PLATFORM - Key Persons
Abigail is the policy guru at Platform, organising and writing submissions, analysing research and strategic policy and frameworks, and engaging with our members and wider stakeholders on challenges impacting the mental health and addiction NGO and community sector.
Her recent background is in mental health and addiction research, with specific expertise in mental health and addiction data and lived experience-led stigma and discrimination programmes. She has a passion for ensuring equity within the wider social system and ensuring the lived experience voice is front and centre.
Her personal interests include all things outdoors - gardening, walking, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing. She is also a major bookworm and loves writing.
Deb has over three decades of leadership and governance experience working in mental health & addiction services and is currently the Director at Whakaata Tohu Tohu | Mirror Services based in Ōtepoti. Deb has been pivotal in addressing gaps in service provision across the southern district, developing a range of initiatives for tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau, so they can achieve their full potential. She is the Co-Chair of the National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) and has a particular interest in ‘ethics' in counselling practice & serves on the NZAC Ethics Committee.
Deb brings lived experience of addiction and understands the successes & challenges of recovery. She remains attuned to the current issues experienced by those facing the impacts of addiction and continues to be strategic & advocate for responsive approaches & support.
Deb is married and is raising her granddaughter; she enjoys keeping fit & staying connected to her community.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer of MASH Trust
Dr Karleen Edwards is the current chief executive officer of MASH Trust. She has worked for seven years in health management roles in Australia, including as the chief executive of the Commission for Hospital Improvement and as chief executive of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service. Before that, she held several roles in health in Canterbury. Dr Edwards trained as a psychiatrist and has an MBChB from Otago University and a Master of Business Administration from Canterbury University.
Gemma has been working in the mental health and addiction sector for over 15 years. She has held a range of roles, but now focuses on the lived experience sector. Gemma has been a peer support worker, managed a peer support and advocacy NGO, and worked on national documents for the Consumer, Peer Support and Lived Experience workforce. She currently provides lived experience consulting and contracting services through her organisation, Changem.
Gemma lives in Dunedin with her eight-year-old son.
Job Titles:
- Member Engagement Co - Ordinator
Kate is the Member Engagement Co-ordinator at Platform Trust. She engages with our members, coordinates events, and leads the expansion of Platform's reach and support for NGO and community organisations working in mental health and addiction.
Kate has a broad knowledge and skill set in administration, coordination and customer service coming from a background in medical administration, and corporate travel consulting.
Her personal interests are cooking, walking, and travelling. Kate and her partner have a young baby and a stepdaughter who she loves spending time with.
Kristina Sofele is of Tongan descent, she has over 20 years of experience in statutory social work, community development, organisation and management from her work in government & community organisations. Currently she is National Operations Manager for Pacific NGO Vaka Tautua, working in areas of Mental Health & Addictions, Disability, Older Peoples and Financial Capability.
Kristina is married with three children and has three beautiful grandchildren. She is very involved in her church and Tongan community through organised sports and youth services.
"I'm looking forward to this new role on Platform|Atamira Board and working together with these wonderful people to reach to our Pacific communities."
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Health Executive
Memo is a health executive with substantial leadership and management experience in the New Zealand and United Kingdom health systems. He has substantial background, knowledge and understanding of mental health and addictions systems and services having trained as mental health nurse and a clinical nurse specialist in cognitive behavioural therapy in the United Kingdom.
Memo has collectively served over 20 years as a Chief Executive within the health sector having successfully led significant change and growth in a variety of health-related settings including mental health and addiction. He also has substantial experience at a governance level.
Memo says working for Platform|Atamira is a privilege and an honour to contribute to the collective and meaningful efforts of the Mental Health and Addictions (MH&A) NGO and community sector. The capability and value of this sector in supporting people with mental health distress and addiction in the community is the backbone of the MH&A system. Often, this is understated and not widely celebrated.
Memo is married with two children, now young adults. Memo lives in Whanganui, the place he calls paradise. His personal interests or hobbies include gardening, playing squash and tennis, travelling, flying, and cooking recipes from around the world. He is a football fanatic, used to play and coach, and now enjoys officiating as a football referee.
Michael has worked for The Salvation Army in New Zealand for 23 years with more than 15 years dedicated to leadership in the Addictions and Mental Health Sector in a variety of roles. He is currently The Salvation Army Bridge National Operations Manager AOD Services.
Michael has considerable experience in developing and leading the direct delivery of addiction services in both regional and national settings, has previously held the position of Co-Chair Navigate South and is currently also a member of the Navigate North executive.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Equip Mental Health
Naomi joined Platform|Atamira as a Trustee in 2012. She has previously held the position of Platform Chair.
"I'm involved with Platform|Atamira because I believe that when providers work together collaboratively we can end up achieving better services and outcomes for individuals and their families. With Platform, large and small organisations can all sit equally around the table and support one another as well as innovate together."
Naomi is currently CEO of Equip Mental Health services in Auckland and has held positions as a mental health support worker, youth worker and a presenter at the Parenting Place.
Outside of work, Naomi enjoys spending time with her three children and husband.
Phyllis was raised among her whanau in Ngāti Awa and Te Arawa strongly connected to her whakapapa, whanau, whenua. She understands and can apply Matauranga (Te Ao Māori) in practice, and the work that she does. Phyllis has had extensive experience in working with Māori frameworks and models of care. A trained trainer in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and versed in the application of Te Tiriti in practice. Also trained in Quality Assurance albeit some time ago.
Phyllis has had the privilege of participating in local regional and national Māori mental health developments, and during this time, provide leadership and support to the establishment of regional Māori mental health developments.
Phyllis has supported development at local regional and national levels and has worked on committee's and advisory boards in mental health, addiction, suicide prevention, Māori Health, and general health. She is a community member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and a member of the national mental health and addictions partnership group, a member of Te Kaunihera Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). Phyllis currently works with Emerge Aotearoa.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Occupational Therapist
Sally originally trained as an occupational therapist and has spent many years in leadership roles across the mental health and social services sectors in NZ and the UK. In 2014, she became the Chief Executive of Pathways, a national provider of community-based mental health and wellbeing services.