Our Team
Team Members
With over forty-five years of collective experience working in the alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector, the Drug Education Network's diverse team use their varied backgrounds, qualifications and skills to provide Tasmanians with the information, education and training they need to stay safe from harm.
- Commenced leadership of DEN in 2023
- Passionate about stigma reduction
- Background in alcohol and other drug rehabilitation programs
With a career primarily focused in Corrections and Rehabilitation, Emily is passionate about working to reduce discrimination and stigma. Emily is committed to leading in a way that builds the capacity of others while identifying and harnessing existing expertise and providing people with opportunities to develop and grow.
- Joined DEN in 2015
- Keeps budgets in line
- Background in Meteorology
Fond of clouds, bushwalks, and a good loaf of bread, Anita keeps us on track and in budget with her careful preparedness and attention to detail. Anita gained her financial experience in her own business and within the community sector, but prefers to work with DEN in the non-profit sector, where she can identify with the goals of the organisation.
- Joined DEN in 2020
- Report writer extraordinaire
- Background in social theory
Deni is skilled at using the right words to increase awareness and promote understanding. She is a strategic and analytical thinker, driven by opportunities for further learning and reflection. Deni is dedicated to working towards a future where Tasmanians are equipped with the information they need to make their own informed decisions.
- Joined DEN in 2017
- Expert dad joke teller
- Background in drug and alcohol counselling
Dave is passionate about groupwork, personal growth and environmentalism. He has worked in private practice and was part of the outreach team at the Buttery Rehab in Northern NSW. Dave originally joined DEN as project coordinator for the wungana makuminya project, before taking on his current role as an educator.
- Joined DEN in 2021
- Podcast enthusiast
- Background in health promotion
With a wealth of experience in the development and delivery of health promotion education and resources, and a passion for providing Tasmanians with accessible information, Rob believes in the power of evidence-based harm reduction strategies to prevent and reduce harms caused by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
- Joined DEN in 2012
- Loves accessibility
- Background in community services
Zoe takes care of things behind the scenes; building and designing resources and projects, investigating and implementing systems and software, scrutinising data, and maintaining DEN's IT. She has many passions, including making information accurate and supporting people to use the full potential of their brains to make informed decisions.
- Joined DEN in 2023
- Avid skill collector
- Background in training facilitation
Cathy is the warm and welcoming voice behind our phones. She joins the DEN team with a wealth of experience in administration. New to the non-for-profit sector, Cathy is excited for the change and future professional development opportunities. During her down-time you will find her spending time with her children and fur babies.
- Joined DEN in 2022
- Passionate advocate
- AOD Peer Workforce Training Graduate
Samantha is a passionate and dedicated advocate, efficient and organised worker and loving dog mum. Samantha uses her lived experience in a number of roles across the Tasmanian alcohol and other drug sector to support clients, and reduce stigma and discrimination experienced by people who use alcohol and other drugs.
- Joined DEN in 2024
- Fascinated by human diversity
- Background in education
Anna is passionate about empowering young people to be their authentic selves and to have agency in their lives. She has worked in a variety of education settings and relishes the learning and growth that comes from exploring new perspectives. Anna feels most alive when adventuring in wild places.
- Joined DEN in 2024
- Curious and loves learning
- Background in manufacturing and supply chain
Tasha has worked across a diverse range of industries; from micro-electronics to chocolate, to metals and mining, and even in her own remedial massage practice. Her career is now finance-focused, which makes her analytical brain happy. Tasha is inspired by the work of not-for-profits and is excited to support the amazing work of DEN ‘behind the scenes'.
- Joined DEN in 2024
- Likes to read and nap
- Background in Arts and Community Engagement
Krystal has recently completed a Graduate Diploma of Psychology and keenly interested in health psychology and empowering people to make choices to support their wellbeing. Krystal has a background in arts and community engagement roles with extensive experience in not-for-profit, commercial and arts organisations.
Board Members
The Drug Education Network Inc. (DEN) is incorporated as an association under the Associations Incorporation Act, 1964.
As such, the organisation is lead by a Board of Governance.
- Joined DEN in 2021
Angela Waite is the acting CEO and Clinical Manager at the Link Youth Health service. She is registered as a General Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and has extensive experience working with vulnerable/at-risk individuals, with a particular interest in working with adolescents. Angela is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society and Australian Institute of Company Directors.
- Joined DEN in 2017
Dr Allison Matthews is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Tasmania. Between 2004 and 2015 Dr Matthews coordinated the Tasmanian arm of the ecstasy and related drug reporting system and sat on the Tasmanian drug monitoring advisory group. She has published over 20 technical reports and bulletins in collaboration with the National Drug and Alcohol Centre, and over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles in the AOD field.
- Joined DEN in 2021
Iris Goetzki is currently employed as Manager at the Tasmanian Training Consortium. With over 25 years experience in management, marketing and communications, including with peak industry associations, local government, public relations and in the financial services sector, her varied career has seen her work closely with both businesses and not-for-profit groups.
- Joined DEN in 2021
Benjamin Serong is the current Treasurer at the Drug Education Network, having joined the Board in 2021. He is a Chartered Accountant who commenced his career as a cadet with a Big Four audit firm, and has since worked in Risk Management, Financial Compliance and Management Accounting roles. Having moved to Tasmania from the mainland to start a family in 2018, he is currently working in the finance department at the University of Tasmania.
- Joined DEN in 2021
Jessica Brewer is currently employed as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Department of Education and works across multiple education policy topics, with a focus on the national policy agenda. Jessica previously worked in federal politics covering a variety of policy, media and communications areas. Born, raised and educated in Tasmania Jessica is passionate about creating opportunities to support the community to thrive.
- Joined DEN in 2023
Catherine Viney has worked in executive and senior roles in community services, government and education for 30 years and brings to the board of DEN her experience in governance, risk and program delivery. Catherine is particularly interested in the needs of regional and rural communities.
- Joined DEN in 2023
Dan Vautin is the Director of Policy and Impact (2IC) at the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug Council of Tasmania. Through his role, he has managed the Lived Experience Advocate Service and introduced the Alcohol and other Drugs Cognitive Remediation program to Tasmanian community-managed treatment services. Dan has over twenty years experience in management roles, including as the Recovery Centre Manager for Mates4Mates, and at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, where he found his passion for primary prevention.
- Founding Member
David Daniels is a Founding Member of the DEN and previously served as chair of the Board for over 25 years. With a distinguished career in the Lions Clubs International that has earned him a Milestone Chevron Award, David has also been the recipient of the Commonwealth Centenary Medal for his work with the Community, and the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal through his work with Crime Stoppers.
- Joined DEN in 2023
Marie-Clare currently works as the manager of the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania’s Justice Programs. She is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and accessibility- especially for making the world a friendlier place for people with cognitive impairment. She has worked on designing programs, services and educational resources, as well as also being a front line worker in the alcohol and drug sector. When she can, she likes to sit around a camp fire or swim in the ocean.
- Joined DEN in 2019
Simon Angilley is currently a Project Manager Corporate Services with Spirit of Tasmania, and previously was the Manager Community Development with his local municipal council. He is a Member of the Tasmanian Heritage Council, and has extensive experience serving on a number of national committees for the engineering profession. Simon’s interests include environmental design, architecture, community engagement, cycling, and dad jokes.
- Joined DEN in 2023
Sophie Calic is the Transition to Work Manager with Workskills Tasmania, leading the delivery of youth employment services in Southern Tasmania. With 20 years' experience leading teams and projects across the community sector, government, education and small business, she has a particular focus on community inclusion and equity in Tasmania. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Anthropology and Community Development and is a graduate of the 2022 Tasmanian Leaders Program.