Our Approach
Our Experts
Prof. Nicole Lee
FOUNDER and CEO
Dr Nicole Lee is well known across the globe for her expertise in policy and practice translation. Her knowledge and expertise on Australia's methamphetamine problems is second to none. With her unique background in clinical services, academia, teaching, and management, her policy advice is sought after by Australian and international governments, and major organisations like the WHO and the UNODC.
Not your typical academic, her surprising but informative presentation style bridges that gap between research to practice to make the complex crystal clear. Nicole is also Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute Curtin University; member of the Australian National Council on Alcohol and other Drugs; board member of Hello Sunday Morning and The Loop Australia; and Fellow of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy.
Nicole is frequently highlighted in the media and is an active contributor to various articles.
Senior leadership
Paula Ross
HEAD OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (VIC OFFICE)
Paula leads our workforce development programs with key responsibility for developing and delivering our training, supervision and workforce policy development programs. She is also our families' expert. With her extensive experience in Counselling Psychology, she really understands how to bring the evidence into clinical practice, so participants get the skills they need to be more effective. She is highly sought after all around Australia for her training and supervision skills. Our clients love her combination of warmth and pragmatism. Paula is also a couselling psychologist in private practice.
Dr. Richard Cash
HEAD OF SERVICE DEVELOPMENT (VIC OFFICE)
Richard leads our service improvement and evaluation programs. He is also our trauma expert. With his extensive experience in Forensic Psychology, he really understands the complexities of real world service delivery. He is a master at translating research into practical solutions so governments and services stay up to date and on the cutting edge of evidence-based practice, providing the best possible responses for service users. Our clients love his engaging communication style. Richard is also psychologist in private practice and was previously Director of Education and Training Phoenix Australia
Tim Hilton
HEAD OF HEALTH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT (VIC OFFICE)
Tim is our expert in developing, costing, and modelling health systems. He really knows that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. With his background in accounting and his clear head for complex logistics and health systems analysis, even the most challenging projects come off without a hitch. Our clients love his positive and optimistic approach and his second-to-none client relationship skills.
Devushka Blake
Business and administration manager (QLD OFFICE)
Devushka is the backbone of our office, serving as both the Business and Administration Manager and Executive Assistant to our CEO. With her exceptional organisational and project management skills, she ensures that the business runs smoothly and efficiently. Devushka is always ready to assist with any need, making her an invaluable asset to the team. Beyond her professional talents, Devushka always brings warmth and a personal touch to our workplace.
Consultants
Dr Katinka van de Ven
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT (NSW OFFICE)
Katinka is our Principal Consultant. She is a Visiting Fellow, Drug Policy Modelling Program at UNSW. She has extensive expertise in alcohol and other drug treatment services systems research, including program evaluation, workforce needs and client outcomes. She also has significant expertise in evaluation and design of alcohol and other drug policy, harm reduction initiatives and organised crime groups. Katinka is an Editor-in-Chief of Performance Enhancement and Health and the Director of the Human Enhancement Drugs Network (HEDN). She also regularly acts as an advisor for government bodies in Australia and internationally.
Dr Amanda Davies
principal consultant (nT OFFICE)
Amanda is our super Senior Consultant. Her varied experience in clinical service delivery, research and evaluation and health system reform gives her a unique ability to put the pieces together to drive effective solutions. She also has extensive experience and understanding of First Nations services. We love her considered and solution-focused thinking. Amanda is also board member of Northern Territory Aids and Hepatitis Council and the Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT.
Administration
Nicole Dimond
senior administration officer (QLD OFFICE)
Nic D is our ever-smiling administration guru. She provides the support and backend management to ensure our many workshops go off without a hitch. She also is our style guru, keeping our branding in check and engaging. Her amazing administration skills are second to none, all delivered with a smile.
Mia Emanuel
administration assistant (NSW OFFICE)
Mia is our administrative superstar! She provides invaluable admin support and is our go to guru for all things related to evaluations and CRM. Mia’s cheerful can do attitude makes her an absolute pleasure to have on the team.
Suz Stainthorpe
policy and communications officer (act OFFICE)
Suz, our Policy and Communications Officer. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for writing compelling content, Suz is our go-to person for all things related to inquiries, social media, annual reports, blogs, and submissions.
Rebecca Low
financial controller (nsw OFFICE)
It's all about the numbers for our super financial controller, Bec. She monitors the ins and outs of our finances with lightning precision. We love her attention to detail and always-happy disposition.
Associates
Professor Steve Allsop
Associate
Steve is Professor at the National Drug Research Institute Curtin University and an award winning international leader in the alcohol and other drug sector. He is also Chair of the Boards of the WA Alcohol and other Drug Advisory Board and the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies; Deputy Chair of Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and other Drugs; and, Board Member of the Australian Drug Foundation.
Professor Amanda Baker
Associate
Amanda is an internationally renowned Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Professor at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre University of NSW. She was previously Professor at the University of Newcastle. An award-winning innovator, she specialises in alcohol and other drug treatment, and especially well known for her work in treatment of people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drug problems.
Dr Monica Barratt
Associate
Monica is Senior Research Fellow at RMIT University and an international expert in drug harm reduction and drug policy. She is Executive Director of the global drug harm reduction community, Bluelight.org, and research lead for the drug checking organisation, The Loop Australia. She Australia’s key expert in digital drug trading, legislation of novel substances, and innovative responses like public drug alerts, drug checking and psychedelic use.
Professor Nicola Newton
Associate
Nicola is Professor at the University of Sydney and Director of Prevention at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use. She is internationally renowned for her work prevention of alcohol and other drug and mental health disorders. She is a leader and innovator in the use of technology in school based drug education. She developed Australia’s lead drug education program, OurFutures.
Dr Sue O'Neill
Associate
Sue is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Special Education with the School of Education at the University of New South Wales. She is a leading expert in improving the educational and life outcomes for students with special needs, particularly those with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Her expertise spans teacher development to positively manage their classrooms to support at-risk and justice-involved youth. She has a special interest in rural and remote Indigenous communities.
Jack Nagle
Associate
Jack is a high profile lived experience advocate and is Founder and Director of the With-In Collective, a modern-day addiction recovery organisation supporting personal recovery, innovation and change. With-in Collective includes media company Real Drug Talk and the treatment organisation Connection Based Living.
Dr Moira Junge
Associate
Moira is CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation and Director of the Australian Sleep and Alertness Consortium. She is a Health Psychologist and one of Australia’s foremost experts in sleep and sleep disorders. Moira developed and delivers our “Good Night. Sleep Tight.” workshop on improving sleep among people who use alcohol and other drugs.
Connect with our team of specialists in the alcohol & drug field.
Benefit from our unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience to implement solutions that truly work in the real world
