Mr. Gary Christian
Chairperson and Executive Committee Member
Community Interests:
1980-1988 – Coordinated the Eastern Suburbs Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking
1986-1987 – Co-author of the Quit Now Stop: Smoking Program
1999 – Co-founder of the Cabramatta ADRA Care Centre for drug dependent people of the area
2000-2003 – President of Hassela Australia Teen Drug Rehabilitation program
1992-2009 – Senior management in the Australian welfare industry – Mission Australia and ADRA Australia
2003-2024 – Research Director, Drug Free Australia
Gary has published many papers on different aspects of addiction treatment and policy. He has extensively researched and written analyses on relevant issues concerning Harm Reduction policies and programs, including the Medically Supervised Injecting Facilities, Needle Exchange, Pill Testing, Methadone Maintenance and is the main spokesperson and community liaison officer for DFA
Ms Josephine Baxter
Executive Director, Drug Free Australia
- 2007-Present – Executive Director, Drug Free Australia
- 2008-2020 – Vice President, World Federation Against Drugs
- 2020-2024 – Special Advisor, World Federation Against Drugs; 2025 WFAD Deputy Board Member (Oceania)
- 2009-present – Member of the International Task force on Strategic Drug Policy
- 2007-2010 – Member of the Australian National Council on Drugs
- 2003-2007 Community Services and Health Consultant – (Drug and Alcohol)
- 2004-2005 – Community Relations Manager – Odyssey House Victoria
- 2002-2004 – National Director – Programs and Training, Life Education Australia, NSW
- 2001-2002 – Project Manager, Offshore Licensing (India & Bangladesh), Centre for International Education and Training
- 2000-2001 – Chief Executive – Life Education, SA
- Overseas Project Experience:
- 2007 – Conference presentation, ICAA Conference, Stockholm
- 2004 – Conference presentation, Tobacco Control Conference, Helsinki. Finland
- 2003 – United States of America – AER Foundation Research Scholarship, ‘Life Skills Training’, Cornell University, USA
- 2001-2002 – Bangladesh and India – Program Manager, Offshore Licensing, Centre for International Education and Training, TAFESA
- 1999 – United States of America – OTFE Research Scholarship – ‘Learning Organizations and Life Long Learning’.
- 1999 – United States, Europe and Ireland – established credit transfer links and articulation arrangements for international students and staff exchanges
- 1997 – Florence, Italy – Curriculum Designer – William Angliss Institute of TAFE
- 1983-84 Malaysia – Refugee Orientation Counsellor, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Ross ColquhounExecutive Committee Member and Research Fellow for DFA
Qualifications:
Doctor of Health Science, Deacon University, Master of Applied Science (Neuroscience), Sydney University Bachelor of Science (Hons), University of Wollongong Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Jansen Newman Institute
Community
He has worked in welfare and drug and alcohol programs at different institutions including the Orana House Detox Centre, St Saviours in Goulburn, Triple Care Farm at Robertson, Australian Institute for Counselling in Addiction, the Salvation Army and Belfield Aged Care Facility. He taught at University of Wollongong, Aust College of Applied Psychology and West Wollongong TAFE and lately at universities in China.
Career
He was the Clinical Director of Addiction Treatment and Psychology Services and worked as a counsellor and conducted relevant research for over 15 years. He has written and had published many academic papers and a new book dealing with addiction and treatment among other topics such as Dementia Care. The latest paper was an extensive review of the effectiveness of methadone and naltrexone for the treatment of opioid dependence
He joined DFA in 2008 and was appointed as Research Fellow and sat on the Executive Committee for several years (He worked in China for four years recently) and attended the Asia Pacific Drug Free Forum as the Australian the representative of Drug Free Australia in Singapore in 2015.
Herschel Mills Baker
Committee Member and Website liaison Officer and-Cannabis Researcher for DFA
President – APFDFY
On the board of International Rotary Prevention AP
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
1986-present – DFA Researcher and Publications Director focussing on Cannabis Harms
Rev Jay R Bacik
Committee Member
Jay Bacik was elected to the Drug Free Australia Board of Management in November 2015, having been a Fellow of Drug Free Australia, since inception in 2007. He has spoken at frequent intervals publicly about Drug Prevention issues and solutions. This includes speaking at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria.
He worked with Life Education for over 14 years, having held positions of Chief Executive Officer for Life Education Australia and Life Education NSW.
Jay also has an advisory role at Stewart House, Sydney, the Children’s Charity for which he has a passion.
MINISTRY
Jay was ordained in the Ministry of the Churches of Christ in NSW in 1969. He has had ministries in Wollongong, Telopea and Crows Nest (Northside Community Church). He originally trained in theology and communications. Jay is frequently in demand as a motivational speaker both in churches and other community groups.
Jay has been a church growth consultant in Australia and the United States for over 20 years.
A selection of the Rev. Jay Bacik’s sermons can be seen on YouTube under his name.
MEDIA
Jay has had over forty years’ experience in media involving radio and television and radio. He was the Director of Religious Programs at Radio 2CH on behalf of the NSW Council of Churches, where he was also the Sunday night talkback host for 15 years and presented motivational spots every day.
Jay has done significant talkback for 2GB and most recently filled in as talkback host for 2GB on Sunday nights.
COMMUNITY
Jay has worked in Australia for Austcare as Assistant National Director. Of particular note, he was founder of the Sydney City Mission Foundation over which the Hon. Bob Hawke was chair. In addition, Jay was Special Projects Director for Diabetes Australia, NSW. He was also a member of the NSW Parole Board for a number of years.
He was Chair of ‘The Positive Vibes Foundation’ supporting Mental Health issues in Western Sydney.
Jay’s overseas experience includes Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association and was recently Vice President of Hope International University in Fullarton, California. Jay worked with Dr Robert H. Schuller, at ‘The Hour of Power’ television ministry.
He is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and a frequent speaker at conferences and conventions. His passions in life are transforming communities, Cricket, Rugby League, international news and Politics.
Kerryn Redpath
15Executive Committee Member and Education Officer for DFA
Kerryn is a passionate drug and alcohol awareness educator, a role that evolved out of her own devastating life and near-death trials, many years ago. Today, she brings a message of hope and a warning of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse to people of all age groups and demographics, by speaking in Secondary Colleges, TAFES, Corporate events and with many other interested groups. Kerryn worked as a senior school Learning Assistant, working with teens for 10 years, in an independent college.
Kerryn’s presentations are highly engaging and educational and are delivered in a powerful and professional manner. As indicated in fifteen years of feedback, this is a vital message, particularly in light of the current substance use situation across this nation.
- SBS documentary on marijuana called ‘Living with the Enemy’ in 2014.
- Live debate on ABC Radio National, the topic being, “The war on drugs”
- Live debate on 3AW with Neil Mitchel and other well-known panelists.
- Live tv debate with Richard Di Natalie on legalising marijuana.
Kerryn is a Drug & Alcohol Awareness Educator Director – DAESY Author – ‘Out of the Darkness’ & ‘Chasing After the Wind’ NEIS Prize-Winner
Major Brian Watters AO
Patron
- 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