Suzie is the Clinical Advisor to the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAOD) at NSW Health. An accredited mental health Social Worker with over 20 years’ clinical experience. Suzie has worked, developed and managed AOD services both in Australia and overseas and has a PhD in public health.

Dr Robert Stirling is CEO of Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA) the NSW NGO AOD peak body. He supports members in AOD and public health policy, planning and funding, sector and workforce development, as well as research and evaluation. Robert has worked in the AOD sector for almost 20 years, and holds qualifications in public health and community management. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer with the Drug Policy Modelling Program at UNSW.

Michelle Hall has over twenty years of extensive experience managing clinical research. She has a clinical data, project, and people management background and has worked across industry, local health districts, and not-for-profit organisations throughout the lifecycle of clinical trials, having managed several international multi-centre clinical trials. Additionally, she has co-authored numerous scientific papers published in top-tier journals. In her role as DACRIN Statewide Coordinator, she has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Research and Improvement Network (DACRIN) throughout New South Wales. Michelle is dedicated to supporting alcohol and other drug services in conducting and participating in research that can enhance the quality of life for individuals seeking treatment for alcohol and other drug dependencies.

Jo Ross is a Senior Project Officer in the Strategic Research and Evaluation team, Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAOD) at the NSW Ministry of Health. She is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW. Jo has over 25 years of experience in drug and alcohol research, having worked in a range of research and academic roles. She has a strong interest in building capacity for consumer informed and co-produced research, and has a background in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Community Medicine.

Kevin Street is currently a member of several consumer advisory groups (CAG) and committees, including for NADA, Kirketon Road Centre, the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) and the Ministry of Health. He is part of a steering committee to encourage GPs and pharmacists to prescribe and dispense Buvidal, an opioid replacement therapy. He is a volunteer with the Uniting Fair Treatment campaign and is supporting the development of training modules for AOD nursing students with the University of Technology Sydney. Kevin received an AOD Award from NADA for Outstanding contribution in peerwork and/or consumer representation. He has presented at APSAD on two occasions and is a peer worker at NUAA needle and syringe program. Kevin is a passionate advocate for the decriminalisation of personal possession and use of all drugs.

Dr Deans, alongside lived experience young people and various research and community stakeholders, has worked on a range of qualitative projects exploring the substance use needs of young people experiencing significant marginalisation and disadvantage. Dr Deans continues to build capacity for NGO AOD organisations to conduct research to support strategic planning/service design. Dr Deans is passionate about understanding the social and commercial drivers of health behaviours and how services can better support individuals to stay well.