When I founded PAREA, I wanted to keep things lean. With very limited resources, we focused on what mattered most: the actual work, including community building, policy, education, and advocacy. I kept admin to a minimum. We were fortunate that Drug Science agreed to provide secreatariat for PAREA for the first three years, which saved us so much time and spared us from the added layer of managing an organization.
But now, we’ve grown, and it’s time to move forward on our own. I feel a deep sense of gratitude as we transition into a legally constituted, sustainable non-profit with robust governance, an incredible Board, and transparency and accountability at the heart of our values.
Today, we held our Founding General Assembly, where the following individuals were elected to our Board and to serve as Office Bearers:
Professor David Nutt, PAREA Chair (Founder, Drug Science; Imperial College London)
Dr. Roxana Albu , PAREA Vice-Chair (Chief Scientific Officer, Association of European Cancer Leagues )
Frédéric Destrebecq, PAREA Treasurer (Executive Director, European Brain Council)
Dr. Joost J. Breeksema (Executive Director, OPEN Foundation)
Emma Christersson (Co-Managing Director, Norrsken Mind)
Dr. Orla Galvin BSc PhD (Executive Director, European Federation of Neurological Associations)
Prof. Geert Dom (President, European Psychiatric Association)
Dr. Henrik Jungaberle (Executive Director, MIND Foundation )
Prof. Gitte Moos Knudsen (Past President, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP)
You can read more in our news release: https://lnkd.in/dnRJMfFM
The Greek word "parea" embodies the idea of togetherness, companionship, connectedness, and a community of like-minded people. It’s a privilege to lead this work and to be surrounded by so many incredible individuals who are part of it.
Amid these changes, our vision remains the same: We want a world where brain health is valued, preventable suffering is avoided, and psychedelic treatments help people heal and enhance their sense of well-being.