International expert named as new NDRI Director
An international alcohol and other drug (AOD) expert with three decades of experience in the field is the new Director of the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Curtin University.
Paul Griffiths, who has been Scientific Director at the European Union Drug Agency (formerly EMCDDA) based in Portugal since 2010, will take up the role of NDRI Director in February 2025.
“Paul has worked in the AOD field for more than 30 years, including with such international organizations as the United Nations and World Health Organization,” said Professor Simon Lenton, who will step down after 8 years as NDRI Director to focus on his research activity.
“With a particular research interest in developing early warning systems to track new and emerging substances, Paul also brings a wealth of academic and sector expertise and I and the NDRI team are looking forward to working with him to continue to prevent alcohol- and other drug-related harm in Australia.”
Curtin enAble Institute Director Professor Bronwyn Myers said: “We are thrilled that our global search for NDRI’s next Director secured a world-renowned expert in the field with the credentials to take one of the University’s longest running Institute’s into its fifth decade.
“With an established research profile and extensive knowledge in preventing harm and with sector linkages across academia and government internationally, Paul brings many of the essential skills valued by the Institute and the wider University.”
Paul Griffiths added: “It is a rare and exciting opportunity to join an organisation with such a strong national and global reputation for quality research that has significantly influenced policy and practice over decades.
“I am looking forward to beginning the role of NDRI Director and continuing to build on the work of the previous Directors and researchers who have built NDRI into a world-renowned research institute since it was established in the mid-1980s.”
Posted on: 22 Aug 2024
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