Our People

Sue is passionate about supporting the workforce to improve outcomes for those affected by addiction. She has a long history working in addictions as a practitioner, youth practitioner, manager and advisor.

Position Executive Director

Born in Wellington, Kat has resided on the Kāpiti Coast for the last 28 years. With a heart for community, Kat spends her free time coaching premier netball as well as playing and likes to get creative with painting and craft projects. Whānau is a huge part of Kat’s life and she enjoys spending time with her friends, partner, family and young daughter.

Position Office Manager

Karen and her husband recently immigrated from South Africa to windy Wellington. Karen is an avid cat lover, she is loving life in beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Position Registrar

Ian has 47 years in addictions, including working with homeless,  in half-way houses, community detoxification,  community treatment services. He was at the set-up of the National Addiction Centre, Kina Trust, and as the Executive Director of dapaanz for 13 years and is in private practice, serves on various professional panels including the addiction experts panel for the Health & Disability Commissioner. 

Position Complaints Convener

executive board

Ben is National Youth Services Advisor for Odyssey, Auckland and the New Zealand Drug Foundation. He has a passion for empowering communities and supporting rangatahi to build on their resiliency and expand their views of who they can become. Ben is a Registered Practitioner and Accredited Supervisor.

Position Chair

Dr Denise Blake has engaged in the social justice sector as consumer, health professional and researcher for over 20 years. She currently works at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University where her work in the social justice space informs her commitment to the welfare of vulnerable populations both withn a disaster context and more generally.

Selina is Operations Manager Nova Star, Christchurch. She has been an addiction practitioner for a number of years and is a Registered Practitioner and Accredited Supervisor.

Mike has worked in the addiction and mental health field for the past 15 years and is registered with DAPPANZ as an AOD Practitioner and Accredited Clinical Supervisor. He has extensive experience working within hospital settings including the Regional Forensic and Rehabilitation Service in Porirua (Te Korowai Whariki) and the Acute Inpatient Ward at Wellington Hospital. Mike has run several groups within the community, Probation Service and he currently delivers a contract with Ministry of Justice in Wellington.

Suzy has lived experience of addiction and long term recovery.  In early recovery, Suzy trained as a social worker and worked for several years as part of the Community AIDS Resource Team supporting people living with and affected by HIV.  During her time with CART, Suzy trained as a counsellor and went on to work as a practitioner in the addiction sector for fifteen years. She has worked in a range of services including Higher Ground Residential Drug Treatment centre, and Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Service. Today Suzy is he Project Lead with responsibility for consumer projects with Matua Raḵi, the Aotearoa, New Zealand National Addiction Workforce Development Centre within Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui.

Paul has over 25 years experience in the field as a counsellor for NSAD, a facilitator for after-care, facilitator for PGF relapse prevention, lecturer in addiction studies and DAPAANZ supervisor. He is passionate about practice and integrating the arts with therapy.

Debby is Programme Manager,  Odyssey (Auckland), with a main focus on coordinating the Counties Manukau AOD Provider Collaborative. She has worked in the addiction treatment sector for 20 years in a variety of roles. Debby is a Standard Member.

Takurua Tawera is Pou Whakarae for dapaanz. The Pou Whakarae role is nominated by the Māori caucus and has voting rights on the dapaanz board. Takurua works at Moana House, Dunedin as Pou Whakahaere. He is a registered practitioner.