Our Ambassadors

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An accomplished journalist, presenter and executive producer with over 20 years' experience, Helen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who directed, produced and appeared in a ground-breaking film on medical cannabis. The film was one of a handful of Australian documentaries chosen to be acquired by Netflix. It also appeared on SBS Television and was screened nationally to Australian audiences.

In 2015, Helen was appointed by the Victorian State Government to lead the Victorian Multicultural Commission, completing a four-year term as Chairperson. As the voice of Victoria's culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Helen led the Commission through its most dynamic era, receiving several awards during her time as commissioner. 

More recently she was awarded the prestigious Vice Chancellor's Fellow for Multicultural Engagement at Swinburne University - a role created to provide expertise on contemporary multicultural issues and challenges.

She is also a fearless innovator, and during her time as commissioner, she established an Australian-first internship program with ABC Australia and a successful Victorian Film competition in partnership with leading Universities. She has also been called on present at international forums on the role of community and media in counter-terrorism policy. She was the first Victorian commissioner to create a strategy with the private sector, to reduce unconscious bias and tackle systemic employment issues.

A respected national news broadcaster, she has extensive experience across several media organisations, and in her time as a presenter worked for all three Australian commercial networks and both public broadcasters.

Helen has published several national editorials on issues surrounding the challenges faced by minority communities, is a regular radio commentator and authored a book titled 'Proud to Belong' on everyday multiculturalism.

Helen is a captivating speaker, engaging audiences with her expertise in public policy development in diversity and inclusion, ethical leadership and self-empowerment.

David Heilpern was appointed as a Magistrate in 1998, and was at the time the youngest magistrate in Australia. He ‘retired’ in May 2020. 

He sat in the criminal, mining, family, industrial, coronial and children’s jurisdictions of the Local Court, and was the Senior Civil Magistrate for five years. During his time on the bench, David was the principal educator for new magistrates throughout Australia and the Pacific and made several important reported decisions on criminal, environmental and evidence law. 

Prior to his appointment, David was a litigation lawyer on the North Coast where he co-founded the law school at Southern Cross University, rising to becoming the Acting Dean in 1996. He maintained a litigation practice throughout this time, representing a wide range of defendants including high profile clients North East Forrest Alliance and several Local Councils. During this time David graduated with a Masters in Law and was pronounced the Alumni of the Decade for the University in 2005.

David has written four published books, three of which have now had multiple editions, dozens of refereed journal articles, and is a prize-winning short story writer and poet. 

David has a commitment to ensuring that medicinal cannabis is available safely and lawfully throughout Australia. In particular he is keen to see legislative change so that those who use medicinal cannabis do so without fear of criminal sanction. 

https://www.smh.com.au/by/david-heilpern-p4yvym

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/david-heilpern-retires-nsw-drug-driving-laws/12312156

Michael John (Mick) Palmer is a barrister and 33 year career police officer with extensive experience in police leadership and reform in community, national and international policing.

Having progressed through the ranks of the Northern Territory Police Service, he was appointed Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services agency in 1988 and served in that position until 1994 when he was appointed Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Mr Palmer held this position for 7 years until his retirement in March 2001.

In 1982 and 1983 Mr. Palmer practiced as a barrister at law in Queensland during a five year break in his police service.

Between 1997 and 2000 he was a member of the Executive Committee of Interpol having become the first Australian elected to the position. He was also the inaugural Deputy Chair of the National Council against Drugs (NCAD) a position he occupied until his retirement from policing in 2001.

Since retiring from policing in 2001 Mick has conducted a range of inquiries and reviews for the Australian Federal and State Governments, both within Australia and overseas.

In 2004/5 he conducted the Inquiry into the Circumstances of the Immigration Detention of Cornelia RAU and recently conducted an inquiry for the Tasmanian Government into conditions in the maximum security prison at Risdon in Hobart, Tasmania.

Between 2004 and 2012 he was the Federal Government’s Inspector of Transport Security, a position created after the 9/11 and Bali bombing terrorist incidents.

Mr Palmer is a recipient of the Australian Police Medal and in 1998 was admitted to the Order of Australia (AO) for his work in “advancing the professionalisation of policing through the introduction of far-reaching anti-corruption processes and management practice reform".

In 1999 the Board of Governors of Charles Sturt University conferred the award of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) for his contribution to advancing policing in Australia.

Mick is currently a spokesperson for the Ted Noffs Foundation’s Take control Campaign, for Safer, Saner Drug Laws, a Director Emeritus of Australia 21 and an Ambassador for SMART Recovery.