction workers on Lendlease sites. During the months of negotiation Jorgen displayed professionalism, integrity and a genuine passion for doing the right thing. In 2015 we successfully agreed and signed a three year Lendlease / MATES Partnership, that continues to this day (seven years to date)! Jorgen and I continued working collaboratively together over the years, including on a number of important research studies related to mental health and suicide in the construction industry by University of Newcastle and RMIT University. Today I'm proud to call Jorgen a trusted colleague and I unreservedly recommend him for any opportunity for which he is qualified."

- Annettee Rohotas, ​ESG Social Expert

"I met Jorgen for 14 years, when I was appointed to investigate suicide in the construction industry. Jorgen was also a student in our Master of Suicidology program so I had the pleasure of supporting and guiding Jorgen towards achievement of this tertiary qualification. Additionally, I have been a Board Director of MATES (Qld / NT) for over 6 years, and have therefore witnessed Jorgen's ongoing leadership as CEO of MATES, his expertise, passion, commitment and enormous contribution to the suicide prevention sector. Jorgen has achieved global recognition in his leadership in workplace suicide prevention, having nurtured and supported the design, development and implementation of the MATES model, which has yielded impressive scientific evidence for reducing suicide in the construction industry. Most importantly, I have admired Jorgen's authentic and genuine approach to speaking up for the social and human justice principles underpinning wholistic and compassionate suicide prevention. He has demonstrated a strong appreciation of the need for lived experience 'expertise' as part of the evidence base for suicide prevention, and the importance of evidence for achieving change and making an impact. Jorgen has significantly impacted the direction of workplace suicide prevention and prevention generally in our sector and should be very proud of the mark he is making towards saving lives."

- Jacinta Hawgood,​ Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention

"Jorgen is a true leader in our country having lead the rise and development of Mates in Construction (MiC) to an industry leading strategy reducing the impact of suicide in Australia. His professional achievements come from his own conviction, along with a sharp strategic mind. His leadership has set the groundwork for many new industries looking to replicate the accomplishments of MiC. "

- Christopher John, ​CEO Bloomhill Cancer Care