Our Team

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.