About us
Board of directors
Leone Crayden, Chair
Elected November 2021
Leone Crayden is the Chief Executive Officer of The Buttery, a not-for-profit, charitable AOD rehabilitation, addiction and mental health services organisation. With a background in nursing, social science, leadership and governance, Leone has a long and distinguished career in executive and frontline positions in mental health, community housing and homelessness, social welfare and disability.
Mark Buckingham, Deputy Chair
Elected November 2021
Mark Buckingham is the Chief Executive Officer of Kedesh Rehabilitation Service and has worked in the AOD sector for over 20 years, both in specialist treatment and managerial levels. Mark is a graduate of the University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Commerce, where he focused his studies on health management. He has served on the NADA board as an executive for close to a decade.
Julie Babineau, Board Member
Re-elected November 2022
Julie Babineau is the chief executive officer of Odyssey House NSW. Julie has worked in the public service in Canada and Australia for more than 35 years. Previously she was appointed Deputy Director of the then Drugs Program Bureau (NSW Health), followed by executive roles at Justice Health, eight years as CEO. She holds qualifications in social work, psychology, sports science, management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Andy Biddle, Board Member
Elected November 2022
Andy is the State Manager, Alcohol, and other Drug services NSW/ACT at The Salvation Army. He has 20 years’ of experience in the AOD sector, in both the UK and Australia, across a wide range of roles and service types. While in the UK, he worked with CGL, the largest provider of AOD services in Europe, for 15 years across London and the South. He has worked in commissioning with a PHN, developing new service models and changing treatment systems.
Gerard Byrne, Board Member
Elected November 2021
Gerard Byrne has over 30 years’ experience in the AOD field, working in counselling to senior management roles. Now the operations manager for WHOS Treatment Services. Gerard holds qualifications in social sciences, AOD work, psychotherapy, clinical supervision, business management, human resource management and workplace training and assessment. He currently holds board positions in AOD peak bodies and services.
Joe Coyte, Board Member
Elected November 2022
Joe has workedin the AOD sector for over 20 years in various roles and is currently the Executive Director at The Glen Centre. Joe is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently sits on the ADAARN (Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Network) board and is a member of ANACAD, which advises the Federal Health Minister on AOD issues.
Norm Henderson, Board Member
Re-elected November 2022
Norm Henderson is currently working as the senior AOD officer at Weigelli Aboriginal Corporation and program advisor/coordinator of Aboriginal Hub Projects in Parkes, Bourke and Walgett. He holds 25 years’ experience in the AOD sector. Previously he worked as the chief executive officer of Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation, and manager of the Lyndon therapeutic community.
Latha Nithyanandam, Board Member
Re-elected November 2022
Latha Nithyanandam is the chief executive officer of ADF NSW—Kathleen York House. Latha brings over 36 years’ experience working in mental health services and AOD treatment, both in Australia and overseas. Her qualifications are in psychology at undergraduate, post-graduate and doctorate levels. She also currently holds two service positions for the Australian Psychological Society as treasurer and committee member for both the APS Sydney branch and the ‘Psychology and substance use interest group’.
Nicolas Parkhill AM, Board Member
Elected November 2022
Nicolas Parkhill AM has over 30 years of experience in public and community health. Since 2009 Nicolas has been the CEO of ACON. Prior to this role, Nicolas worked in a variety of senior management and policy roles for NSW Health and the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. He has a background in health policy, social marketing campaign management and public relations. Nicolas is a former board member of ACON, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and APCOM.
Our other sites
NADA proudly acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the custodians of the land on which our office stands. We extend this acknowledgement to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
NADA has award level accreditation under the Australian Services Excellence Standards (ASES) a quality framework certified by Quality Innovation and Performance (QIP).
NADA is a member of
