Members of the Committee

Dr David Penington, AC (Chair)

David Penington holds degrees in medicine and law from the Universities of Melbourne and Oxford. He has held the positions of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne (1978-83) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne (1988-95). His extensive career has spanned positions on a number of high level university and governmental boards and committees, including: Chair of the Australian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Committee (1976-83), the AIDS Task Force (1984-87) and the Victorian Premier's Drug Advisory Council (1995-96) as well as membership of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC). Dr Penington has since chaired an advisory committee for the Australian Capital City Lord Mayors (1996-99), recommending strategies to handle the problems associated with illicit drugs.

In addition to the above, Dr Penington is President of the Museums Board of Victoria, and is chair of Cochlear Ltd, the company that produces and markets worldwide the bionic ear. He is Director of Pacific Dunlop Ltd and a Principal of Foursight Associates Pty Ltd.

Professor Margaret Hamilton

Margaret Hamilton is the Director of the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre. Her experience in the drug and alcohol area spans 25 years and includes clinical practice, education and research at the University of Melbourne in both social work and public health. She has had extensive involvement in senior policy and advisory bodies at the state and national levels. She was a member of the Victorian Premier's Drug Advisory Council in 1995-96 and is a member of the advisory committee to the Capital City Lord Mayors. She has published widely on drug related matters.

Professor Pat O'Malley

Pat O'Malley is Professor of Law and Legal Studies at La Trobe University and was a member of the Victorian Premier's Drug Advisory Council in 1995-96. He has researched and published extensively on the governance of illicit drugs and on risk in relation to crime and crime prevention.

Cr Dick Gross

Dick Gross is the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip. In that capacity he has conducted an award winning campaign on the regulation of foreshore development as well as taking an interest in drug law reform. He is a lawyer and was the Co ordinator of the Consumer Credit Legal Service. He conducts his own small business.

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Mr Robert Richter QC

Mr Bernie Geary

Bernie Geary is the Director of Programs at Jesuit Social Services. He is a member of the Victorian Youth Parole Board, Chair of the Banyule Community Legal Service and is on the Boards of Management of the Banyule Community Health Centre, and the Youth Substance Abuse Service. He has had significant community experience including 25 years as a youth worker. He is also a member of Archibishop Pell's Drug Advisory Council and a member of the Victorian Police Ethics and Standard's Advisory Committee.

Dr Rob Moodie

Rob Moodie is CEO of VicHealth, Editor of the Australian Health Promotion Journal, and has professional appointments in public health at Melbourne and Monash Universities. He was previously a Director in the joint UN programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) based in Geneva, and is currently a Board member of Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) Australia.

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