The ISSUP Exchange

In this final episode, Associate Professors Goodman Sibeko and Nadine Harker shift the focus from individual-level responses to the organisational systems that shape wellbeing at work. The conversation looks at how workplaces can create environments that reduce stressors and promote healthier behaviours before problems escalate.

Prof. Harker highlights the role of leadership commitment, ongoing wellness initiatives, and policies that prioritise prevention rather than once-off interventions. She also discusses challenges such as cost, organisational culture, and the need for clear pathways for referral and reintegration when employees return from treatment.

A reflective close to the series...

In this episode, Associate Professors Goodman Sibeko and Nadine Harker unpack how workplaces can uphold legal and ethical standards while promoting mental health and preventing substance use.

Prof. Harker discusses what makes a workplace policy both lawful and humane, stressing that alignment with national legislation must go hand in hand with fairness and inclusion. She also underscores the value of collaboration, bringing HR teams, trade unions, and leadership into the same conversation from the outset.

Their discussion moves beyond policy design to the practical realities of putting it into action: how managers can overcome financial...

In this third episode, Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko and Associate Professor Nadine Harker discuss how workplaces can identify early signs of substance use and mental health challenges among employees, and respond appropriately before issues escalate.

Prof. Harker explains the occupational factors that increase risk, the visible and behavioural cues supervisors should look out for, and the importance of distinguishing between informal and formal referrals. She outlines how supervisors can express concern, make soft referrals to employee wellness or HR, and when formal action becomes necessary.

The discussion also covers how consistent health promotion, supportive policies...

Before exploring how workplaces can promote prevention and wellbeing, Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko introduces Associate Professor Nadine Harker, the voice and perspective behind much of this work. In this opening conversation, Prof. Harker shares the path that led her into public health, what draws her to issues of mental health and substance use, and how her academic and professional experiences have shaped her approach.

The discussion offers context for her work and sets the stage for the conversations ahead on leadership, culture, and prevention in the workplace.

Featured Voices 

Host – A/Prof. Goodman Sib...

In this first episode, Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko sits down with Associate Professor Nadine Harker to unpack what it really means for a workplace to take prevention seriously. Together, they explore how organisations can move beyond awareness campaigns to build genuine, prevention-oriented cultures.

Prof. Harker reflects on the shift from traditional workplace wellness models to a broader public health approach, one that views the workplace as part of a wider ecosystem and emphasises shared responsibility across leadership levels. She discusses how stigma continues to shape responses to mental health and substance use, and why visible, informed leadership...

Building the Future Together: Joanna Travis-Roberts on 10 Years of ISSUP

In the final episode of the series, Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko sits down once again with ISSUP Chief Executive Joanna Travis-Roberts to look back on a decade of growth and forward to what’s next. Joanna reflects on how ISSUP has evolved through moments of change, from a small idea to a global network, and what it takes to stay flexible, humble, and connected in a complex field. Together, they explore the lessons, turning points, and future priorities that will shape ISSUP’s next chapter.

Feat...

Building the Future Together: Joanna Travis-Roberts on 10 Years of ISSUP

A special three-part series celebrating 10 years of of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP).  

In this second episode, host Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko speaks with Chief Executive Joanna Travis-Roberts about the remarkable journey of ISSUP itself. From its official launch in Bangkok in 2015 to a thriving global network of over 45,000 members, Joanna takes us behind the scenes of ISSUP’s founding, exploring the early partnerships, critical decisions, and challenges that shaped its identity.

Joanna reflects on the administrative hurdles of starting a g...

Building the Future Together: Joanna Travis-Roberts on 10 Years of ISSUP

A special three-part series celebrating 10 years of of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP).  

In this first episode, host Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko speaks with Joanna Travis-Roberts, ISSUP’s Chief Executive. Joanna shares how an unexpected opportunity shifted her path from literature and languages to leading a global community focused on substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. Together, they discuss the serendipitous moments, mentors, and experiences that shaped her career and her passion for making evidence-based knowledge accessible worldwide.

This conversation goe...

What does the evidence tell us about Motivational Interviewing (MI), and what might the future of research hold?

In the final episode of the ISSUP Exchange series, A/Prof. Goodman Sibeko and Professor Stephen Rollnick explore the research behind MI, discussing why it remains effective across so many settings. With over 2,500 randomised trials, MI is one of the most studied approaches in behavioural health, but some of the most valuable insights come from understanding how and why it works.

They look at the importance of process research, the impact of brief interventions in emergency settings...

What does it take to truly learn Motivational Interviewing, and how do we build the kind of environments where that learning can stick?

In this third episode of the ISSUP Exchange series, A/Prof. Goodman Sibeko continues the conversation with Professor Stephen Rollnick, this time turning the focus to MI training: what works, what doesn’t, and why developing competence is more about mindset than mastery.

They discuss the common struggle practitioners face in shifting from a directive, expert role to a more collaborative, supportive stance, and why that shift matters. The episode also explores ch...

What does it really mean to “step back” in a helping conversation? And how can practitioners cultivate genuine curiosity and empathy while still focusing on change?

In this second episode of our four-part ISSUP Exchange series, A/Prof. Goodman Sibeko continues his conversation with Professor Stephen Rollnick, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Motivational Interviewing (MI). Together, they unpack what MI looks like in real-world practice and what it takes to truly empower clients, without trying to "fix" them.

This episode explores the importance of self-awareness, the common traps practitioners fall into, and how stepping back can...

If you've ever wondered how Motivational Interviewing (MI) came to be and why it remains essential across so many fields today, join Associate Professor Goodman Sibeko in a compelling four-part conversation with Professor Stephen Rollnick, clinical psychologist and co-founder of MI. 

Together, they explore the personal and professional journey behind MI, from early experiences in Cape Town and the pivotal collaboration with William R. Miller, to the evolution of MI as a tool not just for behaviour change, but for personal growth. You'll hear how MI has transformed clinical practice, what keeps it relevant in healthcare, addiction s...