SPEAKERS

Holly Kostrzewski says with a smile, “I did not choose my career, my career chose me!”

Holly’s path forever changed, when at the age of 18 she sustained a life-changing traumatic brain injury, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Significant challenges followed, during her ongoing recovery.

Through faith, determination, tenacity, a positive attitude, and a great sense of humour, Kostrzewski graduated college with honours, went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health, and completed coursework and is ABD for a PhD in Public Health/Community Health. Holly works in preventing road crashes during her day job.

In 2014, Holly’s family faced a new challenge. Holly’s father sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury in 2014 and is cared for at home by family.

Holly has been consistently named one of the top presenters at brain injury conferences in the United States and Canada, medical professional conferences, correctional institutions, colleges, and high schools. Holly is the founder of HUGS: Helmet Use and Grab your Seatbelt; a brain injury education and prevention program for children.

After taking a break of nearly a decade from public speaking to concentrate on her career and graduate school, Holly is back with a new perspective based on living with a brain injury over time. Through her frank and entertaining presentations, Holly will explain the challenges she has encountered in living with a brain injury including challenges related to working, dating, seizures, and how grief and trauma have affected her life. Holly will also review how she faced the issues and helped herself succeed. In addition, Holly will share the journey she and her family have travelled through her traumatic brain injury and resulting fractured self, and her father’s spinal cord injury, hospitalisation, rehab, and associated every day challenges for her father and her family.

To date, Holly has reached over 700,000 people with her message of hope, humour, and inspiration.

Dr Maegan VanSolkema is the professional lead for speech language therapy at ABI Rehabilitation.  She has worked within traumatic brain injury (TBI) for nearly 20 years.  Her research and passions are cognitive communication disorders.  She also is the expert adviser for TBI for the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA). 

Associate Professor Deborah Snell is a clinician scientist and neuropsychologist who has worked in neurological rehabilitation for more than 25 years, both clinically and in research. She leads a team of experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)  clinician researchers with strong networks and a track record together of clinical and research experience.

Garry Whittaker has been the Regional Manager for Training Services within the NSW Department of Education since 2014 with over 30 years’ experience as a learning and development professional having previously held roles with NSWTAFE, Australian Federal Police, NSW Corrective Services, NSW State Emergency Service and Charles Sturt University developing, implementing and delivering learning programs and workforce development solutions. In 2020 Garry suffered a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) resulting in aphasia – an acquired impairment of language generating marked difficulties in naming and word-finding abilities – and epilepsy. Following the injury Garry used an evidence-based cognitive computerised brain training routine integrating cognitive neuroscience along with the standard allied health practices and support into his vocational rehabilitation and successful return-to-work strategies.  He is now a passionate advocate for how wellbeing can be enhanced by including brain fitness in everyday living to maintain and enhance our cognitive health.

Originally trained as a secondary school teacher, Alan found the world of disability support services his real calling. He has worked in the sector for over twenty years. He is a Rehabilitation Coach with Laura Fergusson Trust Wellington working with clients with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries.

Alan is a member of the “dsport” Board. “dsport” is a regional disability sport organisation in Wellington and is underpinned by the principles of inspire, enable, achieve. Between 2015-2023, he was Chair, and now holds the position of Treasurer.

An active Para athlete, Alan represented dsport in Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Basketball and remains a keen supporter of all dsport sports teams. Recently Alan was model for “WOW” breaking down barriers for disabled people in the visual and performing arts.

Annette G. Heward-Swale, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering, focuses on the testing and evaluation of rugby headgear, ensuring the efficacy of protective equipment to reduce injury risks in contact sports, with an emphasis on practical applications for improving athlete safety.

The research team consists of Professor Nick Draper, Dr. Natalia Kabaliuk, Dr. George Stilwell, and Annette G. Heward-Swale. Professor Draper, a long-time researcher at the University of Canterbury, has extensive experience in elite sport, including Olympic-level coaching and junior rugby. His research focuses on translating findings into practical solutions, particularly for injury prevention in youth rugby. Dr. Natalia Kabaliuk brings expertise in bioengineering and biomechanics, focusing on mitigating traumatic brain injuries (TBI) through the development of innovative protective equipment. Dr. George Stilwell, Senior Tutor, specialises in the design and development of rugby headgear, applying mechanical design principles to improve safety equipment and reduce head impact forces.

Tori Dent is one of five siblings and is a twin who lives in sunny Brisbane and is a thriver (not just a survivor) of a brain injury. Tori graduated in 2016 with a nursing degree and went on to work as a perioperative theatre nurse at Logan Hospital.

In 2014 Tori had her first exposure to what life with a brain injury looks like when her father experienced a TBI secondary to a fall. Little did she know that her own journey would start in 2020 when she was diagnosed with an undifferentiated brainstem lesion that would change the trajectory of her life. With unwavering determination and grit, Tori set out on a journey that defied the expectations of the medical team, learning to walk, talk, and swallow again — proving that sometimes, the only limits are the ones you refuse to accept.

With over 22 years of experience as a Speech Pathologist in neuro rehabilitation, Sarah is passionate about bringing an innovative, client-centred, and engaging approach to therapy. Sarah has
extensive experience across the rehabilitation continuum in New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Australia, working in diverse settings ranging from acute hospital care to community rehabilitation and subacute specialist brain injury rehabilitation units. Her roles have included working within the Brain Injury Rehab Trust’s challenging behaviour unit in Glasgow and Queensland’s specialist extended care brain injury unit, where she contributed to complex, interdisciplinary care.

Beyond her clinical skills, Sarah has led allied health teams in Scotland and Australia and is the Allied Health Manager for Amend Rehab in Brisbane. As a leader, Sarah believes in the power of a happy and motivated team to create meaningful change in the lives of clients.

Leanne Mathews is a Consultant Neuropsychologist with over a decade of experience in Neuropsychology. Trained in Australia she has a vast array of experience in community, hospital, mental health and forensic settings. Since coming from across the ditch she has worked in community rehabilitation, adult forensics and youth justice. 

Peta is a Clinician Researcher and Senior Speech Language Therapist at Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust (Canterbury) and Otago University, Christchurch.  She has over 12 years’ experience working in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation in the community and is passionate about using the latest evidence-based practices to support individuals to return to their pre-injury life roles and activities.  In addition to her clinical work, she has also been a guest lecturer on several occasions for the complex communication disorders paper at the University of Canterbury and presented research around the use of VR in rehabilitation at several conferences.  Her enthusiasm for sharing knowledge of how to better support people living with a TBI also extends to training sessions with community groups and staff from various agencies (e.g. Corrections, WINZ, ACC, He Waka Tapu).  Peta is also passionate about translational research that results in better outcomes for this population, their whānau and others supporting them.  This has led to her involvement with a Team undertaking an exciting research project involving a Virtual Reality Brain Injury Rehabilitation Tool.  The Tool was co-designed with people living with a TBI, their whānau and clinicians.  The positive outcomes from a recent trial of this Tool indicate its potential to offer a safe virtual space to increase awareness of cognitive changes, practice strategies and apply them as part of a community reintegration programme following a brain injury.   

Rebekah is a neurological and vestibular physiotherapist from Ōtautahi.

She has concentrated her practice on both central (brain) and peripheral vestibular disorders over the past 18 years and has seen this area of physiotherapy grow from very few physiotherapists having knowledge and expertise to many people taking an interest and undertaking further learning in this area.

Rebekah graduated from the University of Otago in 2000 with a Bachelor of physiotherapy. In 2003 she returned to the University of Otago and completed a Master of Physiotherapy endorsed in neurorehabilitation. It was during her Masters degree that she became a clinical tutor and ran the Balance Clinic at the School of Physiotherapy. It was there that she began her journey as a vestibular physiotherapist.

Following completion of her Masters degree, she moved to Christchurch where she opened her business Balance Works Physiotherapy focussing on vestibular disorders, concussion and other neurological conditions. She has trained a number of physiotherapists to provide vestibular physiotherapy services and prides herself in the high level of expertise she, her staff and mentees offer their patients.

Rebekah is now undertaking an PhD through the University of Otago (Christchurch Campus). She is looking at the relationship between vestibular issues, noise sensitivity (hyperacusis), and psychological factors as predictors of the length of time to recover among adults with mild traumatic brain injury. She is close to halfway through this research and looks forward to presenting her findings as she concludes her studies.

As a Specialist Physiotherapist, Rebekah is looking forward to assisting other physiotherapists and their clients to manage complex vestibular issues as well as the opportunity of growing Vestibular Physiotherapy in New Zealand.

Currently serving as the Disability Rights Commissioner for Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Prudence brings over 15 years of dedicated experience in human rights advocacy. With a career including her previous position as Chief Executive of the Disabled Persons Assembly of New Zealand, a Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO/OPD) and a number of rights, values and leadership based roles with a national disability service provider.

Prudence holds qualifications in management and Te Reo Māori and has 25 years of governance experience. Her background also includes extensive experience in customer service and in facilitation. With a strong foundation in social justice, Prudence is deeply committed to advancing equity for all people including Tāngata Whaikaha Māori, disabled people, and marginalized communities. As a disabled woman who also identifies as queer, Prudence draws from lived experience to support their work.  

In 1997 Prudence sustained a supposedly mild TBI. In 1999 she underwent surgery for a brain tumour, during which she experienced a brain stem haemorrhage. After rehabilitation and 15 years of dodgy walking Prudence realised things didn’t need to be as hard, she currently utilises a mobility scooter to enable her to participate more in society. Prudence continues to manage the cognitive, neurological, and physical impairments resulting from her injuries and will speak about disability rights perspective with sprinklings of personal anecdotes for emphasis”

Dr Christine Canty is a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist with a background in brain injury rehabilitation. Christine completed a combined PhD/Masters in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Melbourne, and has worked in a range of rehabilitation settings over 19 years, including inpatient, acute, subacute, community, psychiatric and forensic. She has lived and worked in Dunedin, New Zealand for the past four years. Christine has a passion for empowering multi-disciplinary team members to understand and apply neuropsychological knowledge to their work with clients with cognitive impairment and brain disorders.

Warren Cossou is a Speech and Language Therapist who has worked in specialist subacute brain injury rehabilitation centres and community settings (in the UK and NZ) for over 25 years before setting up his own private practice – Southern Speech – in 2022. Warren is a lifelong learner who enjoys working with multi-disciplinary teams to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients. Warren has always been fascinated by the interplay of neuroscience, linguistics, psychology , personality and culture in assessing and treating people with cognitive-communication disorders.

Katrina is the General Manager Wellbeing and Safety at Ngāi Tahu Holdings based in Ōtautahi.  Ngāi Tahu Holdings (NTH) is the operational arm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Ngāi Tahu Holdings is made up of four operational Business Units – Seafood, Farming and Forestry, Tourism and Property. Katrina has a team of 5 Advisors who support the Business Units.  The business units operate across Aotearoa and largely involve activities associated with the taonga of Aotearoa.

Katrina has 20 years’ experience in Health, Safety and Wellbeing in Aotearoa having also worked in the Agricultural, Construction, Aviation and Government sectors.  Katrina has New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) Professional Accreditation and is a passionate advocate for Health, Safety and Wellbeing.  Katrina is involved in several industry safety bodies and is committed to continuous self-improvement through learning and growing professionally and personally.

Katrina is a proud Nana to two mokopuna Pippa and Beau.  Whānau is central to maintaining Katrina’s overall wellbeing in amongst the busy-ness of daily life.

Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she’s a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 250 publications and global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring “The Better Brain,” a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, a free online course through EdX on Mental Health and Nutrition that has been taken by over 75,000 students, and receiving awards like the Ballin Award from the NZ Psychological Society, and being named three times as one of New Zealand’s top 100 influential women.

Duncan is a Tinnitus and Paediatric Specialist Audiologist with over 20 years of experience in NZ and Australia in most areas of Audiological practice. Duncan is an Audiologist because he used to suffer from tinnitus while playing professionally in bands, which has led to a Master’s thesis in Tinnitus management, and he has published research on the use of music as sound therapy for Tinnitus.  He is the facilitator of the NZ Tinnitus Community of Practice, a group of Audiologists with an interest in the clinical aspects of tinnitus management.  Previously the Charge Audiologist at Christchurch Hospital, he was part of the team behind the nationwide set-up of Newborn Hearing Screening in NZ, and has been an examiner for the NZ Audiological Society. Duncan has moderate hearing loss and uses hearing aids.

Duncan has an affinity for tinnitus and hyperacusis sufferers and a passion for helping them understand these conditions and the strategies they can use to reduce or eliminate them. He is actively involved in improving the health pathways for tinnitus sufferers to access appropriate tinnitus management advice.

Siobhan trained as a clinical neuropsychologist in the UK (Surrey and Glasgow).  She enjoyed over three years working with Prof Barbara Wilson and her team at the Oliver Zangwill Centre where she was introduced to IDT working using holistic biopsychosocial/ neuropsychological formulation in a group programme.  She then introduced this model of team formulation into residential programmes where she was based both in the UK and later in New Zealand.  Based in New Zealand for over 5 years, she currently works with the LFBIT community rehabilitation team providing assessment and intervention for individuals and their families after mild to severe brain injury.

Nic also trained in the UK as a clinical psychologist, and was fortunate to undertake a placement at the Rivermead Rehabilitation Centre, which fuelled her interest in Neuropsychology. She then moved to New Zealand in 2002, where she has specialised in neuropsychology for most of the last 20 years. Nic has been involved in the further development of neuropsychology as a specialist field in Aotearoa New Zealand. She set up the New Zealand Special Interest Group in Neuropsychology in 2011, and later worked with the Psychologists Board to help establish Neuropsychology as a scope of practice. She currently works as the Clinical Lead for Psychology for Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.

Sam Johnson is a renowned civic entrepreneur. He founded and built the Student Volunteer Army that today through seven universities and 240 schools is ready to show up and shovel anywhere in New Zealand. Sam is now Project’s Director at STILL, best known as the owners of the World of WearableArt, where he is leads ‘Paererewā – Markers for Reflection for 1000 Years’ – a social enterprise designed to create places to sit or rest around our country helping us think longer-term.

Sam sustained a serious and debilitating head injury in 2019. A simple Saturday morning gardening changed his life forever; leaving the former Communicator of the Year with a stutter, chronic headaches and the wonder if this will ever improve. Sam is excited to share his journey of recovery and some of the moments along the way.

Dr Helen Murray is a research fellow at the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research where she leads the brain injury and dementia research group. Her research explores the biological mechanisms that link repetitive head injuries and neurodegeneration using postmortem brain tissue donated to the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank. Dr Murray has also represented New Zealand in Ice Hockey since 2013 and captained the New Zealand Ice Fernz from 2016-2020.

Stephen is a former Fellowship trained GP  who has a long involvement in Sports Medicine, with 10+ years experience in rugby medicine having been Team Doctor for The Blues Super Rugby side, Auckland NPC, age grade national teams and Maori All Blacks Teams between 2004-2018. His interest in concussion stemmed from his involvement in rugby. He recently re-trained completing specialist training as a Sport and Exercise Physician through the Australasian College in November 2022, and now works at Axis Sports Medicine in Auckland. His clinical load is split between musculoskeletal/sports medicine injuries and concussion based work. He has several publications in the literature pertaining to sports-related concussion from a clinical perspective. He works as an Independent Concussion Consultant for World Rugby, NRL and ACC. He has been involved in the development of the 2024 released ACC Concussion Guidelines, High Performance Sport Concussion Collective for Sports-Related Concussion Management in Elite Sport and concussion initiatives within primary care around BIST screening tool, education and management pathways.

Stephen is currently Medical Director for Canoe Racing NZ and was part of the core medical team for the Paris Olympics 2024.

Kimberley Wade 

ATCL (Voice, BA, MMTH, NZRMTh is a neurologic music therapist, Clinical Director and Founder of Southern Music Therapy & Co-Founder of Cantabrainers Choir. In 2007 Kimberley completed her Masters in Music Therapy and has since worked in a variety of disability and health settings here in Canterbury.  Kimberley felt drawn to working clinically with people with neurological conditions. As a singer she has a real drive to inspire people to use music the assist in ‘finding their voice’; encouraging them to communicate, express themselves and connect with themselves.  Kimberley is involved in several new projects expanding Music Therapy in the Canterbury community, including research with Burwood Academy, key projects at BrainTree related to Music and the Brain, as well as new community initiatives with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Renata Kuswanto 

MT-BC, NZRMTh is a neurologic music therapist for Southern Music Therapy. After completing her undergraduate degree in Music Therapy in the USA, Renata landed her dream job right here at Southern Music Therapy, in Christchurch. Renata earned her board certification and received Neurologic Music Therapy training in 2022. She has worked with children and adults with Neuro-disability, intellectual disability, and developmental delay. Renata is now practicing full time in long-term neurorehabilitation facility, community, and specialist school in Christchurch.

Jarrod has been working as a transport occupational therapist for three years. Prior to taking on this role he worked with clients suffering from a range of physical and brain injuries which involved analysing task specific movement. These skills have translated well to completing driving assessments and vehicle modifications for people whose ability to drive has been impacted following an accident or injury. Jarrod enjoys presenting people with a means of returning to driving when they had thought they could never drive again due to physical impairment.

Margaret has worked as a transport occupational therapist for four years with over 40 years’ clinical practice working as an occupational therapist in hospital and community settings in New Zealand, UK and USA. Margaret has worked extensively in neurological rehabilitation, in particular traumatic brain injury and stroke rehabilitation, which she is able to apply to this new area of practice. Margaret enjoys the complex challenges of assisting people to participate in driving again, albeit in an adaptive way, after recovering from an injury that has impacted their ability to drive.

Lisa is CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Foundation.

The New Zealand Rugby Foundation champions the safety of all players in the game we love.

For nearly 40 years, the NZ Rugby Foundation has partnered with players who suffer a life changing injury. And we do a whole lot more.​​​​​​​

Our work centres on four key pillars:

• Support
• Prevention and research
• Advocacy
• Relationships

These pillars hold up the 147,000 registered rugby players in New Zealand who play one of our most loved sport. We are there from the moment a player steps out onto the pitch through to if the unimaginable happens and they suffer a life changing injury.

Lisa has held management positions in two of rugby’s powerhouses – South Africa and New Zealand. This has been across various aspects of the game spanning five Rugby World Cups. Diverse experience including international and national, managing individual players, PR, events, diplomacy, and logistics.

Moved to NZ in 2001 and blessed to call two counties home. Prior to joining the New Zealand Rugby Foundation team, I was privileged to be a part of the RWC 2011 management team and wondered if I’d ever love a role as much. Well, the New Zealand Rugby Foundation surpasses and then some.

“I respect sport as a powerful social catalyst. In our current world it is even more vital that sport remains relevant. It is a powerful tool in our fast-moving world and a healthy leveler.”

Josh completed his PhD in neuropsychology and clinical psychology training at Victoria University. He is registered under the NZ Psychologist Board Clinical Neuropsychology scope of practice. Josh has worked as a clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist in a range of clinical settings including adult and child mental health, TBI rehabilitation, paediatric and adult physical rehabilitation services. Josh completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in the TBI Network at Auckland University of Technology. Josh joined Victoria University of Wellington in 2022 and he co-leads the Neuropsychology Lab. He conducts research into neuropsychological assessment methods, neuroimaging, neurocognitive rehabilitation, and psychotherapy in neurological conditions. Josh has a particular interest in understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms that influence outcomes in mild traumatic brain injury and the application of Acceptance and Commitment therapy in acquired brain injury.

For over 25 years, Chandra has been instrumental in helping businesses worldwide implement accessible and user-friendly digital solutions. Drawing from her personal journey with chronic health issues and neurodivergence, combined with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction and extensive industry experience, Chandra provides practical strategies that create meaningful impact for diverse users.

As the owner and Managing Director of Access Advisors, Chandra leads a dedicated team of seven professionals focused on helping organizations understand the significant effects of poor design on user experience and business outcomes. Access Advisors specializes in delivering tailored training, comprehensive reviews, strategic guidance, and research services aimed at enhancing digital accessibility.

Chandra’s passion for and commitment to accessibility focuses on supporting clients on their own accessibility journeys. Her research interests centre on working with people with disabilities, ensuring that their perspectives are integral to innovative design solutions. She has presented her findings at international conferences, contributed chapters to academic books, and lectured at various respected universities in the UK. Chandra is also the New Zealand Country Advisor for the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. 

Additionally, Access Advisors operates the Access Panel—an initiative composed of disabled individuals from across the country. This panel not only raises awareness about the consequences of inadequate digital design but also provides valuable insights that help organizations improve their interface designs.

Outside of her professional commitments, Chandra juggles her family life as a daughter, wife, sister, and mother to two teenagers, alongside caring for an aging Springer Spaniel and a lonely Zebra Finch. When she can escape, she is most likely to be found looking for rocks on Canterbury beaches or taking photographs of mountains or clouds.

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.

Dr Jo Nunnerley is a clinical researcher working in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch and as a physiotherapist with ABI Rehabilitation.

Jo’s research centers around improving rehabilitation outcomes, with a strong focus on co-design and implementation.

Dr Ross Keenan is a well-regarded Neuroradiologist experienced in Adult, Paediatric, NeuroPET and spinal imaging. He also has expertise in general, musculoskeletal and cardiac radiology.

Dr Keenan is currently Lead Neuroradiologist at Christchurch Hospital. Additionally, he is Partner and Consultant Radiologist at Pacific Radiology that is part of the RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group, New Zealand’s largest private radiology provider.

Further, Dr Keenan is skilled in provision of medicolegal opinions and assessments, having over 25 years experience in this area.

After graduating from University of Otago, Dr Keenan commenced training in general and specialist radiology at leading Hospitals in the greater Auckland area. He then relocated to Australia and completed Fellowships in Paediatric Imaging at Adelaide Women’s and Children Hospital, and Neuroimaging at Flinders Medical Centre. From 1998 to 2003, he joined Medical Imaging Australasia Group (MIA) where took up appointment as Head of Department/Clinical Director at Royal Darwin Hospital. He was also responsible for inception of a Radiology – Cardiology Joint imaging service.

Dr Keenan has been involved in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching, both in Australia at Flinders University, and with the RANZCR Radiology Registrar Programme.

Dr Keenan is an extensively-published neuro and cardiac radiologist with a proven record in imaging research and has been widely published in medical and scientific journals.

Anneke is a registered Speech-Language Therapist/Kaiwhakatika i te Reo Kōrero with experience working across various health and disability settings, both in clinical and leadership roles in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She has worked as a clinician and clinical lead under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia as well working in the NHS in London before returning home to Aotearoa and working in Auckland for Te Whatu Ora/ Health NZ and then leading a private community rehab company. She joined the LFBIT team in October 2022 as Services Manager – Living my Life and Rehab Coaching. Anneke leads a team of Key Workers and Rehab Coaches who work in the community to support kiritaki/clients with TBI and run our in-house Reconnect Groups. Anneke is passionate about people with brain injury having everyday opportunities to be part of their communities and participate in the everyday activities that are important to them.

Kirsty is the General Manager of Rehabilitation at Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust in Christchurch, New Zealand. She thrives on coaching others to achieve their potential and leading service development and change management initiatives to enhance client care and organisational performance. Kirsty joined the leadership team at the Trust in 2020, shortly after relocating from Australia. Before this, she held senior leadership and clinical roles in Occupational Therapy services at Sir Charles Gairdner and Royal Perth Hospitals in Western Australia. With over 25 years of experience in health, disability and injury management across acute, sub-acute and community settings, Kirsty brings extensive knowledge and expertise to her role.

Steve Devine is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is a former All Black and international sevens player for Australia.

He played for Australia Under-21 before relocating to New Zealand. A loyal servant of Auckland rugby, he made 78 appearances for Auckland and 70 for the Blues in the Super 12 Rugby competition. He was eligible to play for New Zealand on residential grounds, and made his debut for the All Blacks on 9 November 2002, against England during the All Blacks end of year tour. He went on to play 10 tests for New Zealand, including the third/fourth place playoff in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Following a series of concussions and other injuries, and a very long recovery period to recover from his final on-field concussion (2 years), Steve was forced to retire from rugby in 2007. After retirement, Steve co-hosted a programme on New Zealand Sky TV called This Given Sunday, along with Karl Te Nana.

Steve is now a firefighter. In 2019, he revealed that he still suffers from migraines, extreme fatigue and light sensitivity due to the left pupil not being able to dilate properly.

Mel is the Operations and Community engagement manager for Way Finders navigation service. She has been with Way Finders since its inception, taking its first call in September 2019. Her background working as an occupational therapist in NZ and abroad, before joining ACC for 17 years, perfectly places her to apply her understanding of all things ACC within the context of people’s health and wellbeing needs. Way Finders holds the ACC navigation services contract and provides free and independent guidance to anyone seeking to understand ACC, how it ticks, and how its decisions affect all who use the system.

Sharlie Kennard is a Speech Language Therapist based in Dunedin, working in neuro rehabilitation and private SLT practice with both adult and paediatric clients. Sharlie’s interventions are focussed on activities of daily living and client centred goals.

Bryony Matthews is a singer and songwriter based in Otautahi, who writes unique considered, lyrics-focussed music that sits in the genre of alternative pop.  Her second album ‘We’re All The Same’ was released in 2023 and was taken on tour through New Zealand. Just two months after the album release she sustained a severe brain injury in a scooter accident. Her third album will be about her experiences through her recovery from this.  Bryony will share her story through her music and photography, illustrating moments throughout her journey.

Neeka Aicken

Ko Te Poho o Tamatea  tōku maunga, Ko Whakaraupo te moana, Ko Takitimu tōku waka, Ko Kai Tahu tōku iwi, Nō Horomaka ahau, Engari, I tipu ake au ki Waihōpai , Ko Neeka Aicken tōku ingoa

Neeka is a NZ trained and registered occupational therapist with 20 years work experience. Now based in Southland, she is working in private practice for Advantage South providing rehabilitation services under Accident Compensation Corporation and private insurance contracts. She has worked across a wide range of healthcare and education settings in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Sandra Johnstone

Sandra is the proud step-mother of a daughter with a brain injury.  She has previously worked in the banking industry for 20 years before deciding in 2018 to reduce her work hours to concentrate on supporting Tori in working towards living a fulfilling, independent life.

Graduating as a physiotherapist from the University of Otago in 2008, Brendon specialised in spinal injury management for the majority of his clinical career at the Burwood Spinal Unit. He led teams in the Spinal, Brain Injury, and Stroke Units at Burwood before joining UniMed in 2022 as Clinical Advisor and Lead.

Outside of work, Brendon is a passionate athlete who sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2010 while training for the 2011 two-day Coast to Coast multisport race, an event he still went on to compete in less than a year later. His lived experience has provided him with an invaluable perspective, enriching both his personal and professional life.

Hi, I’m Nikki Sainsbury, a craniosacral therapist and mother of three. In 2022, I experienced a life-changing traumatic brain injury, which sent me on a journey of profound healing. My recovery has been a blend of traditional therapy and my deep understanding of healing neuroplasticity and energetic spirituality. With the help of excellent therapists, I embraced a holistic approach, tapping into the brain’s ability to rewire itself. I worked on rewiring my thought patterns, using mindfulness practices and the gentle self techniques of craniosacral therapy and yoga. This approach helped me recover both physically and mentally, allowing me to heal at my own pace.

Energetic spirituality has been central to my journey. I relied on meditation, visualization, and aligning my energy with the universe to connect with my body’s innate healing power. Engaging with my therapists, who helped me so much with what I needed in cognitive rehabilitation and psychological therapy. These practices gave me the emotional balance and inner peace I needed to stay grounded and focused on my recovery.

With the unwavering support of my therapists, family, and my knowledge of mind-body connection, I’ve slowly regained my strength. This journey has deepened my belief in the transformative power of integrating science and spirituality.

As an Occupational Therapist I have experience in concussion management and vocational rehabilitation. I specialise in enhancing independence for individuals recovering from concussions and supporting them to return to work. I perform comprehensive workplace assessments to identify injury related needs and understand the work demands and then develop a tailored return to work plan that focuses on the client and their cognitive, physical, and emotional recovery.