Mr. Craig Thompson
Magistrate

Community Interests:

• President of PRYDE Australia Inc. (Parents Reaching Youth through Drug Education - now closed)
• Member PRIDE Inc. (Parents Resources in Drug Education) International Committee 1985-99 Atlanta, USA.
• Board Member Ted Noffs Foundation 7 years.
• Committee member Australian National Council on Drugs (1998-2004)
• Vice-President Drug Watch Australia (Resigned)
• Delegate to Drug Watch International.
• Former District Governor Lions Clubs International District 201N2

Mr. Gary Christian
National Director - Adventist Development & Relief Agency

Community Interests:

• 1980-1988 - Coordinated the Eastern Suburbs Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking
• 1986-1987 - Co-writer of the Quit Now Stop Smoking Program
• 1999 - Co-founder of the Cabramatta ADRAcare Centre for drug dependent and homeless people of the area
• 2000-2003 - President of Hassela Australia Teen Drug Rehabilitation program

Major Brian Watters AO
INCB (UN)

• Arts Degree from Newcastle (NSW) University, majoring in Medical Sociology.  
• Qualified Psychiatric Chaplain and trained at Newcastle University in Addictions Counselling. 
• In 1998 he was appointed by Prime Minister John Howard as The Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs, the peak Drugs Policy Advisory Body to the Australian Federal Government. 
• A member of the National Board of Drug Arm Australia; 
• Board Member of Drug Free Australia;
• Member of the Leadership Council of International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition.
• Past President of the N.S.W. Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies with a Membership of more than 100 Agencies.  
• Served on the N.S.W. Health Minister’s Drug Advisory Council.
• In 2005 he was elected by ECOSOC to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of the United Nations – based in Vienna.
• In 2007 appointed Vice President of the INCB

Mr. Graeme Rule
Executive Director - COADE Inc.

Community Interests:

• 1964 Market research Society of Australia
• 1965 Australian Association of National Advertisers
• 1982 Member Hospital Public Relations Manager Association
• 1990 Member Victorian Alcohol & Drug Association
• 1994 Australian Professional Society of Alcohol & Drugs
• 1995 Drug Advisory Council of Australia

Mr. Herschel Mills Baker
President - APFDFY

Community Interests:

• 1999 Parent Drug Education Courses: Mary River Lions Club Seminar; Quota Club; Baptist Church, Hervey Bay
• Block Coordinator of Neighborhood Watch
• Member of Police Liaison Committee
• Member of Blue Light Disco Committee (Security)
• Member of Maryborough Police Youth Association (Treasurer)
• Project Manager for establishing PCYC at Maryborough
• Project Manager 5 year Operation Road Runner, 1991 -1996
• Project Manager for 5 year Road Runner 2
• President and Founding Member of Australian Parents for Drug Free Youth, since 1986
• Coordinator for APFDFY Education Web Site, since 1997
• Facilitator for Drug Stop
• Member of Tough Love

Major General Peter R. Phillips  AO, MC, (Retd), BA (Qld), FAICD

Community Interests:

• Chairman, National Ex-Service Round Table on Aged Care
• Chairman, Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust
• Board Member, Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies
• Board Member, Australian War Memorial ANZAC Foundation
• Life member, RSL (National President 1997-2003) and the Returned Services Assn, NZ
• Member, Canberra Legacy (President; Member National Coordinating Council 1992/93)
• Member, Advisory Group, Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration and Refugees
• Chairman, Finance Council, Catholic Military Diocese
• Member, Australian Veterans' Vietnam Reconstruction Group (and former governor, Australia-Vietnam Medical Trust)
• Member, Australian Families Association
• Patron, Australian Family Association, Haemophilia Foundation Australia (ACT), the Victoria Barracks (Brisbane) Historical Society and several Ex-Service organisations

Isobel Gawler

Community Interests:

• Past National Advisor on Legislation to the National Council of Women of Australia
• Past Executive Member of the National Council of Women of Victoria
• Past Secretary of the Drug Advisory Council of Australia Inc.
• Past Executive member of the Family Council of Victoria
• Past Executive member of the Australian Family Association (Vic.)

Mr. John Barich

Community Interests:

• WA President of the National Civic Council
• President of the WA Branch of the Australian Family Association
• Family Council of WA
• State Council of the Parents and Friends Federation
• Family and Children’s Advisory Council
• Curriculum Council of WA
• Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC)

Melvin Freestone B.A. (Mod), M.A., H.Dip.Ed., M.Sc.

Melvin Freestone has vast experience in teaching as well as in school and curriculum development in primary and secondary schools. He has held Senior Teaching positions in Ireland and Tasmania. Until recently he was Principal of Montagu Bay Primary School in Tasmania.

In addition to his teaching role, Melvin has led and advised numerous State and National Primary and Secondary curriculum development projects, specifically relating to science, technology and personal development.  He is a Senior Professional Development Specialist, with the educational consultancy Fielding Nair International.

Melvin’s experience extends beyond Australia’s borders: he has carried out a review of Technology Education in Pacific Rim countries for the OECD’s Pacific Circle Consortium. He has conducted residential programs for primary and secondary teachers in Thailand in association with the University of Tasmania. He has worked extensively over many years in providing both pre-service and in-service courses and programs for teachers and senior staff. He is currently working with teachers in Nepal.

Melvin focuses on empowerment of the people with whom he works. He works collaboratively - ‘at the shoulder’ - with educational leaders, senior staff, teachers, parents and members of school communities.  His educational experience and expertise enhance dialogue and action.

Melvin is a molecular biologist as well as an experienced educator, and has carried out research into the hospital pathogen Staphylococcus aureus.  He is an active participant in community activities, particularly in the development and provision of wilderness therapy, employment and training programs for young people.

Mr Paul Russell

Passions:

• Family and children
• Faith
• Youth training and education
• Politics
• Social development and infrastructure

Strengths:

• Research and analysis
• Public speaking
• Program development & Policy
• Networking
• Articles, briefings and submissions

Associations:

• Northern Adelaide Innovation Network - Steering Group member
• Drug Advisory Council of Australia - Member
• Southern Cross Bioethics Institute - Board Member
• SA Council of Churches Disability Task Force - Member
• World Congress of Families, Mexico 2004 - Australian Delegate
• Australian Family Association - Member & fmr. Vice President