Mr Neil Comrie AO APM
Chair of the DrinkWise Board and former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.
Neil completed a 35-year career with the Victoria and Queensland Police with an eight-year term as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.
Following his police career, Neil was Visiting Professor, Faculty of Business and Law at Victoria University. In 2001 he was awarded Victorian of the Year and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2000.
Neil believes that it is imperative that the alcohol industry contributes to harm reduction strategies.
Mr James Brindley
Industry Director representing the Brewers' Association of Australia and Chair of the DrinkWise Corporate Affairs Committee.
James joined Lion in 1994 as a business analyst. He moved through a number of finance, strategy and procurement roles before being appointed finance director of Lion China in 1998.
In 2001, he was appointed to the position of joint Managing Director and then to Managing Director, Lion China in 2003. James returned to Australia in 2005 to the role of Director - Sales and Customer Service, and was promoted in 2007 to his current role, Managing Director, Beer, Spirits and Wine - Australia.
Prof Niki Ellis OAM
Community Director, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee and Former President of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Niki is an occupational and public health physician. She was also the inaugural President of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. A published author, her book 'Work and Health: management in Australia and New Zealand' is still used in occupational health training today. In 2008 she presented a four part television series on the ABC called 'Stressbuster'.
Mr Peter Filipovic
Industry Director representing the Brewers' Association of Australia.
Peter was appointed CEO of Carlton & United Breweries in January 2019.
Prior to this, Peter was the Business Unit President for Australia and CUB Sales Director. Peter has held a variety of roles within the company since joining in 1997, including Sales Director On Premise, Commercial Finance Director and General Manager of Taxation.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics (Accounting) from Monash University, and is a Chartered Accountant.
Mr Peter Hurley AO
Industry Director representing the Australian Hotels Association.
Peter is the South Australian President of the Australian Hotels Association. He began his hotel career at the Wudinna Hotel during 1975 and today is the Managing Director of the Hurley Hotel Group.
Appointed Chairman of the National Alcohol Beverage Industry Council from 1998 to 2001, he has also has served on the Board of the Australian Tourism Commission from 2000 to 2004. From 2006 to 2011, Peter also served on the Board of the ABC.
Mr Angus McPherson
Industry Director representing Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated.
Angus joined Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) in 2011 and was appointed to the role of Managing Director for the Australia & New Zealand in 2014, adding Europe to his remit in 2018 and most recently the South East Asia, Middle East and Africa region in early 2019.
Angus has many years of international experience in the global wine industry, working across the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Prior to joining TWE, Angus held senior leadership roles at Casella Family Brands and Brown Forman. He has a track record of building brand equity, and driving and delivering long term sustainable volume growth.
Angus is also Vice Chair of Australian Grape & Wine (formerly Winemaker’s Federation of Australia) and a Board member of DrinkWise.
Angus holds a Master of Management Studies - University of Salford, UK, and a Bachelor of Economics (Marketing major) - University of Sydney.
Hon Rob Knowles AO
Community Director, Chair of the DrinkWise Social Marketing Committee and former Victorian Health Minister.
Rob was a Member of the Victorian Parliament for 24 years serving as Minister for Health, Aged Care and Housing in the Kennett Government. After leaving Parliament Rob served as Chair of Food Standards Australia New Zealand from 2002-2008.
He was a member of the Australian Government's National Health and Hospital Reform Commission which completed its work in 2009. Rob has had a long interest in social policy and public administration, and now runs his own farm.
Mr Giuseppe Minissale
Industry Director representing Retail Drinks Australia.
Giuseppe is the Chair of Retail Drinks Australia, President of Porter’s Liquor, and owner of 5 liquor stores in Sydney, currently operating under the Porter's Liquor banner.
Mr Paul Sheahan AM
Community Director, Former Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School and former President of MCC.
Paul is a graduate of The University of Melbourne in Pure Mathematics. He has taught in both the government and private system for 40 years, including as Principal of The Geelong College for nine years and Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School for fourteen years.
Outside schools, he has played international cricket for Australia, was President of MCC, and on the Board of the Australian Drug Foundation (of which he is a Fellow). He is currently on the Board of the Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd and chairs the Board of the Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) Pty Ltd, and is a Trustee of the Sir Robert Menzies Foundation.
Mr Terry Slater AM
Community Director, Company Secretary of the DrinkWise Board and Former Head of the Health Advancement Division in the Federal Department of Health.
Terry is currently Chair of the Board of Therapeutic Innovations Australia Ltd, which directs funding to promote translation of health discovery. His breadth of knowledge in the public health arena spans more than 20 years in leadership roles.
As Head of the Health Advancement Division in the Federal Department of Health, Terry led national public health strategies including Australia's first National Alcohol Policy. He was Chair of the Board of the National Food Authority responsible for the introduction of standard drink labelling for alcoholic drinks and the establishment of the Australian New Zealand Food Authority.
Prof Richard Smallwood AO
Community Director, former Chief Medical Officer of Australia and past Chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Richard (Dick) is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Melbourne. He has had over 30 years involvement in the teaching of undergraduates and postgraduates, and has published over 250 clinical and scientific papers. Dick has held a number of prestigious appointments including;
- 1994-1997: Chair, National Health and Medical Research Council
- 1996-1998: President, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- 1999-2003: Chief Medical Officer of Australia
- 2000: Vice President, World Health Assembly in Geneva
- 2003-2007: Inaugural Chair, National Blood Authority and Chair, Ministerial Taskforce for Cancer in Victoria
- President, Australian Medical Council
- Chair, Forum of Health Professions' Council
Mr David Smith
Industry Director representing Spirits & Cocktails Australia.
David Smith joined Diageo Australia as Managing Director in September 2015 following 25 years in Marketing & Commercial roles in Diageo and Cadbury. He is the Chair of Spirits & Cocktails Australia (formerly Distilled Spirits Council of Australia).
Prior to Australia he led Diageo’s business in Ireland as Country Director where he also sat on the Board of Drinkaware and was Chair of the Irish Brewers' Association.
Hon Amanda Vanstone
Community Director and Former Federal Minister.
Amanda entered Federal Parliament in 1984, as a Senator for South Australia. She served as a Minister in the Australian Government from the 1996 election until January 2007, and is the longest serving female Cabinet Minister since Federation.
Amanda held several ministerial portfolios in the Howard Government. Following her resignation from the Senate she was appointed as Australian Ambassador to Italy and to San Marino.