Senior Leadership Team
Kathryn Jones
Kathryn has extensive experience in the health and disability sector in New Zealand, having worked in general management and national business development roles. She has been responsible for long-term strategic planning in relation to community care services both in New Zealand and the UK.
As CEO, Kathryn leads and manages over 200 employees, and over 30 specialist health and medical contractors delivering contracts and services over $12 million per annum to more than 900 clients at any given time.
Kathryn’s background also includes membership of a number of sector representative groups at a national level including: Executive Committee member of the New Zealand Home Health Association, member of the former Canterbury DHB Quality and Patient Safety Council, Canterbury DHB Disability Steering Group, Chair of the Ministry of Health NGO Health and Disability Council, and Executive of the National Rehabilitation Providers Group. She also holds a number of governance roles and is a Trustee for the Arts Integrated Trust.
Kirsty MacDonald
Prior to relocating to New Zealand from Australia in January 2020, Kirsty held senior leadership and clinical positions in Occupational Therapy services at Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth Hospitals in Western Australia. She has worked in a range of clinical areas spanning 20 years, across acute, sub-acute and community settings. Kirsty has also worked extensively in the disability field, coordinating the Community Aids and Equipment Program and working with senior policy advisors and the Chief Health Professions officer to increase capacity of the health services in Western Australia to support clients in interacting with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Alison Klopper
Alison is responsible for providing HR services across the Trust. Alison brings more than 20 years’ experience delivering HR solutions in the Health and Disability sector to her role at the Trust.
In her role Alison provides consultative and operational support on matters such as recruitment best practice, remuneration, payroll, organisational development and performance as well as a strategic focus developing HR strategies and policy that assists the Trust in meeting our client’s needs.
Melissa Trafford
Melissa is a registered social worker with lived experience, insight, skills and knowledge of both the Health and Disability sectors. Melissa has a range of experience with a strong foundation in, and commitment to enhancing the quality of service delivery while empowering those around us.
As Residential Services Manager, Melissa is responsible for the day to day leadership of support workers and manages all non-clinical service delivery across multiple sites. Melissa is a member of the Residential leadership team and works in collaboration with the Clinical Manger to ensure all care and needs are met.
Melissa works alongside vulnerable people and groups, ensuring they are supported to build connections in a strength-based manner. She practices with the goals of improving service, quality of life, building strength, resilience and helping clients to maintain contact with their social worlds, family and friends. Melissa recognises and appreciate the responsibility she has to work both ethically and professionally and to practice multi-culturally.
Janine Kilmartin
Janine is the General Manager Residential Services and leads teams in our residential service and community home support teams. Janine was born and raised in Canterbury, originally training and working as a Radiographer but then moving into health management roles, working in the health sector for 30 years.
Janine has a strong background in relationship and contract management from working at ACC and more recently Te Whatu Ora Health NZ. Janine also has a wealth of experience in Regional and National Management and thrives on building high performing teams with a continuous improvement approach. Janine is interested in innovations to improve experiences for residents and staff and is excited to explore how Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust can lead the way.
Pat Hopkins
As Clinical Manager of the community team, Pat brings over 30 years’ experience working in and leading interdisciplinary teams, within hospital and community settings.
Since qualifying as a physiotherapist and completing hospital rotations she has worked mainly in community-based neuro rehabilitation including two years in Michigan, USA. She has completed competency based international courses in vestibular rehabilitation and has a particular interest in concussion management.
In her current role she supports delivery of high-quality services by the community team ensuring that we are meeting and exceeding the service requirements of our contracts.
Jasmine Harris
With accumulated experience in London and Sydney, as well as locally, spanning various sectors and over 20 years, Jasmine is responsible for the marketing and communications of the organisation.
Jasmine enjoys the process of strategic planning, aligning marketing efforts to help to achieve the overall goals of the organisation, and then following through to execution and delivery of projects. She also has a special in interest in internal communications and how, when done well, it can positively impact the culture of an organisation.
Jasmine has a passion for health and disability and is thrilled to be able to use her skills in the not-for-profit sector.
Rachael Haldane
Rachael as worked as a Registered Nurse over the past 20years, predominantly in rehabilitation, paediatrics and community nursing. Rachael was a clinical nurse specialist with Nurse Maude for 10yrs, during which time she completed a Master of Nursing (Clinical). Following this work Rachael worked as a project manager and business analyst, before returning to her passion; clinical nursing
As Clinical Manager, Rachael is responsible for supporting the nursing team to ensure that our clients maintain a social model of care that is supplemented by quality nursing/clinical support as required. Rachael works in collaboration with both our residents and our team, to ensure that we are supporting our clients to access and live their best lives.
Nicole Vercoe
As Clinical Manager of the Assessment Services team, Nicole brings fourteen years’ experience working in and leading interdisciplinary teams, within hospital and community settings.
Since qualifying as a Physiotherapist Nicole worked as a rotational therapist in both Dunedin and Christchurch before becoming a permanent therapist in the Spinal Injuries Unit at Burwood. Here Nicole began her journey into leadership as the Clinical Team Leader. Since moving to Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust, she has worked seeing clients under both rehabilitation contracts and assessment services. She has a passion for Spinal Cord Injuries and helping these clients to live fulfilling lives.
Nicole was the Clinical Lead for Physiotherapy prior to moving into the role of Clinical Manager.
In her current role she supports delivery of multiple assessment contracts, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and that we are attaining and exceeding the service requirements of our contracts.
Katie Hodge
Katie has over 30 years’ experience working with people who have had Traumatic Brain Injuries. She first qualified in the UK with a Bsc (Hons) degree in Speech Pathology and worked in several different facilities as a Speech Language Therapist.
Since emigrating to New Zealand in the late 1990s she has continued to work in both clinical and managerial capacities. Katie is now responsible for managing all the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust’s rehabilitation services, (Community & Intensive Inpatient). Providing training, education and driving research is also key to the role.
She is passionate about providing a centre of excellence for all those people and their families who are experiencing the challenges of life with a brain injury, from a concussion to a severe injury.
Sarah Barham
Sarah qualified as a general registered nurse in 1987 and has since completed numerous post-graduate qualifications, including a strategic leadership course, as part of the MBA Programme at UC.
Sarah prefers working in nurse-led units and has pursued this throughout her career. Working in these units, she has seen firsthand how good quality nurse-led, person-centered care can make such a difference to a person’s life.
Sarah works with the nursing team and together they support and advocate for our clients to ensure they enjoy the best health possible. Sarah aims to keep nursing low key, in the background, helping to ensure our clients get the very best out of life.
Anneke Duyvestyn
Anneke is a registered Speech-language therapist/Kaiwhakatika i te Reo Kōrero with experience working across a number of health and disability settings, having worked in a number of clinical and leadership roles in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
She first worked with pediatrics in Wellington before moving to Melbourne, Australia, and working as a clinician and clinical lead under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Anneke then spent time working in the NHS in London before returning home to Aotearoa and working for Counties Manukau District Health Board, followed by working as National Manager for a private community rehabilitation company. Anneke returned to Ōtautahi/Christchurch and joined the LFBIT team in October 2022.
As service manager of Living my Life, Anneke leads a team of Key Workers and Rehab Coaches who work in the community to support kiritaki/clients with brain injury and run our in-house Reconnect Groups.
Anneke is passionate about people with Brain Injury and enabling them to have every opportunity to be part of their communities and participate in the everyday activities that are important to them.
Basil Paul
Our head chef Basil brings a flair of cuisine into action preparing nutritious and delicious meals for both our residential clients and for our popular Can Do Catering service. His passion for food and people ensures our clients have a memorable meal every time.
Basil has more than 10 years’ experience, working for luxury hotels, local restaurants and airline catering around New Zealand and Southern India. He incorporates this into his extensive menu choices, creating a wide variety of healthy, nutritious food.
Leah Teschner
Leah has worked for the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust (LFBIT) for five years and is a Senior Clinical Psychologist. Her work with LFBIT involves assessing the rehabilitation needs of clients following injury and collaboratively, alongside the client and interdisciplinary team, developing a client focussed treatment plan. The role of psychology in brain injury rehabilitation is focussed on supporting clients to adjust to their injury related needs.
Leah leads the Behavioural Support Service (BSS) at LFBIT. BSS deals with extremely complex clients who are not achieving their rehabilitation goals. These clients often engage in externalising behaviours, leading to withdrawal of services. The BSS intervention is focused upon working systemically developing behaviour plans to support the client in being an active participant in their treatment plan. This often involves staff training and family education and support, alongside individual sessions with the client.
Prior to working at LFBIT, Leah worked predominantly in forensic environments in the UK with adult males and youth who engaged in offending behaviour. Since moving to New Zealand, she has worked in forensics, addictions, adolescent mental health, adult mental health and physical rehabilitation. Her variety in work experience has afforded her the opportunity to work with clients on an individual basis, with their family and/or partners and in group settings. She is passionate about her role and believes it is a great privilege to assist people to find ways to alleviate their challenges and achieve their full potential.
Linda Prattley
Linda brings 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist to her role of Clinical Lead OT. She has worked in a range of different practice areas including inpatient and community settings in both the UK and NZ. Her special areas of interest are concussion and brain injury rehabilitation with experience in all areas including vocational rehabilitation and visual rehabilitation.
Linda maintains a clinical load while also supporting and developing our skilled team of experienced Occupational Therapists. Linda enjoys supporting our clients at all stages of recovery to achieve the best outcomes they can.
Delwyn Eden
Del has over 15 years of experience as a Speech-Language Therapist, holding a BSLT, 1st class honours and a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science, with distinction. She has worked in a variety of inpatient and community settings in NZ and the UK, working with clients with neurological disorders.
Del is passionate about concussion and brain injury rehabilitation, supporting clients and whānau in their recovery journey. She has a clinical load and also mentors our SLT team. Del also enjoys being involved in organisation-wide projects, including leading the publication of a book with client stories about brain injury.
Leanne Leadbetter
Leanne has worked in community rehabilitation her whole career, in particular she has specialist skills in dealing with different aspects of a client’s life, following a spinal cord injury. She has worked in hospital settings and private practice both in NZ and abroad.
Leanne is a professional problem solver, and enjoys finding ways for clients to reach their goals to improve their quality of life. Her clients often present with a number of medical conditions, which has allowed Leanne to broaden her clinical experience to solve complex mobility issues for a range of ages and disability groups including brain injury and other physical injuries.
Leanne has a background in health service development and approached LFBIT to develop a Mobility Hub clinic-based service, to bring together a dedicated passionate team of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. This team approach is a unique way to work within ACC Assessment contracts allowing clients to access different services and specialist equipment in the one location.
Val Sandston
Val brings over 40 years of rehab nursing experience to our organisation, having worked in spinal injuries, managing a rest-home and coordinating a district nursing service.
Val brings with her passion and enthusiasm to her role and she supports clients and their families on their journey to recovery.
Sophie Health
Stuart Anderson
Robyn Cowan
Scott Deans
Marcus Braun
Marcus has been working in the food & hospitality industry for over 35 years.
Throughout his career he has gained experience working in top hotels, bakeries, restaurants & catering companies as well as running his own business and teaching at ARA Institute for 15 years as a program coordinator.
Marcus also consults for Anchor food professionals and Barker’s professionals, developing recipes, and working with key stakeholders and customers to help develop successful businesses.