Our Faces
Donald MacPherson
Donald MacPherson is the former Drug Policy Coordinator for the City of Vancouver and author of the Four Pillars Drug Strategy that the City of Vancouver adopted in 2001. The Four Pillars Strategy calls for a new approach to drug problems in Vancouver based on public health principles, effective evidence informed policing strategies and the appropriate regulation of all psychoactive substances. Donald has worked with four successive City administrations to further the development of a comprehensive and evidence based approach to drug problems in Vancouver. In 2007 Donald was awarded a Kaiser Foundation National Award of Excellence in Public Policy for his work in drug policy. In June of 2009 the City of Vancouver was awarded Canadian Urban Institutes Secure City Award for the Four Pillars Drug Strategy and the City’s continuing advocacy for services that create a more secure city for all residents. Most recently he was awarded the Richard Dennis Drugpeace Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Drug Policy Reform by the Drug Policy Alliance in the United States. Donald is a parent to three children.
Susann Richter
Susann Richter has worked as a lawyer in Vancouver and as a performer, songwriter and recording artist in the Canadian music industry for many years. She has also worked for more than 10 years as a consultant to Vancouver Coastal Health, developing services for the most marginalized people in Vancouver – people living homeless and in poverty, with serious mental health and addiction issues (some of the victims of the War on Drugs in our own community). While working as a lawyer she represented many of these people on their journey through the justice system. As a result of this work she became involved with a global network of people concerned with ending the war on drugs and promoting rational drug policy reform. Susann is currently the Acting Manager of the Provincial Health Services Authority HIV/AIDS program. Through her experiences in music, law and health, she has developed a strong understanding of how social change can be led by artists and citizens.
Birgit Breuer
Birgit Breuer is an independent consultant in the entertainment industry. She has worked for (Sony) BMG Entertainment Europe as Manager and Artist and Repertoire Executive as well as for CBS Networks in the USA building their new Music Division and developing new music channels in Europe, South America and Australia. She has over 20 years of experience in the international entertainment industry, networking with music and film industry celebrities and executives around the world. Birgit has developed a profound multi-cultural understanding of different business styles while living in Munich, London, Milan, Miami, Nashville and Vancouver. She acquired several languages during her travels. Her passion is global meaningful projects in the arts and entertainment industry. Birgit is a parent to two young children.
Gillian Maxwell
Gillian Maxwell has been an entrepreneur in Vancouver for over twenty years. She is a founding member of the Canadian Drug Policy Consortium – a new national organisation representing NGO’s across Canada; and Project Director of “Keeping the Door Open: Dialogues on Drug Use” (KDO). KDO is a multi-sectoral community-based coalition that organises dialogues on problematic substance use to educate and inform public policy. Gillian speaks about harm reduction and drug policy reform nationally and internationally, and arranges tours and interviews for visitors from around the world with Vancouver’s harm reduction and drug policy community. Gillian is parent to two adult step-children.
Mark Haden
Mark Haden works as a senior clinical supervisor in the addictions field. He has provided public education on drugs and drug policy for over 20 years. Mark has published on the issue of drug control policies in numerous journals including the International Journal of Drug Policy. He works with Provincial Health Officers to articulate drug reform policies and is a frequent speaker at conferences and training events. Mark has been interviewed for a number of radio shows – see podcast, powerpoint presentations and publications on website www.markhaden.com. Mark Is a parent with two children.
