Committee Members

Josephine Baxter
Executive Officer

• 2008-present - Vice President, World Federation Against Drugs
• 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:

• 2008 to present, Vice President, World Federation Against Drugs and Member of the International Task Force on Strategic Drug Policy
• 2007 – Conference presentation, ICAA Conference, Stockholm
• 2004 – Conference presentation, Tobacco Control Conference, Helsinki
• 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 Organisations 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
• 1983-84 Malaysia – Orientation Counsellor, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Ross Colquhoun

He has completed Undergraduate and Post Graduate degrees in Science, Health Science, Neuroscience and Counselling:

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

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 t taught at University of Wollongong, Aust College of Applied Psychology and West Wollongong TAFE and had experience in a training environment while working for P&P as a contractor in Sydney and Wollongong. 

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 joined DFA in 2008 and was appointed as Research Fellow and sat on the Management Committee a number of years. During that time, he has written many academic papers dealing with addiction and treatment and attended the Asia Pacific Drug Free Forum as the Australian representative in Singapore in 2019.

Major Brian Watters AO
Former Vice President, 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. Gary Christian
Specialist Researcher – AOD and Community Health

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
• 1992-2009 - senior management in the Australian welfare industry
• 2003-present - Research Director, Drug Free 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
• 1986-present - DFA Researcher and Publications Director focussing on  Cannabis Harms