Board Members

“On 18 October 2012, Genevieve Sinclair of Youth Empowered Towards Independence,  Annemaree Callander of Brisbane Youth Service and Niki Parry of QuIVAA were elected to the Board.  Profiles of the new members to the Board will be uploaded shortly."

  • Trevor Hallewell
    President
  • Dennis Young
    Vice President
  • Ara Harathunian
    Treasurer
  • Mitchell Giles
    Secretary
  • Geoff Manu
  • Gerard Byrne
  • John Bartlett
  • Trevor Hallewell has over 20 years involvement with community based Not  for Profit Organisations. He has had extensive experience in the corporate sector, this business experience has equipped him with the expertise to be able to understand and implement corporate infrastructure and develop risk management  policies and procedures.
     
    Trevor has been involved in the setting up of Incorporated Associations and has extensive experience in governance issues of community based organisations. In 2005 Trevor was instrumental in the set up, establishment and running of a new 20 bed therapeutic community on the Sunshine Coast.

  • Dr Dennis Young is one of Australia’s leading advocates for the Alcohol and Drug Service Sector in Queensland. As The Executive Director of Drug Arm Australasia for the past 20 years, Dennis has been at the forefront of the awareness, prevention and rehabilitation agenda Australia wide. Dennis, a former Police Officer, has delivered leadership and management to the expansive Drug Arm network throughout Australia.

    Drug Arm delivers programs such as counselling, youth outreach, home visitation and support programs, family and personal support programs, court diversion programs, early intervention programs and youth programs for both schools and community. Under Dennis’ stewardship, DRUG ARM has created a Centre for Addiction Research and Education (CARE) that provides education, training, research, program evaluation and information dissemination programs.A stalwart in the A&D field since 1988, Dennis has over 20 years experience, nationally in the sector.Dennis commitment and involvement with the A&D sector is exemplified through his on-going contributions to a range of state and national organisations including: QNADA, ANCD, Mental Health Association of Queensland.

  • Ara Harathunian has been Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre, Bundaberg for six years.
    IWC operates a "one stop shop" model, providing a range of primary health and community care services to the community.
     
    These programs are aimed at supporting and improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities across the Bundaberg, North Burnett and Frazer Coast regions. They include a number of alcohol and drug programs which aim to encourage the use of a variety of primary prevention activities that are related to alcohol and other drug use, while at the same time, promoting social and emotional health and wellbeing to the community.
    Ara is also a member of various advisory health groups in the Wide Bay region and has a wide range of management experience with community, indigenous and health organisations

  • Mitchell Giles is the Chief Executive Officer of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland (ADFQ). Mitchell is a Registered Nurse, holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Health Science (majoring in Mental Health).

    It was, as a nurse in 1988 he commenced work in the AOD sector within an inpatient Detox Unit; he later went on to manage another hospital based Drug and Alcohol Service for 12 years. Mitchell has worked in a variety of other positions including as the Deputy Director of Clinical Services and as a State Manager for a HIV services program. Mitchell is overseeing the implementation of 13 AOD community based positions throughout Queensland

  • Geoff Manu is the General Manager of QuIHN and is originally from a non English speaking background and values his connections to his family and cultural heritage as a South Pacific Islander. Geoff has a professional and personal commitment to the development of disadvantaged communities and to the improvement of social inclusion for such communities.

    Through previous employment, largely acquired in roles for government departments and within the not for profit community sector, Geoff has acquired a vast amount of experience working to address health, social inclusion and equity issues among a diverse range of populations, including: prisoners, drug users, people with mental health related issues, people with intellectual impairment, the homeless, indigenous communities, young people, the ageing, and a diverse range of other socially marginalised groups.

  • Gerard Byrne has spent the past 19 years working with The Salvation Army Recovery Services, initially in a counselling role and then as Program Director at William Booth House (a residential detoxification and rehabilitation service), for 5 years. 
    He is currently the Clinical Director for Recovery Services, which is comprised of 8 Residential Therapeutic Communities, 4 Detoxification Services and 3 Outclient Services.
     
    Gerard has also worked in the private and government sectors on a contractual basis for a period of 11 years, providing a range of alcohol, gambling and other drug services. Gerard holds qualifications in Social Sciences, Alcohol and Other Drug Work, Psychotherapy, Clinical Supervision and Business Management.
  • John Bartlett has been the Co-Director/co-Founder of Fresh Hope since 1999. 
    Fresh Hope' is a non-profit community based organisation with a family-orientated rehabilitation program designed for mothers and their children who have become dependent on the use of drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism in response to crises in their lives.
     
    John has a degree in Ministry, he is also a qualified Justice of the Peace and a Civil Marriage Celebrant.