Antanika is the President of the Australian Psychedelic Society (APS), where her personal journey with psychedelics, which helped her effectively treat Complex-PTSD, drives her work. These experiences, marked by Post-Traumatic Growth, fueled her commitment to creating a safe, stigma-free environment for others seeking similar exploration.

This dedication and all those who work along side Antanika have in some way shape or form helped shape the organisation's direction. In 2018, Antanika began volunteering for APS, noticing a void in the community that led her to establish the Adelaide chapter. She also contributed to social media and the national newsletter, earning a spot on the executive committee in 2019. She served as Vice President from 2021 to 2023 before taking over as President in 2023. Outside of APS, Antanika works in Psychedelic Integration Support and is a Consumer Board advisor for Monarch Mental Health Group. She has 2 teenagers who she homeschools and an adult child, and no this is not her husband. She has 3 dogs, 2 cats and 9 chickens, likes long walks in the forest, and half finished house projects.

Connect with Antanika Via Linkedin
Read DoubleBlinds article 'Meet the Influential, Innovative, and Disruptive Women in Psychedelics' featuring Antanika.

Jess first volunteered with APS in 2019, and in 2021, she co-founded the Goldfield’s chapter. Jess has also been the APS Chapter coordinator since 2022. Her dedication shines through her successful organisation of events and meet-ups across both the Goldfields and Macedon Ranges regions. She has also been co-hosting the national APS women's group this past year and was recently appointed the role of National Chapter Coordinator.

With over two decades as an AOD counsellor, Jess is excited by the expansion of psychedelic treatment for addiction and mental health. Holding a strong conviction in harm reduction and legalisation, Jess believes firmly in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and plant medicines and sees them as invaluable aids for mental health. An avid advocate for legal reform, Jess emphasises the significance of building communities like APS. She is keen to educate and support individuals, especially women, who are looking for a deeper understanding of psychedelics and their benefits. 

Drawing from personal experience, she knows the transformative power of psychedelics firsthand. Over the past seven years, she embarked on a personal journey with them to address and heal her own traumas. Jess resides in the Macedon Ranges with her two teenagers and fluffy Golden Retriever Obi.

Dr. Simon Beck MD is a psychedelic harm reduction advocate and mushroom enthusiast living on Gumbaynggirr country in Northern NSW. He holds a Medical Degree and a Masters of Medicine in Psychiatry. He believes psychedelics have amazing therapeutic potential for individuals and communities. He is involved in the psilocybin mushroom ID and harm reduction group PMANZ on Facebook and has spoken about mushroom identification for the APS. He believes in advocating for safer, legal access to psychedelics and other substances by those who want to use them and feels strongly that the current drug laws continue to fail in every respect. He is excited to be a part of helping to drive the APS towards its goals during this rapidly evolving and important time in the modern history of psychedelics.

Marty‘s involvement with the APS began in 2016 as one of the co-founders. He is mainly involved in administration, technical support, advocacy and developing APS policies and procedures. He is motivated by the need for laws to be based on evidence and to only limit freedoms where necessary to protect public safety, order or health. Marty’s work has been much appreciated with the APS, and he dedicated much of his time to the role of Secretary in 2019-2020. then in 2024 he was voted in as Treasurer.

Marty has a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Environmental Management, and has relevant experience in administration and project management. He is particularly interested in legislation, community development, policy and advocacy.

Marty spends his time gardening, mountain bike riding, enjoying music and reading. 

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Gabrielle’s balanced ideas, and consistent contributions as the treasurer for many years found Gabrielle in the role of Vice President in August 2023.

Gabrielle’s interest in psychedelics stemmed from her deep-set interest in the shamanic & cultural use of entheogens. Over the years this led her to working with these medicines to break through complex trauma from her childhood whilst also using them to improve her capacity to understand the world around her.

Gabrielle is very passionate about advocacy, de-stigmatisation and law reform for psychedelic plant medicines and believes that they can be a powerful tool on the healing path for those who feel the call. She is motivated by encouraging positive change within the community and advocates for plant medicine and the responsible use of psychedelics as a catalyst for self-growth.

Outside of her Accounting career, Gabrielle is a budding Herbalist & Naturopath with a love for entheogenic plants & cacti. She likes to spend her free time out with her horses and tending to her medicinal garden which contains both plant & cacti species – always with the help of her Doberman, Max.

Sam has been involved in social media, written content, and assisting with policy and procedures of the APS, as well as forming partnerships with other organisations. Mid-2021 saw Sam take over as APS President after assisting Meredith Drinkell as Vice President for 2019-2020.

He is motivated by the ideals of fairness and autonomy, and this is a big part of what drove him towards drug law reform activism.

Sam is an academic philosopher, teaching critical thinking and professional ethics at university. He likes to garden, read old science fiction books, and hang out with his partner and his cat

Jef has been involved with the APS since 2017, facilitating community film screenings, engaging Q&A Panels, book clubs and picnics. He also helps out with social media and community engagement. 

Jef’s interests extend to ethnobotanical gardening, and more specifically the anthropology of ancient psychoactive substance use. He is motivated by helping people to gain knowledge and understanding of psychedelics and their enormous potential and power so that they can make informed decisions in order to maximise benefits and minimise possible harms.

Jef enjoys sculpture, painting, tattoo art, poetry, music and nature. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Studies & Communications from SCU, where he wrote his Honours Thesis entitled 'A Thread in The Vine', the Deep Ecology of Ayahuasca Discourse. The thesis explored the philosophy of deep ecology and how the core tenets of this philosophy were evident in articulations of the ayahuasca experience in online forums. 

Darryl is our Brisbane chapter volunteer. Darryl’s first psychedelic experience was in Peru in 2010, when he went to an Ayahuasca retreat centre in search of treatment for his life-long major depressive condition. It worked better than he could possibly have hoped for, so much so that he was inspired to learn more about psychedelics as a whole area of knowledge, and to share that knowledge with other seekers. Darryl has been involved in psychedelic harm reduction and advocacy with the APS since 2018. He describes himself as a syncretist seeking to learn from ancient mystical traditions, modern science, personal development, and philosophy, and he particularly enjoys helping others to clarify their goals and plan the achievement of them. Darryl's personal hobbies include reading and writing, strategy-type computer games, storytelling and tactical roleplaying games, and the type of wide-ranging free-form conversations found in psychedelic communities. It is Darryl's goal that everyone should have the right and opportunity to benefit from psychedelic healing for themselves should they choose to do so, and they should have access to correct and honestly presented information with which to make that choice. Darryl owns a small business in the animal care field, which he loves and would only ever have gotten into as a result of the improvements in his mental and physical health from psychedelic therapy.

Since joining APS in 2022, Adam has made a significant impact as a chapter leader in Melbourne. Alongside co-leader Baden, Adam rejuvenated the chapter post-pandemic, establishing a lively hub for the psychedelic community. Together, they orchestrate an array of meetings, events, workshops, and gatherings.

With a background in physiology, pharmacology, and psychology, Adam's fervour extends to harm reduction, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and fostering community. He emphasises the power of mutual understanding, championing the notion of 'speaking the same language'.

For Adam, building community becomes paramount, especially for those involved with drugs and psychedelics; such individuals often perceive and articulate their experiences differently than those who abstain. At the core, his drive stems from a desire to foster genuine understanding, allowing people—including himself—to truly be seen and understood.

Outside his professional endeavours, Adam's passions lie in basketball, dancing, and whipping up delectable dishes—often featuring a hint of olive oil and garlic.

Leah is our Volunteer coordinator and recently became a valued Committee Member. Leah is also an accomplished Executive Manager with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Business. She is a passionate advocate for human rights, equality, inclusion, diversity, and evidence-based climate action.

As someone living with disability and chronic illness, Leah's personal experiences have fueled her interest in psychedelic medicine and therapies as potential treatment options, especially after facing numerous challenges with the Western medical system. With conditions such as fibromyalgia, POTS, and ME/CFS, Leah understands the complexities and uncertainties that medical professionals are still striving to comprehend. She firmly believes that psychedelic medicines will one day play a pivotal role in the treatment and management of such complex health conditions—offering psychological support, healing, and physical pain relief. The possibilities are vast, and with them comes a renewed sense of hope.

Leah is committed to being a positive force within the community, advocating for meaningful social change for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. She lives on the Gold Coast with her husband and two young boys. In her free time, Leah enjoys cups of tea, listening to Taylor Swift, working on jigsaw puzzles, and spending time among pine trees.

Tony’s journey with psychedelics began over thirty-five years ago, igniting a lifelong passion for their healing potential. With a scientific background in chemistry, Tony has become a prominent advocate for the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.