Craig Marchant

Mental health advocate, author and presenter Craig Marchant understands what it is like to live—and thrive—with mental illness. Diagnosed with Depression/Anxiety at 12 and Schizoaffective Disorder at 17, Craig has wrestled with inner turmoil, loneliness and unorganized thoughts that have driven him to the brink of death. But instead of letting problems define him, Craig has learned to manage mental illness while getting on with life. By sharing his incredible story through keynote presentations and a book, Conquer Your Inner Demons: The Ultimate Guide to Better Mental Health, Craig hopes to inspire others to do the same. The book is part biography and part self-help—an honest and relatable resource for anyone struggling to navigate life with a complex mind.

For Craig, proper treatment has been essential in his wellness journey. But along with self-care, he finds strength in stepping outside of his comfort zone—a practice he recommends whole-heartedly. Completing the Inca Trail in 2016 to benefit the Leukaemia Foundation represents both a highlight and turning point in Craig’s life. Through this intense physical test, he discovered deep inner motivation and perseverance—inborn traits he now realizes give him the power to accomplish anything he set his mind to. The experience also sparked a new mission: to help others realise their full potential by undertaking similar physical challenges. Since completing the trail, Craig has overcome his fear of public speaking and developed several targeted presentations on mental health with a focus on parenting, self-discovery and practical ways to understand and help people with mental illness.

When he’s not working as a mental health advocate or challenging himself to new things, Craig runs his own technology business providing software/Internet programming, administrative, analytical and related services to clients. He started the business after many successful years in managerial and CTO roles within the tech industry.

Born and raised in Tanilba Bay NSW Australia, Craig is the eldest of three children. He is a proud husband and father of five children. The family shares their home in Narre Warren South, VIC, Australia with three cats. In his free time, Craig enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, bushwalking and immersing himself in nature. He continues to do the hard work necessary to understand himself and his mind—never letting mental illness stop him from spreading the word and fighting the good fight.