Management
Advisory Board
NDRI’s Advisory Board reflects our national scope, comprising of members from around Australia. Members are drawn from stakeholders including Aboriginal Australians, law enforcement, non-government services, public health, the wider community, consumers, academia and research. The role of the Board is to support and advise the Director in the effective governance of the Institute.
Mr Terry Slevin
Chair
Terry Slevin is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Health Association of Australia in Canberra, ACT. Terry joined the NDRI Board in 2018 as a national/other state representative.
Superintendent Mark Gilbert
Board Member
Mark Gilbert is a Superintendent with the Western Australian Police Force. Mark joined the NDRI Board in 2018 as proxy for the WA Police Assistant Commissioner, who is the nominee of the WA Police Commissioner.
Ms Carol Daws
Board Member
Carol Daws is the Chief Executive Officer of Cyrenian House, Alcohol & Other Drug Treatment Service. Carol joined the NDRI Board in July 2020 as the non-government sector representative.
Mr Paul Dessauer
Board Member
Paul Dessauer is the CEO of Peer Based Harm Reduction. Paul joined the NDRI Advisory Board in May 2022 as a consumer representative.
Mr Steven Papadopoulos
Board Member
Steven Papadopoulos is the Prevention Services Manager at Holyoake. Steven joined the NDRI Advisory Board in September 2023 as a consumer representative.
Dr Jessamine Soderstrom
Board Member
Jessamine Soderstrom is Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist at Royal Perth Hospital and the National Poisons Network. Jessamine joined the NDRI Board in 2021 as a State representative.
Dr Alana Gall
Board Member
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Southern Cross University, Alana Gall is a proud Truwulway woman, a Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) from the north-east coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania). Alana has been on the board since 2024 as the Representative with expertise on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.
Professor Melinda Fitzgerald
Board Member
Melinda Fitzgerald is Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at Curtin University. Melinda joined the NDRI Board in mid-2023.
Professor Carlo Marra
Board Member
Carlo Marra is Pro Vice-Chancellor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University. Carlo joined the NDRI Board in mid-2024.
Professor Paul Griffiths
Executive Officer
Paul Griffiths is Director of the National Drug Research Institute. Paul has been on the NDRI Board since becoming Director in February 2025.
Ms Amna Siddiqui
Executive Secretary
Amna Siddiqui is the Business Manager at NDRI.
Leadership Group
NDRI’s Leadership Group includes the Professoriate at NDRI, NDRI’s Graduate Studies Lead and Business Manager.