Tuari Potiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha) is a leading voice for Māori drug harm reduction, with more than 30 years’ experience across mental health, addiction, and wellbeing. He combines lived experience of substance use and recovery with expertise in policy, workforce development, and service design. Currently Chair of the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Whare Tukutuku – the National Māori Harm Reduction Centre – Tuari also serves on the Boards of Te Rau Ora and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. He has been instrumental in pioneering Māori-led approaches to care, including the first Methadone Whānau Māori Clinic. On the international stage, he is a founding member of the International Indigenous Drug Policy Alliance and has addressed the United Nations on ending the “war on drugs.” Tuari’s leadership is defined by manaaki, advocacy, and a commitment to ensuring Māori voices and solutions are at the forefront of drug policy and harm reduction.

Sarah Helm (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) [She/Her] The Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, who promote evidence-based drug policy, incubates and promotes new harm reduction practices and are involved in New Zealand's early warning system. Sarah has worked in public health, communications, marketing, politics and social change. Her most recent role before the Drug Foundation was the head of strategic communications for New Zealand's COVID-19 response. Prior roles include: the youth manager and later marketing manager for the former Alcohol Advisory Council (NZ), and Executive Director of the youth health and development peak body in NZ. She has a range of relevant lived experiences, background and identities.

Leanne Hides is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at The University of Queensland. They are also the Director  of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Meaningful Outcomes in Substance Use Treatment.

Stefan (he/him) is a psychologist and the CEO of Odyssey House Victoria. He has over 25 years’ experience in the AOD sector in clinical, research, and management roles. He is a Board Director of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and a current Board member and the previous Chair of VAADA. Stefan sits on a range of AOD and mental health government advisory groups and has coauthored several AOD publications and resources. Stefan has helped to establish multiple AOD residential and community-based programs for people across metro and regional Victoria, and he has contributed to national and international drug policy, especially around family inclusive practice and family violence.

Wilson is a well-respected Aboriginal leader and CEO of the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council South Australia (ADAC) for over 30 years. He is also Adjunct Professor, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR), School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University. His other past leadership roles include being Deputy Chair of both the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee and the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation (FARE). Scott’s personal and professional experience in substance misuse has made him a valued member of nearly every major governmental and non-governmental committee in Australia for more than 30 years. He has received several awards including the Australian Centenary Medal and the Sister Alison Bush Award from the University of Sydney. Scott is also the Lead Convener of the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON), and represents not only the specific needs of the SA Aboriginal community, but our NFP organisations at the National level, through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation of Peaks (Coalition of Peaks), of which he is the Deputy Lead Convenor. The CoP is made up of 80 Peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations from across Australia.