Penington Institute has announced a new chair of its Board of Directors and two new board members.
Adjunct Professor Scott Wilson was unanimously elected as Chair.
Mr Wilson is a longstanding member of the Penington Institute board and is also the CEO of ADAC, the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (South Australia). He is also Co Deputy Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks and his past leadership positions include deputy chair of the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation.
Mr Wilson succeeds Kathryn Greiner AO, who concludes her term after 11 years of dedicated service to Penington Institute’s Board of Directors. Ms Greiner joined the board in 2014 and became chair in December 2016.
Gwen Boniface and Miriam Suss join board
Penington Institute has also announced two new board members from June 2025.
Gwen Boniface served 30 years in law enforcement in Canada, including as Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. Trained as a lawyer, she continued her work in a variety of security sector roles in Ireland, the United Nations Peacekeeping Division and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. She currently serves as the Chair of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
Miriam Suss OAM GAICD has worked as a social worker, community development professional and a fundraiser over a long career in the NFP sector. With a strong commitment to multiculturalism and diversity, in recent years she has served as a Board Director at Alfred Health, the Victorian Interpreter Service, and Multicultural Arts Victoria. More recently she was appointed to the Premier’s Multicultural Review which is consulting with communities, cultural groups and peak bodies on issues of multiculturalism and social cohesion in the State of Victoria.
Commenting on the election of chair, Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said:
Scott has been an invaluable member of the Penington Institute board and is a respected voice in the sector. I look forward to his contribution in his new role as chair.
Commenting on the appointments of two new members, Mr Wilson said:
I welcome Gwen Boniface and Miriam Suss to the board. Both bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our organisation and I'm grateful to have them join us.
On behalf of the Penington Institute team, I would also like to sincerely thank Kathryn Greiner for her significant and thoughtful contributions to Penington Institute during her time as a board member and as chair. Her leadership and unwavering commitment to our mission have been crucial to making Penington Institute the organisation it is today.
Penington Institute is an independent drug policy research non-profit.
