Health and Human Rights Summit – Advancing the Wellbeing of People Who Use Drugs

João Santa Maria is a peer worker and co-coordinator at GAT in Mouraria, with a journey marked by a commitment to defending human rights. A drug user and person who experienced homelessness for 13 years, João lives with HIV and is an advocate for the rights of people who use drugs and those living with HIV. He joined GAT (Group of Activists in Treatment) in 2005, and since 2012, has worked as a peer supporter at the GAT IN Mouraria project, a harm reduction centre and peer-led drug consumption room.

Malu Salazar is a harm reduction worker and co-coordinator at GAT (Group of Activists in Treatment) in Mouraria. She is a social worker and activist for the rights of people who use drugs. She has been working in the harm reduction movement since 2018 with the communities of people who use drugs, migrants and sex workers. Malu is a member of EURONPUD (European Network of People Who Use Drugs) and a peer volunteer in Kosmicare. Currently, Malu is also working at de Regenboog Groep (Amsterdam, Netherlands) as a harm reduction worker in a drug consumption room and walk-in centre for migrants who use drugs and experience homelessness.

Annie is the Executive Director of Harm Reduction Australia and Project Lead at the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD). She is also a principal of 2SqPegs Consulting – a health & social policy consulting business.

Prior to these appointments, Annie was CEO of the Australian Injecting & Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) for 16 years until April 2016 and EO of the NSW Users & AIDS Association (NUAA) from 1994 to 2000. She is a founding member of Harm Reduction Australia, is well-published in relation to people who inject drugs, OST and BBVs and has held numerous high-level appointments.

Annie has dedicated her entire professional career to promoting the health and human rights of people who inject drugs.

Robert Simms is a Member of the Legislative Council in the Parliament of South Australia.

Over the past decade Robert has been a passionate advocate for progressive values and South Australian communities at every level of government.

As the first out gay man to represent South Australia in federal parliament, Robert was a strong voice for LGBTI rights in Canberra, from defending Safe Schools programs to holding the Turnbull Government to account over its needlessly divisive and Marriage Equality plebiscite.

He also led the push to overturn an outdated ban on gay men donating blood in Australia, and won Senate support for vital HIV prevention drug PrEP to be fast-tracked in Australia. Locally, Robert also drove the push for the world’s longest Rainbow Walk to be installed in Adelaide’s CBD, laying down a prominent and permanent show of Pride in the heart of the city.

Tom Rees is the Manager of the STI and BBV Section at the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing and Chair of BBVSS – a subcommittee of the Australian Health Protection Committee. 

In these capacities, Tom provides system leadership and coordination for the public health response to HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs through policy and program development.

Tom is committed to working in partnership with government and non-government agencies, researchers, clinicians and affected communities across Australia to deliver on our important national policy objectives in this area, including the World Health Organization’s 2030 HIV and viral hepatitis elimination targets.

Charles is currently with the Burnet Institute in Melbourne employed as a community engagement coordinator working in community-led hepatitis C implementation and research. He is undertaking qualitative postgraduate research on user experiences on long-acting injectable buprenorphine. He is a global consultant in the health and social drug use arena with 2SqPegs Consulting. He has performed several harm reduction roles in New Zealand including 15 years as Needle Exchange Programme National lead. Since coming to Australia, he has enjoyed roles at Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic) in Melbourne and New South Wales Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) in Sydney. Charles is committed to improving the health and well-being of drug users and advocating for the lives and human rights of people who use/ inject illicit drugs.

Dr. Timothy Piatkowski is a peer researcher at Griffith University within the School of Applied Psychology and the Centre for Mental Health and Director of the Board for Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA). His research philosophy is deeply rooted in the principles of harm reduction, emphasising the importance of promoting safer use and informed decision-making regarding illicit substance consumption. Tim’s research focuses on reducing harm and enhancing health among people who use image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs). He examines how systemic factors and individual differences influence IPED use and impact the risk of harm, which are subsequently used to inform effective approaches and educational programs that mitigate IPED-related harms while enhancing community engagement with services.

Loren Brener is a Professor at the Centre for Social Research in Health. Her research focuses on stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with blood-borne viruses such as HIV and viral hepatitis and the impact of this on health outcomes and quality of care.

Elena Cama is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research in Health. Her research focuses on experiences, impacts, and responses to different forms of marginalisation and violence, particularly towards people affected by blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections.

Ele Morrison is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at AIVL. Ele has worked in harm reduction roles, programs and services since 2001. Her first role was in community development at Melbourne’s first primary health service for people who inject drugs. She went on to support harm reduction and the development of drug user organisations across Asia and Australia.

John is the CEO of AIVL, leading the strategic vision and development of the organisation anchored in its community and network. With over 20 years of experience in health promotion and harm reduction leadership nationally and internationally within the community health and social services sectors, John specialises in non-profit management, innovation and peer workforce development.

Accalia Dalmore has worked in advocacy, community engagement, law reform and harm reduction spaces for over 12 years as a peer in Garramilla Darwin and Tarntanya Adelaide. Her engagemnt of community driven responses  intersects with people who use drugs and sex workers. Presenting at forums, workshops and conferences to advance the rights of both sectors of peers as leaders in policy and reforms. Her current positions are at NTAHC as Peer Health Promotion – Communications and at SWOP NT as SWWUD Coordinator.