Meet the growing team of AMAPP Advisors


Professor Susan Rossell BSc(Hons) PhD .
Susan is a Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at Swinburne University, Melbourne; she is also Co-Chair of MAGNET - the Australian mental health clinical trial network. She trained at the University of Manchester and King’s College London in the UK, holding a lectureship at the University of Oxford prior to moving to Australia. She has had positions at several universities in Australia including Macquarie, University of Melbourne and Monash. Her research has focused on understanding the cognitive impairments involved in psychosis, mood disorders and body-image-related disorders, aiming to develop new interventions for these debilitating cognitive symptoms. She has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She sits on the National Institute of Mental Health International Body Dysmorphic Disorder Scientific Advisory Group and is the Secretary for the steering committee of International Consortium of Hallucination Research (ICHR). She is the Chair of the Science Council for Neuroscience Victoria. Recently, her treatment research has focused on the use of psychedelics. She is currently running Australia’s largest clinical trial examining whether psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is effective for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression. Twitter: @RossellSusan
Martin Williams, PhD.
Martin Williams, PhD is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University. Martin’s research background is in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, and he is Executive Director of Psychedelic Research in Science & Medicine (PRISM) and Vice-President of Entheogenesis Australis (EGA). Martin is a co-investigator on a number of Australian clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, including the St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne study of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in palliative care; the Monash PsiConnect neuroimaging study of psilocybin with mindfulness meditation; the Swinburne PsiloDep pilot study and 3PAP RCT of 2- vs 3-dose psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression; and several other studies of psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelics for the treatment of a range of mental health conditions. Martin has been an articulate advocate for psychedelic medical research and the evidence-based clinical translation of psychedelic-assisted therapies for almost twenty years. He has co-authored several academic papers providing an Australian perspective on the subject, including a recent influential Perspectives paper in Frontiers in Psychiatry, and is co-editor of an upcoming special topic issue of Frontiers, Beyond Psilocybin: Exploring the Clinical Potential of Novel and Alternative Psychedelics. He presents regularly at conferences and symposia, and is a frequent commentator on psychedelic research and governance in Australian print and broadcast media.
Diana Korevaar.
Diana has worked as a perinatal psychiatrist for over 20 years and she is also involved in public-sector psychiatry. She has extensive training in trauma-based psychotherapies and has been part of a Melbourne-based research trial investigating the use of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Diana was an author of a Frontiers in Psychiatry article examining the challenges involved in the community rollout of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies. She has a particular interest in establishing the safest and most effective way to introduce patients with a history of significant psychiatric illness, to altered state work. She has been extensively involved in education in both community and professional settings and wrote a book on how mindfulness techniques can be applied to parenting and relationships. 
Dr Nikola OgnyenovitsM.D., FRACGP, FACRRM, FAChAM (RACP).
Nikola is an Addiction Medicine Specialist Physician and therapist living and working in Brisbane, Australia. He is an advocate for the ethical and well-informed use of psychedelic medicines in research and in community settings. He was introduced to non-ordinary states of consciousness through Holotropic Breathwork, fourteen years ago. He was privileged to learn from Stanislav Grof and Tav Sparks in Grof Transpersonal Training. It provided him with the foundations in transpersonal psychology, working with clients in the space of non-ordinary states of consciousness, applying bodywork and supporting integration. He co-facilitated Holotropic Breathwork sessions in Queensland. In training with The Ketamine Training Center in the US he personally experienced the psychedelic properties of ketamine in 2018. From 2019 he has incorporated Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) into his private practice in Brisbane. To date he has supported clients in over 50 KAP sessions followed by integration sessions. In 2021  Nikola completed training with the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy to be a research therapist in a Monash/MAPS PTSD trial. Training with the Foundation of Shamanic Studies helped Nikola to gain insight into shamanic healing traditions, the historical roots of our current endeavours with psychedelic medicines. Over the past twelve years Dr Nikola has participated in various ceremonies around the world, experiencing a variety of medicines in different settings. He is dedicated to support other practitioners by sharing his experiences and insights.


Dr Ernest Hunter MBBS, MHP, MA(Rel.), MD (Psych.), FRANZCP, FAFPHM, Dip Am Bd Psych & Neuro
Ernest received his medical degree from the University of Western Australia. He has Masters degrees in Public Health and Religion from the University of Hawaii and a Doctorate in Psychiatry from the University of New South Wales. He completed his psychiatric training with fellowships in Cross-cultural Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry in the United States (Washington University, University of Michigan, University of Hawaii) and was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has been a member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Faculty Child Psychiatry and the Faculty of Public Health Medicine. For most of the last four decades he has worked as a clinician in Indigenous communities of northern Australia and held the Foundation Chair of Mental Health Public Health in Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Queensland. He remains an Adjunct Professor with the Cairns Institute of James Cook University. Among various awards he received the Medal of Honour from the RANZCP. Ernest has authored several hundred articles and monographs in the academic press, was a regular contributor to the Weekend Australian and has published three books: Aboriginal Health and History: Power and Prejudice in Remote Australia (Cambridge University Press); Vicarious Dreaming: On Madman’s Island with Jack Idriess (ETT), and; Reef Madness: Digging up the Dirt on an Australian Myth (ETT). Now retired from clinical practice he remains involved in Indigenous youth mental health through a project in remote schools in Cape York and the Torres Strait, and mental health capacity building across small island nations of the Indo-Pacific.  
Dr Tra'ill Dowie
Dr Traill Dowie is a philosopher, academic, psychotherapist, minister of religion and martial artist. He is an associate professor of psychotherapy, and he holds dual PhDs in Philosophy and psychiatry. Tra-ill is a research fellow at La Trobe University in Philosophy, He has also trained with the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).  Traill was formerly a co -developer and teacher in the certificate of psychedelic assisted therapy at mind medicine. Traill has a deep abiding interest in the history of psychological intervention and medicine more generally including ethno-medicine Traill has formally studied psychodynamic, existential, integrative, transpersonal, and constructivist approaches to therapy. Traill has 25 years of experience working as a clinician in a variety of settings including in private practice and organisations. He began his career working in eco-psychotherapy and wilderness therapy working with complex presentations. Traill has worked in both in-patient and outpatient settings focusing on the treatment of complex trauma. Traill has an abiding interest in all technologies of mind and state alteration, ranging from eastern meditative practices, traditional shamanic techniques (including the use of entheogens), as well as their appearance in psychotherapy and psychology. Traill has become very interested in the way altered states, social context and performativity can lead to profound change in human beings, including the multitude of pathways by which we can organise and optimise human life.Traill considers his greatest achievement in life to be his daughter.
Prof David Castle MBChB MSc MD GCUT DLSHTM FRCPsych FRANZCP
David is Professor, the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Tasmania; and Co-Director at, Tasmanian Centre for Mental Health Service Innovation. He has wide clinical and research interests, encompassing schizophrenia and related disorders, bipolar disorder, OCD spectrum disorders and disorders of body image. He has a longstanding interest in the impact of licit and illicit substances on the brain and body, and is actively engaged in programmes addressing the physical health of the mentally ill and the mental health of the physically ill. He has published widely in the scientific literature and is a frequent speaker at scientific meetings.
Dr Nigel Strauss Non-aligned consultant and adviser
Dr Nigel Strauss is a Consultant Psychiatrist with a special interest in Psychedelic Medicine and Psychedelic Research. He is a qualified MAPS therapist and currently a psychotherapist and Investigator in several Psychedelic trials in Melbourne. He has written extensively on the history, sociology and philosophy of Psychedelic Science.


Michael Raymond, Airforce Veteran, BEng (Electrical), Lived Experience
Michael Raymond, a retired Australian Airforce Engineering Officer with 16 years of service, has been a prominent advocate of psychedelic plant medicines for veterans over the last four years. His journey in the Airforce included roles as a fast jet Avionics Technician on F/A18F Super Hornets & F-111s, working with Special Operations and other high-security roles. His pursuit of knowledge led him to acquire a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), culminating in his commission as an officer. After his mental health challenges emerged following his retirement from service, Michael Following the emergence of his mental health challenges post-retirement from service, Michael embarked on a transformative healing odyssey to South America, where he immersed himself in the wisdom of traditional plant medicines. Here, he harnessed the healing potential of psychedelic plant medicines—a pivotal experience that not only likely saved his life but also profoundly altered the trajectory of his journey. Michael's advocacy journey began in 2019 with the publication of his story, a narrative that later unfolded into engaging conversations at both local and international forums. Notably, he serves as an Ambassador for the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre at Monash University. Presently, Michael is at the helm of Heroic Hearts Project Australia, assuming the roles of Co-Founder & CEO. In this capacity, he pioneers plant medicine programs and research uniquely crafted for veterans and first responders, seamlessly incorporating the transformative power of ayahuasca and psilocybin. 




AMAPP acknowledges the following advisors for their contributions to the psychedelic space. They fulfill diverse roles within the community, each with unique missions and areas of focus.

The inclusion of these advisors on the AMAPP website signals mutual respect and shared values. However, this does not necessarily imply that AMAPP endorses all their actions and beliefs, nor is the endorsement necessarily reciprocated. We strongly believe in recognizing and engaging with a wide spectrum of viewpoints, as befits our role as a multidisciplinary organization. We value the unique perspectives each advisor brings, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and ensuring that AMAPP mirrors the diverse psychedelic community. This approach enhances our capacity to achieve our vision and mission of supporting the legal, ethical, accountable, and effective implementation of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies (PAT) in Australia.


Last modified: Wednesday, 6 March 2024, 4:19 AM