Our Management Team · Mind Medicine Australia
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Our Management Team

Tania de Jong AM

LL.B (Hons), GradDipMus

Executive Director

Tania de Jong AM is the co-Founder and Executive Director of Mind Medicine Australia. She regularly presents on psychedelic-assisted therapies, mental health and wellbeing at major conferences and events around the world and to Governments, regulators, clinicians, philanthropists and the general public.

Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators developing 6 businesses and 4 charities including Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and With One Voice, Umbrella Foundation, Creative Innovation Global, Pot-Pourri and The Song Room.

Tania was named in the 100 Women of Influence, the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs and named as one of the 100 most influential people in psychedelics globally in 2021. Tania’s TED Talk has sparked international interest. Tania has garnered an international reputation as a performer, speaker, entrepreneur and a passionate leader for social change. Her mission is to change the world, one voice at a time!

Scott Edwards

B.Mus

Executive Officer

Scott has had a diverse career, working across a variety of fields. After originally training and working as a professional musician, he founded and bootstrapped a successful online music education company called Ear Training HQ at age 23. Ear Training HQ taught an innovative approach to skill development that he developed. He successfully taught this to thousands of students over 10 years. He has committed much of the last 10 years to introspective practice, with a central focus on Buddhist teachings. During this time he has trained and worked as a bodyworker, somatic therapist and meditation teacher.

Through his introspective practice and his somatic work, he has developed a deep interest in psychedelic and other altered state based therapies and the connection between these therapeutic approaches and the introspective process. Through the emergence of psychedelic-assisted therapies, he sees an opportunity for a deeper understanding of introspective practice emerge in our culture, with the potential to support greater happiness and wellbeing for all.

Ilan Hayman

B. IS, ITIL Cert, M. ProjMngt

Head of Operations

Ilan has been with Mind Medicine Australia for nearly 5 years. He was part of the team that made global history in 2023 through our successful applications to the TGA which led to the rescheduling of psilocybin and MDMA from Prohibited Substances to Controlled Medicines, making Australia a World-First and a leader in this rapidly emerging field.

Professionally, he has played a pivotal role in the general management of healthcare businesses, demonstrating expertise in various sectors including a private cosmetic surgery chain and the commercialisation of a groundbreaking skincare range. Ilan successfully guided the development of these products from initial concept to full-scale production.

In his most recent position, Ilan oversaw a group of national medical centers. His career trajectory towards operations management was initiated by his valuable experience gained while working with the Risk and Controls Solutions practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Driven by a passion for assisting the medical fraternity in their practice management and business administration functions, Ilan leverages his well-rounded skills across a diverse range of knowledge areas. He aspires to contribute his analytical expertise, complemented by his firsthand exposure to the commercial aspects of business, in a role that fully utilises his capabilities.

In addition to his professional endeavours, Ilan actively engages in supporting community organisations. He has also been recognised for his achievements with Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards, showcasing his unique combination of community involvement and industry-related experience.

Nicole Hearnden

B Ed

Events & Partnership Manager

Nicole has completed studies in education, business, sports training and counselling. An experienced yoga and meditation practitioner, with a life-long interest in health and wellbeing , Nicole’s growth mindset has inspired change and innovation in a variety of career settings.

As a specialist in Business Development and Acccount Management, she has worked at Inclusion Australia and spent over fifteen years in National advertising and promotional roles with several radio networks and leading magazine publishers.

Nicole’s interest in psychology and self-development led her to complete a Diploma of Holistic Counselling in 2007, before working as a health and wellbeing coach for women and a community volunteer at Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda.

Nicole has spent the last eight years at Tennis Australia, on The Australian Open, in key Business Development roles and now embraces the opportunity to build meaningful Mind Medicine Australia partnerships, with a focus on positive change in many people’s lives.

Daria Hill

B. Com, M. Couns

Administration, Education and Training Officer

Daria is a neurodiversity and disability inclusion activist, NFP committee member, counsellor and speaker. She was first introduced to the practice of meditation at the age of 12 by a Buddhist monk – this experience instilled a deep curiosity about the mind-body approach to healing and subsequently led her to explore Eastern modalities such as Ayurveda at a very early age. She has worked as a mindfulness facilitator and mental health psychoeducator for kids and young adults in both education and NDIS settings. Daria attended a performing arts school, where she trained in Drama and Dance – this experience further instilled the power of movement, creativity and self expression on mental wellbeing. She is a brain health aficionado with a keen interest in biohacking and an integrated approach to healing.

Julia Neubauer

B. A.

Digital Communications, Design and Social Media Consultant

Pursuing her passion in the creative arts, Julia graduated in the UK with a Bachelor of the Arts in Music Production. Developing her craft in the years to follow, she worked with e-commerce companies before launching her own business Merakiva in 2016. She has been supporting entrepreneurs in building their brand through content creation, designing websites, and building sales funnels.

Julia is an emerging Arts Therapist. She has training in arts therapy, somatic embodiment, mindfulness meditation, nervous system regulation, and rites of passage facilitation. Her practice also incorporates the principles from Hakomi therapy. She is interested in the intersection between psychedelic medicine, ancient Buddhist meditation practices, and the creative arts. Fascinated by the healing power that altered states of consciousness can provide, Julia is driven by the profound impact these modalities can have on our collective well-being.

Spud

B. Cuteness

Chief Puppy Officer (CPO)

Spud is actually Ilan’s dog, or perhaps Ilan is her human…

She attends the office daily and her important role is to remind everyone to get out in the fresh air for walks, enjoy life and eat good food. Cuddles are always welcome.

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