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Meet The Team

What Is IFDAT?

Our IFDAT “mission” is to bring the best D&A Testing Industry professionals in the World (both from a supplier and customer perspective) all together in one place to drive forward and discuss quality, best practice and innovation for the benefit of the IFDAT community.

The International Forum for Drug and Alcohol Testing (IFDAT) is a non-profit organisation. We are dedicated to the advancement of global employee drug and alcohol testing systems and processes. In keeping with the international platform, the appointed Board Members of IFDAT cover a global reach: Sweden – Per Bjorklov (chairman), United Kingdom – Matt Taylor, New Zealand – Sue Nolan and United States of America – Kurt Bothner. We also have voted Representatives and a team of amazing volunteers. See below for details.

IFDAT provides a platform for experts from a wide variety of disciplines associated with the drug and alcohol industries to meet and discuss a range of topics focused on current and future developments relevant to employee testing globally. At IFDAT conferences employers, industry providers and other interested parties discuss best practices, new developments, updates in policies and technology, efficiency improvements and other topics relevant to enhancing employee drug and alcohol testing.

Since 2010, apart from the interruption of Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, the conferences have been held annually alternating between venues in Europe (inc. United Kingdom) and United States / Canada. In addition to the numerous topics covered, these conferences provide an excellent networking opportunity to share knowledge, form global relationships, evaluate new methods and shape the direction of best practice employee drug and alcohol testing globally. Conferences are actively supported and sponsored by Companies from a range of associated industry sectors.

There is no charge for interested parties to become a part of the IFDAT community. The sole cost incurred is when a person registers for the annual conference. In addition, the IFDAT community stays connected via a quarterly Newsletter to which contribution is encouraged and welcomed.

To enable IFDAT to keep moving forward and organise high quality conferences, we have a dedicated Board and team of volunteers. If you feel you have what it takes to help IFDAT – then please drop us an email to info@ifdat.com.

The IFDAT Board

Matt Taylor

IFDAT Board Member
United Kingdom

Matt Taylor

As the current IFDAT Chairperson / President, Matt is also Managing Director of Innovative Testing Solutions (ITS). ITS is a quality led business delivering innovative, evidence based, high quality diagnostic products to customers in the UK, Ireland and further afield. Matt has been described as a “focussed, dynamic and highly motivated entrepreneurial Director” with a deep industry knowledge and over 23 years of “hands-on” experience within the Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Training and Testing sector. Matt has specialist knowledge within Policy, Point of Care testing and Sample Collection – including application of those skills during the COVID pandemic (PCR & LFD).

  • Appointed IFDAT Chairperson / President in 2022
  • Appointed to the IFDAT Board in 2021
  • He has given a number of “Key Note Speeches” and presentations at UK and Worldwide conferences and events
  • Advised upon and written 100s of UK specific D&A/Substance Policies (from SMEs to PLCs) covering most industries
  • Written and delivered Education, Training and “Employee Briefing” sessions to 10000s of Managers, Supervisors and Employees across a wide range of sectors
  • An author of various articles published (magazines and online) in areas such as Human Resources and Health and Safety specific to safety critical industries such as Construction, Oil & Gas and Transportation
  • A strong believer in “Education NOT Propaganda”
  • 2024-Current – Founding member and Director of DrugPatch
  • 2018-Current – Co founder and Managing Director of Innovative Testing Solutions Ltd
  • 2015-2017 – Director of The Drug and Alcohol Consultancy Ltd
  • 2003-2014 – Co founder and Managing Director of ScreenSafe UK Ltd which soon became the UK’s leading independent “T.P.A.”
  • A member of the EWDTS (European Workplace Drug Testing Society) – In 2018/19 he helped to formulate the draft guidelines for Point of Care Testing
  •  

Matt utilises his life experiences to successfully and effectively communicate, educate and train people from all walks of life, and at all levels. He lives in Staffordshire, United Kingdom.  

Contact: matt@itstestkits.com  Website: www.itstestkits.com

Bon Idziak

Bon is the former CEO of NetForce Global and 25-year industry professional and subject matter expert on the topics of Background Screening, Drug Testing and HR Technology.  A recognized leader in the Screening Industry, Bon is frequently asked to share his expertise at conferences, in educational settings, with industry publications and through various media outlets.  Bon regularly consults with major global employers and associations to develop employment screening and substance abuse testing solutions that are cost-effective, compliant and address corporate goals and regulatory requirements.

  • Board of Directors/Frequent Presenter for International Forum for Drug and Alcohol Testing (IFDAT)
  • Former Chief Compliance and Government Relations Officer for Accurate Background
  • Prior Head of Compliance and Government Relations for screening startup Checkr
  • Prior CEO of Applicant Insight 
  • Prior Director of Business Development at First Advantage
  • Past President and Board of Directors for the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA)
    • Current Chair of International Legal Committee and Member of Government Relations
  • Past Chairman and Board of Directors for the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA, formerly NAPBS)
    • Prior Chair/Active Government Relations Committee
  • Treasurer, Board of Directors for the HR Open Standards Consortium (Worldwide)
    • Past-Chairman
  • Chairman, HR Open Standards Foundation
  • President of the Board of Directors for The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E., (Commit to Always Using Screened Employees) a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2004 to promote workforce screening for in home-service providers.
 

Bon lives in Belleair Beach, Florida USA with corporate office in San Ramon, CA USA.

Contact: bonidziak@gmail.com

Bon Idziak

IFDAT Board Member
USA

 

 

Markus Timosaari

IFDAT Board Member
Sweden

Markus Timosaari

Markus is the CEO of DrugtestScandinavia, a Swedish-based alcohol and drug testing company founded in 2006 that offers oral fluid, urine and hair testing services in Sweden and many other European countries. In addition to drug testing, Markus has worked with people with substance abuse problems which is where a big part of his motivation and inspiration to work preventively within alcohol and drug testing industry came from.

  • Bachelor’s degree in business
  • Bachelor’s degree in healthcare
  • 9 years’ experience from drug testing industry
  • Provides drug testing services and consultation for some of Sweden’s largest and most safety-sensitive companies
  • Co-operates with collection sites in a number of European countries
  • Has trained hundreds of collectors in drug testing
  • Drug test coordinator at DISA Sweden 2014-2016
  • CEO at Drugtest Scandinavia since 2016
  • Participated in IFDAT conferences since 2016

 

Markus lives in Stockholm, Sweden and having been born and raised in Finland and worked in Norway and Sweden he brings a Nordic perspective to IFDAT.

Contact: markus@drugtestscandinavia.se Website: www.drugtestscandinavia.se

The IFDAT Volunteers / Committee members

Eveline Vaessen

Working at the European Livestock Diagnostic Center (ELDC) in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, in charge of marketing, I spend my hours/days with the company’s websites, organizing newsletters and meetings, and preparing video’s and other visuals to support out products.

For IFDAT I help create and design the newsletter and I also manage the “mailing list”. I also manage and maintain IFDAT’s website.

Email: eveline.vaessen@eldc.eu

Eveline Vaessen

IFDAT Volunteer / Conference Committee member
Netherlands

FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS

IFDAT would not be what it is without the founding members, and we will always be thankful and indebted to them all. Per Bjorklov (Sweden) took the initiative to start the IFDAT conferences back in 2005 together with Dr Anthony Wong (R.I.P.) from Brazil, Sue Nolan from New Zealand and Kurt Bothner from USA.

Thank you all!

Per Bjorklov

Founding & Honorary IFDAT Board Member  

Sue Nolan

Founding & Honorary IFDAT Board Member  

Kurt-New

Kurt Bothner  

Founding & Honorary IFDAT Board Member  

Anthony Wong   

Founding & Honorary IFDAT Board Member  

HOTEL BOOKING

The Alex Hotel has kindly offered all IFDAT guests a discount when booking at any one of their 4 hotels (Part of the O’Callaghan Collection).

The IFDAT 2026 host hotel is “The Alex Hotel”. The second hotel is at the “Davenport Hotel” and is 1 minute walking distance from the IFDAT2026 venue. The third hotel is the “Mont Hotel” and is also 1 minute walking distance from the IFDAT2026 venue. The fourth is the “Green Hotel” and is approx. 15-20 minutes walking distance from the IFDAT2026 venue. Please click the links below and use the discount code SPECIAL10BB which will allow guests to book directly, and avail of a 10% off BAR discount at the time of booking! Simply enter the code on their website at checkout or contact one of their friendly reservations team. This code can be used across the full hotel collection – The Alex, The Davenport, the Mont & The Green, so if rooms are limited across one hotel do use the code to check other properties.

Dublin comes alive in September and therefore room availability is limited and allocated on a “first come – first served” basis. If all rooms have been allocated, or for those wishing to find alternative accommodation, IFDAT have chosen a centrally located venue which is in easy reach of many hotels and accommodation types to suit all tastes and budgets. The venue postcode (zip code) is D02 H678 which you can use when looking at alternatives.

PLEASE NOTE: The booking(s) is a contract between you and the hotel(s) directly and IFDAT cannot take any responsibility for any part of that contract. Please ensure you therefore read and understand the hotel’s Terms and Conditions of booking – including cancellation policy.

Thank you for visiting the IFDAT website. 

We have had lots of emails and messages from so many people across the globe (including past Sponsors, Speakers and Delegates) asking us when the next IFDAT Conference will be and where. 

We are pleased to announce that IFDAT 2026 will take place in Dublin (Ireland) at the wonderful Alex Hotel (https://www.thealexhotel.ie/) on 9th-11th September 2026.

  • 9th September (18.00-20.00hrs*) – Sponsor Set Up, Registration and Welcome Drinks
  • 10th September (08.00-17.00hrs*) – Keynote Speaker and Conference Day 1
  • 10th September (19.00hrs*) – The IFDAT Social Celebration Dinner and Networking (venue TBC – additional fees apply – non delegates / family / partners etc are all welcome). The perfect environment to continue networking within an informal and enjoyable setting. Spaces are limited and always sell out – so book EARLY to avoid disappointment!
  • 11th September (08.00-17.00hrs*) – Conference Day 2, Closing Address by IFDAT President/Chairperson and Farewell Drinks

(*NOTE: all timings are for guidance only at this point)

Following the great success of the IFDAT 2024 Conference, the IFDAT community are all looking forward to the opportunity to once again meet, share ideas and discussion about the international efforts toward workplace substance abuse prevention. Education, knowledge sharing, studies data, new technology / innovation, best practice, country guidelines etc. The IFDAT 2026 Dublin conference program and speaker list, as usual, will not disappoint! Please bear with us as we update the website to reflect the IFDAT2026 event. We are busy in the background working hard to get everything ready. We will have our usual high quality program aimed at bringing together discussion, innovation and best practice from the Drugs and Alcohol testing industry leaders and experts from across the globe. The program is already shaping up to be a fantastic and diverse line up of relevant experts and topics.

IFDAT are very aware that costs around the globe are increasing due to the numerous events affecting the global economy. So, with that in mind, we have decided to freeze our pricing structures to be the same as 2024.  We hope this will go a little way to help our community – both Delegates and Sponsors.

Delegate packages: (including “early bird” discounts available for a limited time only – so be quick to secure savings!)

As usual, we are pleased to offer discounted pricing to our IFDAT community that are current members of our partner organisations ( https://ifdat.com/partners/ ).

  • Non-Member conference attendee package – $470.00 (Early Bird discount price of $400.00 available until 30th June 2026)
  • Partner-Member conference attendee package – $395.00 (Early Bird discount price of $325.00 available until 30th June 2026)

As we update the website, you will again be able to book and pay for DELEGATE packages (including the Celebration Dinner & Networking Event – always sold out every year) directly via our secure booking/payment links. In the meantime – please email info@ifdat.com to secure your place. All places are secured on a “first come – first served” basis – so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Sponsorship packages are now available to book (please note: some spaces have already been secured).

Details of what each package includes will be the same as IFDAT2024 and will be published on our website.

  • PLATINUM – $9975.00
  • GOLD – $4900.00
  • SILVER – $2500.00

As we update the website, you will again be able to book and pay for SPONSORSHIP packages directly via our secure booking/payment links. In the meantime – please email info@ifdat.com to secure your place. Again, these will be secured and allocated on a “first come – first served” basis. So please secure your spot NOW to ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunities to support and showcase your business/organisation at the leading International Conference for those interested in Drugs & Alcohol Policy, Training, Testing and Support Industry across the globe.

We are just awaiting final details from the venue and their partner hotels to be able to release “discount code links” for accommodation (booked on a “first come first served basis”). However, rest assured that we have chosen the location of the conference to allow for alternative accommodation within easy distance to suit all budgets.

Whether you have attended and IFDAT conference before, or if this will be your first time, you will be ensured of a warm welcome by the whole community. IFDAT2026 will allow you to attend invaluable educational presentations and discussions, network with the industry’s finest, make new friends and catch up with old ones!

So make sure you follow IFDAT (on LinkedIn) and sign up for our newsletter (via the website) to ensure you are one of the first to know as more details are released.

We look forward to seeing you in Dublin.

Thank you for all your support from all of the IFDAT team!

Unfortunately, we are unable to display the brochure or program from this year. Apologies for any inconvenience.