Leadership
Douglas La Rose, Executive Director
Douglas La Rose is an international development leader, anthropologist, and trade advocate with more than 20 years of experience advancing agriculture, market systems, and global value chains across Africa, the Pacific, Europe, and the United States.
Since joining the Kava Coalition as Executive Director in 2025, Douglas has led efforts to advance the responsible growth of the kava industry through education, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. He works closely with Pacific Island governments, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to strengthen quality standards, expand market opportunities, and promote greater recognition of kava's cultural, economic, and wellness value.
Thought Leaders
The Kava Coalition's Thought Leaders are respected voices from across the kava industry — growers, exporters, and entrepreneurs — who lend their expertise and perspective to help inform the Coalition's work and elevate the conversation around kava's future.
Dr Simon Gellar is a criminologist, lecturer and qualitative researcher whose work focuses on kava, public policy, regulation and the social construction of risk. His doctoral research at the University of Kent examined the cross-cultural consumption of kava in the United Kingdom, United States and Vanuatu, with particular attention to cultural practice, health narratives, regulation and public perceptions of harm.
Simon heads the UK Kava Coalition, which is seeking to establish a lawful and proportionate regulatory pathway for the return of kava to the United Kingdom. The Coalition is pursuing this through scientific and regulatory research, policy engagement, collaboration with food-safety specialists, Pacific representatives and kava-producing countries, and the development of evidence-based standards for safe, high-quality kava products.
Drawing on his experience in academic research, university teaching and regulated scientific environments, Simon contributes to policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, briefing development, and public communication. His work also seeks to ensure that Pacific knowledge, cultural practice and the interests of diaspora communities are properly represented within UK regulatory debate.
Dr. Simon Gellar
Director of UK Kava Coalition
Marina Castillo
Founder of The Modern Mocktail, and creator of Bula Boss
Marina Castillo is the founder of The Modern Mocktail and creator of Bula Boss: turnkey booze free bars and bottle shops, a proven operating system giving kava bar owners the SOPs, training, HR infrastructure, and hands-on guidance needed to build sustainable, well-run businesses. Her background spans over a decade in the beverage and bar industry, including helping dozens of bars open from scratch and guiding several to expand, franchise, or surpass $1M in annual revenue.
As founder of the Arizona Kava Coalition and a Fractional COO within the kava industry, Marina has built resources that help operators navigate health department issues and advocate for their businesses, work that now extends through her involvement with the Global Kava Coalition, connecting operators to a network of lawyers, scientists, and advocates for regulatory and compliance support.
Marina also hosts the podcast Mocktails with Marina, where she brings that same commitment to kava education, business operations, and industry advocacy to a wider audience.
Tevita "Tex" Cavubati
Community Ambassador UK & Pacific Diaspora
Tevita "Tex" Cavubati is a Fiji international rugby lock and one of the Kava Coalition's strongest voices in the United Kingdom. Born in Suva, he has earned 30 caps for Fiji since his debut against Tonga in 2011, and has built a professional career across four countries — Tasman Makos in New Zealand, the Ospreys in Wales, Worcester Warriors, Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins in England, and Perpignan in France. He now coaches at Old Colfeians Rugby Football Club.
Off the field, Tex is a passionate advocate for kava and a leading representative of the UK's Fijian community. Working with the Kava Coalition, he has introduced young athletes to the tanoa — creating space to sit, drink, and talanoa about the pressures they carry, their challenges and their goals. His focus is on giving young people a healthy, culturally grounded way to socialise and reflect, and on carrying the traditions of the Pacific into the communities that now hold them abroad.
Mike Salem
Senior Advisor, UK Government Affairs
Mike Salem is Senior Political Adviser for UK Government Affairs at the UK Kava Coalition, where he works on public policy, regulatory engagement, and stakeholder relations.
An LSE PPE graduate and former Secretary of the Hayek Society, Mike has a background in consumer advocacy and regulatory affairs, including experience as UK Country Associate at the Consumer Choice Center. He is a strong advocate for freedom of choice and evidence-based policymaking across issues ranging from lifestyle and consumer policy to technology. He also regularly provides political and policy commentary to English- and Arabic-language media.
At the UK Kava Coalition, Mike engages with policymakers and public officials to promote greater understanding of kava and its historic, cultural, diplomatic, and economic significance. He works with diplomats, members of the armed forces, athletes, and other stakeholders to build support for the legal and regulated access to kava in the UK.
Outside his professional work, Mike serves on the Parochial Church Council of his local parish church, the governing body of a local secondary school, and committees supporting his local orchestra and tennis club. He enjoys tennis and skiing.Off the field, Tex is a passionate advocate for kava and a leading representative of the UK's Fijian community. Working with the Kava Coalition, he has introduced young athletes to the tanoa — creating space to sit, drink, and talanoa about the pressures they carry, their challenges and their goals. His focus is on giving young people a healthy, culturally grounded way to socialise and reflect, and on carrying the traditions of the Pacific into the communities that now hold them abroad.