2025 National First Nations Substance Abuse and Addiction Prevention Conference

Kieran is a Registered Psychologist who currently leads clinical services and training for all Ted Noffs Foundation programs across Australia. He began his career in the youth drug and alcohol sector in 2005 as an Alcohol and Other Drugs Worker and has since held various clinical and management roles within the Foundation’s residential services.

With a deep commitment to supporting complex and vulnerable young people, Kieran has worked extensively with First Nations families and communities. He holds a degree in Psychology and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management. His professional interests include youth mental health, substance dependence, complex trauma treatment, and the creative engagement of vulnerable young people in therapeutic settings.

Kieran also delivers training seminars nationwide, sharing his clinical expertise with Noffs programs and other organisations. He was a key contributor to the book Breaking the Ice and co-authored the HarperCollins best seller Addicted?

Emily is dedicated to reducing discrimination and stigma faced by individuals who lack access to the same positive supports and opportunities as others. She emphasizes the importance of listening to and understanding diverse perspectives, fostering a leadership style that empowers others to contribute meaningfully to shared outcomes and achieve impactful results. With a career primarily rooted in Corrections and Rehabilitation, Emily brings extensive leadership and management expertise. She is highly qualified and experienced in delivering alcohol and other drug education and rehabilitation programs. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Gender Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Counselling, and a Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies, reflecting her commitment to advancing knowledge and driving positive change in her field

Todd Heard (BPsyc, MClinPsyc), from the Wonnarua Nation, brings two decades of experience across community and government-based services. He serves as a Conjoint Fellow with the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, the Chief Psychologist/Clinical Manager in the Youth Justice Department within the Department of Communities and Justice, and the Deputy Chairperson of the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal and Council. Todd possesses expertise in psychology, mental health, health promotion, project management, and clinical governance. His extensive publication record highlights his contributions to research on Aboriginal social and emotional well-being and health behavior. Todd's work reflects his commitment to advancing knowledge and creating impactful change in his field

Dr. Hobden is an accomplished early-career researcher with over a decade of experience in health behavior research. She was awarded her PhD in Behavioral Science in 2018, supported by the prestigious Ian Scott Mental Health Scholarship from Australian Rotary Health. In 2021, she commenced an early career research fellowship, also funded by Australian Rotary Health. Dr. Hobden's research is dedicated to understanding mental health comorbidity, with a focus on co-occurring mental health and substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. To date, she has published 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured over $4.7 million in competitive grant funding. Since 2020, Dr. Hobden has been collaborating with Todd Heard (BPsyc, MClinPsyc) in the field of mental health and substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their partnership has resulted in three peer-reviewed journal articles, and together they continue to conduct qualitative and quantitative research to build a much-needed evidence base for this critical area of study.

Anne is the biological mother of two children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder [FASD]. In 2000, she identified that her children had signs and symptoms of FASD. As she learned more about the condition online, she also learned that Australian medical and allied health professionals knew very little about FASD. At that time she was in recovery and two years’ sober. Although willing to disclose that she had used alcohol while pregnant, she could not find a doctor willing to make a diagnosis. In 2001, Anne went to Canada and met Dr Sterling Clarren from the University of Washington, who was, at the time, the world’s pre-eminent expert on FASD. He diagnosed both children. Seth, her youngest, had full Fetal Alcohol Syndrome [FAS] and Mick, Neurodevelopmental Disorder – Alcohol Exposed.

Although she now had a diagnosis for both boys, back in Australia there was no support services. In 2009, she developed the first publicly available training on FASD in Australia and has since delivered this training to families, foster organisations, and people working in the criminal justice system, child protection, education, and health. In addition, Anne has written and published two books on FASD, founded a national health promotion charity and presented on FASD around Australia and abroad [United States, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the United Kingdom].

Dr. Erin Lalor AM was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation in 2017. She is a recognized leader in the health policy and not-for-profit sectors, with over 20 years of experience as a clinician, researcher, advocate, and leader.

Currently, Dr. Lalor serves as Deputy Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Chair of the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Chair of Alcohol Change Australia. Her previous roles include Chief Executive Officer of the National Stroke Foundation and Director of the World Stroke Organisation and VincentCare.

In January 2019, Dr. Lalor was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her contributions to health through the not-for-profit sector and her dedicated service to individuals affected by stroke.

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Mr. Coyte is a highly respected figure in the Drug and Alcohol sector in New South Wales, Australia, and internationally. Recognised for his strong advocacy for good governance, he has held numerous influential roles within the field. His contributions include serving on the board of NADA (the peak body for Non-Government Drug and Alcohol services), acting as a foundation board member and driving force behind the establishment of ADARRN (Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Network), and sitting on the board of ATCA (Australasian Therapeutic Community Association). Additionally, he has provided strategic guidance to the Federal Health Minister in his advisory role on ANACAD.

Currently, Mr. Coyte serves as the Executive Director of The Glen Group, an organisation managing Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centres in NSW. His commitment to Aboriginal Community Controlled Drug and Alcohol services began at the age of 20, and over the years, he has held clinical, administrative, and management roles within the sector. He considers himself privileged to have worked closely with thousands of clients, helping them navigate their journeys toward healing and recovery.

A champion of continuous quality improvement, Mr. Coyte led The Glen to achieve a record accreditation result against the Quality Improvement Council of Australia’s Health and Community Services Standards in 2015. His dedication to advancing culturally appropriate services culminated in his instrumental efforts—alongside The Glen’s board—to establish The Glen for Women, the first service of its kind in NSW designed specifically for Aboriginal women. Through successful lobbying and advocacy, this initiative secured $9 million in funding and officially welcomed its first residents in early 2022.

Recognising the sector’s strengths in Drug and Alcohol treatment, Mr. Coyte also acknowledges a critical gap—the long-term impact of treatment on clients is often not effectively measured or evaluated. To address this issue, he pursued a Churchill Fellowship Project, leveraging his extensive practical experience and industry expertise to examine international approaches to outcome measurement. His vision for this project is to create a lasting legacy, offering valuable insights into a major challenge within Australian society. By improving the measurement of long-term outcomes, he hopes to drive significant, enduring impacts on individuals, families, and communities.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Coyte is a devoted husband and a proud father of three children (aged 20, 18, and 14). He considers fatherhood to be his most important and cherished role.

Dr. Joseph B. Stone, PhD is an Anasaki-pikuni ceremonialist and traditionalist and member of the OKKAN (Sundance), the Last Star Thunder Medicine Pipe and Beaver Lodge. Dr. Stone works at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga – a Kaupapa Māori Health Provider; Awhina Whanu Family Services, and the Napier Family Centre all located in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He has clinical experience with adult prisoners & corrections and juvenile justice in both New Zealand and USA. He is affiliated with the National Centre on Trauma and Project Making Medicine – Indian Health Service Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse at Oklahoma State University. He has presented to, and served as consultant to, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of Native Youth Suicide. Dr. Stone’s publications include articles on trauma, suicide, and other cultural & behavioural issues.

Dr. Amber R. Logan is a traditional Kahungunu Māori wahine, a New Zealand Health Psychologist and Doctoral Fellow in Public Health at Otago University. She teaches health psychology course work at the University of Auckland & Otago University and is well-known in New Zealand for her work in methamphetamine education and community activism. She is a consummate grant writer, health services evaluator and health services program designer. She has presented extensively in Australia, Canada, and the USA at Harvard University, the University of Washington, and to the US Federal Government.