Our team
John Pitchford
Chief Executive Officer
John is a distinguished senior executive with a strong background in healthcare delivery and operations, focusing on mental health. His 20+ years of experience in the mental health sector have made a significant impact on the industry, showcasing his expertise and commitment to improving mental health care.
Throughout his career, John has successfully managed complex healthcare services in various countries. His accomplishments include managing NSW state-wide services in custodial and forensic settings and building high-performing teams of over 200 personnel.
Dr David Graham
Founding Psychiatrist and Medical Director
Dr David Graham is a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist. He has clinical and research interests in psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychopharmacology (including psychedelic-assisted therapy), veteran and first responder mental health, and therapeutic jurisprudence. He holds an academic appointment at the University of Sydney and has published over a dozen papers and presented at local and international conferences. Prior to his career in medicine, Dr Graham was a decorated defence analyst with over a decade of experience providing advice and leading research in the lab, on the battlefield, and at the highest levels of government.
Dr John Barlow
Research Lead, Principal Investigator
Dr John Barlow has more than 15 years experience in clinical trials in a range of medical, surgical and public health fields, particularly oncology, neurology and orthopaedics. John is a former Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Monash University and was a Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Dr Barlow holds a PhD from Monash University and has published more than 200 peer reviewed papers and abstracts encompassing a range of topics including endocrinology, clinical chemistry and drug evaluation.
Dr Benjamin Stiel
Clinical Psychologist
Dr Benjamin Stiel is a clinical psychologist with over two decades of therapeutic experience. He has been closely monitoring the emerging research on psychedelic-assisted therapy over many years, and is fortunate to be among the first therapists in Australia to undergo formal training in this area. Ben believes that, with appropriate therapeutic support, psychedelic-assisted therapy has the potential to give hope to many for whom traditional treatment options offer no relief. Throughout his career, Ben has gravitated towards trauma-informed therapies, such as Emotionally Focussed Therapy and Internal Family Systems, that take a non-pathologising approach. This allows him to understand the struggles that his clients experience as one human being to another, instead of interpreting them through the detached lens of clinical disorder. Outside of the psychedelic space, Ben works with individuals experiencing a range of difficulties, and also with couples and families to assist with relationship issues.
Tim Drury
Director
Tim is the founder and CEO of SCH Group a national healthcare provider that operates medical clinics and pharmaceutical businesses in Australia. SCH group provides healthcare to over 30,000 patients in Australia and works with specialist doctors, general practitioners and allied health professionals.
Prior to founding SCH Group, Tim built and exited from a global IT Services business. Tim started his career in the corporate consulting industry and was a Partner at Accenture, working in Tokyo, Singapore and New York.
Founding Psychiatrist
Dr. David Ward
Dr. David Ward is an esteemed consultant psychiatrist with a career spanning over three decades. He played a pivotal role in integrating youth and adult services in the early intervention in psychosis services in the United Kingdom, which was recognised in the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for early psychosis in children and adolescents. His leadership roles have included Director of Training for higher specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry as well as roles as a medical manager in the UK. In Australia he has held various roles including The Director of Adolescent Psychiatry at RBWH in Brisbane as well as the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry [ RANZCP] committee membership roles and a board member of ISPS Australia. Dr Ward has contributed significantly to academic development as a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland and by participation in various committees for RANZCP. He continues to provide commitment to the public sector as a senior specialist overseeing a recovery program in Logan community Child Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS). .David has a deep breadth of training in evidence-based treatment approaches, including cognitive behaviour therapy, family therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, solution focused therapy and cognitive analytical therapy amongst others. Upon moving to Australia in 2011 he has gained further qualifications and has undertaken extensive training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and also Open Dialogue and multiple interventions for working with trauma including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.
Dr. Anand Choudhary
Dr. Anand Choudhary is an accomplished Consultant Psychiatrist with a distinguished background in Psychiatry and a specialised focus on mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders, Dr. Choudary leverages a bio-psycho-social approach to optimise patient recovery. Offering expertise in administering repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and experience in novel and emerging therapies, Dr. Choudary brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, including Visiting Medical Officer positions at Pine Rivers Private Hospital and Caboolture Private Hospital, as well as Deputy Director of Medical Services at Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Queensland, Australia. Dr Choudary brings exceptional leadership and strategic advisory skills.
Dr. Samuel Bryson
Dr. Samuel Bryson is a distinguished general adult psychiatrist and Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. He boasts an impressive career spanning across twelve diverse hospitals, both public and private. He also has extensive expertise in a wide array of psychiatric specialties, including psychosis, mood disorders and forensic psychiatry, among others. His clinical focus encompasses a spectrum of critical mental health areas, ranging from addiction psychiatry and ADHD to post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Notably forward-thinking, Dr. Bryson also harbours a keen interest in the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the convergence of technology, artificial intelligence, and mental health pathology. His ultimate ambition is to revolutionise current treatment methods, enhancing patient well-being, productivity, and overall quality of life.
Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board
Mr. Lee Knight
Lee Knight is a formally trained Clinical Nurse Consultant specialising in forensic psychiatry. He is currently the Academic Program Director for the Mental Health Practice Program at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and a Senior Consultant at the Black Dog Institute. At UNSW, he teaches Forensic Mental Health courses and is involved in clinical course coordination. Lee was previously the Clinical Coordinator for a large randomised control study conducted by UNSW. He holds specialist qualifications in mental health and forensic mental health, with a Master's degree in each field. Lee is also involved in various professional organizations and has strong connections in the legal and medical fields. Additionally, Lee is proficient in treating general mental health issues, as well as complex and forensic mental health needs, using a range of therapies and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.