Our Leadership

G.A.D (Sandy) Clarkson

Sandy is an Accountant with a private CPA Accounting Practice. He has worked in the private sector for most of his life with stints in the WA State Government and in Local Government as Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the town of Mosman Park.

He has been associated with Fresh Start Recovery Programme for almost 15 years as a volunteer as Director and Chairman and is now serving as a board member.

Dr George O’Neil

M.B.B.S,F.A.Ch.A.M, F.R.A.N.Z.C.O.G., F.R.O.C.O.G., D.D.U., Cit.W.A.

Dr O’Neil was born in Limerick, Ireland but grew up in Perth, Western Australia. Inspired by the challenges he faced working in remote parts of Australia, Africa and cities such as Glasgow and Perth, in the 1980s Dr. O’Neil began developing new products for use in obstetrics, pain management, malnutrition, catheterisation, drug delivery and addictions. This resulted in the establishment of pharmaceutical company Go Medical Industries Pty Ltd in 1984. Dr. O’Neil has pioneered the use of Naltrexone in Australia for opiate addiction and since 1996 has concentrated his main efforts on running an addiction treatment clinic in Subiaco, now part of Fresh Start Recovery Programme.

Mark Burns – Chairman

Mark’s career began in 1982 as a Development Manager at Pivot Group, leaving in 1986 after the completion of the re-development of the Innaloo Shopping Centre. Since then, Mark has had extensive commercial property experience throughout WA and the United States, where he lived for 15 years.

Elected a City of Subiaco Councillor in 1988 at the age of 26, Mark expanded his career into Public Service via Local Government, while maintaining his private business activities. After returning to Perth from the US in 2008. Mark was again elected to the City’s Council in 2013. Mark has also held multiple positions on inter-governmental Boards and was the inaugural Chairman of the Subiaco Oval Working Committee, ensuring the Oval was permanently protected for future generations, by seeing it State Heritage Listed.

In addition to serving on the board of AMPRF as Chairman, Mark’s Board experience includes The Museum of the Southwest (Texas), equine organisations and private corporations.

Finola Barr- Deputy Chair

Finola was born and educated in England and called to the English Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1994 and practiced in child protection law and environmental law in Manchester and the North West until 2007. Since 2010 Finola has practiced as a criminal barrister/solicitor in Perth, Western Australia.

She has a special interest in the treatment of addiction and its impact on the criminal justice system.

She holds degrees in law and a masters in Environmental Law.

Mr Martin Smith - Board Director

Martin is a Noongar man with connections to Menang, Goreng and Whadjuk country. Martin has significant cultural knowledge and had the privilege of learning his cultural responsibilities from his old people. Martin is a Christian, with 20 years’ experience in leadership positions within the Aboriginal church and currently involved with several boards with the aim to assist in the growth and development of Aboriginal people. Martin has Bachelor of Applied Science and a Diploma in Counselling and is currently studying Psychology and Life Coaching with the goal to share his knowledge, understanding and experience with community. Martin has worked in child protection and family support for over 10 years, and has significant experience in the leadership of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Martin’s work is focused on addressing the disadvantage of Aboriginal people understand the lingering impact of colonisation and to develop solutions to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Arthur John Griffith - Treasurer

B. Bus. (Acc.), FCPA, PPC

John has over 40 years of experience in audit, risk management, and financial accounting.

He has previously served as Chief Finance Officer for Western Australia’s Education and Health Departments, as well as at Curtin University. Notably, in his role at Curtin from 1997 – 2003 he was extensively involved in financial planning, reporting, and governance during a pivotal period of transition.

With a passion for education, John has worked as an accounting lecturer/tutor at Murdoch and Notre Dame (WA) universities since 2005, as well as teaching internationally in Singapore.

He chairs the Audit and Risk Committee at Stanley College, and contributes to a number of not-for-profit organizations.