Nathan Akoka is a provisional psychologist, studying the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology) program at Swinburne University.
Nathan has completed rotations within acute inpatient forensic hospital wards, providing assessment and intervention to forensic patients. He has also co-facilitated DBT Comprehensive programs, and recently started working with schema therapy programs. Nathan’s doctoral thesis focuses on dimensional of assessing personality dysfunction in substance use treatment settings and understanding how schema therapy constructs may map onto novel personality assessment tools. Clinically, he has worked across the private and public Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector as an AOD Clinician providing individual counselling, group work and assessments to forensic and voluntary clients. Nathan currently works as a Youth AOD Worker at YSAS and research assistant at Orygen, and Sessional Academic in psychology at Deakin and Swinburne.

Laura joined the Psychology and Substance Use Interest Group committee in February 2019. Her background is in addictions and health behaviours research, and she has some experience working in the not-for-profit Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) community sector. Laura's current work focuses on applying behaviour change techniques to interventions that aim to develop students' feedback literacy. Feedback literacy is a critical skill for university and beyond (including the healthcare sector). Research interests: feedback literacy, addictions, health behaviour change, executive functions, higher education teaching and learning.

Ann is a clinical psychologist who has been working in private practice since 2008. She completed her clinical masters in 2015 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Addictive Behaviours through Monash University. Ann is passionate about advocating for a better understanding of addiction and reducing stigmatisation in the general population, health care workers, and the justice system. As addiction is a growing concern in Australia, it is vital that more services are available for those ready to seek help, along with their families, and that addiction is viewed as a health issue not a moral failing.

Ari has worked in the AOD sector since 2014. Ari works as a psychologist at Arrow Health and an addiction researcher at Monash University, where he explores addiction treatment, recovery, peer support, and several other fields. Ari's PhD thesis focused on the relationship between anxiety and self-control and the implications of this for addiction-related problems.

Senior Psychologist, Drug and Alcohol Services, Richmond / Clarence Network, Northern NSW Local Health District. A Psychologist since 2004, Darren has a long background in Mental Health Services, including holding leadership and legal roles, as well as having functions in various specialist portfolio positions. A long period in a portfolio involving dual diagnosis further developed this area of interest eventually resulting in a movement to the Drug and Alcohol sector. Darren has only recently joined the PSU as a committee member.

Jeremy trained in both neuroscience and psychology with a research focus on stress-induced dopaminergic dysfunction and its effect on behavioural flexibility. Through his experience in crisis support counselling, he learned the importance of coaching communication, family reconciliation and recovering equanimity through accessible harm minimisation strategies. He recognises that the neuro-physiological effect of both substances and medications, often taken in inconsistent patterns, can disrupt progress in therapy. As such he is committed to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to provide clinicians with the best resources for successful client outcomes