APSAD 2025

2025 Convenors

Kurt Simpson

Aboriginal Program Coordinator for Drug Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD)

Kurt Simpson is a proud Gamilaraay man. Kurt has been working in the area of alcohol and drugs for about 9 years. He has worked at Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation (RivMed) in Wagga Wagga where he grew up, as well as at Katungul Aboriginal Medical Service in Bega. He has also managed Yitjawudik Men’s Recovery Unit, located in Shepparton VIC. Currently working at South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) as Aboriginal Program Coordinator for Drug Health Services and a current Board Member of Aboriginal Corporation Drug & Alcohol Network (ACDAN) Kurt is passionate about his work in the area of alcohol and drugs. Prior to working in this area, he was a qualified fine dining chef, which he was pretty good at. However, in his life experiences and his passion, his heart was somewhere else. He saw many of his Mob struggling with alcohol and drugs. He was driven by his own successful fight with addiction of alcohol and drugs. Kurt is now sober from both, alcohol going on 23 years and drugs 17 years. He felt his personal experiences and success meant he was well placed to understand and support others who wanted to take on the challenge to overcome their addictions. He obtained academic qualifications to support his known and lived experiences in alcohol and drugs. He loves his work, letting others know, there is light and success at the end of the tunnel. Being present with others when they achieve success for themselves, is the greatest reward.

Suzie Hudson
Clinical Advisor to the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs at NSW Ministry of Health.
Dr Suzie Hudson is an accredited mental health social worker with a PhD in public health and community medicine who has worked in the AOD, mental health and forensic mental health fields for over 25 years. A clinical leader and current Clinical Advisor at the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs at NSW Health, her role is to provide AOD treatment policy advice and to support AOD treatment providers across NSW to deliver compassionate, trauma-informed and high-quality care. Suzie is an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at NDARC at UNSW, and also works as an accredited trainer, researcher and therapist in the community. Suzie is a passionate advocate for elevating Aboriginal voices, knowledge and wisdom in the AOD sector.

Christina Marel

The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney.

Associate Professor Christina Marel is Program Lead of Treatment and Translation in Complex Populations at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on improving our understanding of, and responses to, mental and substance use disorders in complex populations; and developing innovative, evidence-based resources to support the translation of research into clinical practice.

Robert Stirling

CEO of Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA)

Dr Robert Stirling is CEO of Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA) the NSW NGO AOD peak body. He supports members in AOD and public health policy, planning and funding, governance, sector and workforce development, as well as research and evaluation. Robert has worked in the AOD sector for almost 20 years in both government and the NGO sector, and holds qualifications in public health and community management. He is on the board of the Australian Alcohol and other Drugs Council and is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Drug Policy Modelling Program at UNSW.

APSAD acknowledges that the conference is being held on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s continuing connection to land, water, and community and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. APSAD acknowledges Sovereignty in this country has never been ceded. It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.