John is the Executive Director of Mental Health Alcohol and other Drugs Branch in Queensland Health He has previously been Chief Psychiatrist in both Queensland and New South Wales. He spent twenty years working in North Queensland where he developed a wide range of new mental health services, following his psychiatry training in Adelaide. He leads work in policy, planning, service developments and standards for mental health alcohol and other drugs services in Queensland, His clinical interests include the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and comprehensive care for those with serious mental illness. His current research and policy interests focus on mental health system reform, clinical service improvement, reduction in restrictive practices, human rights, recovery-oriented practice and smoking reduction strategies. He is the immediate past President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and was a member of the RANZCP Board from 2015 to May 2021. He is a foundation member and co-chair of Equally Well Australia which seeks to improve the physical health of people living with mental illness. He currently co-coordinates the World Psychiatric Association Alternatives to Coercion Working Group.