The Board’s Secretariat

Vanessa Simpson is the Board’s Tumuaki/Pouroki (General Manager/Registrar). She is responsible for Secretariat Leadership and the regulatory functions of the organisation. Vanessa joined the NZ Psychologists Board in October 2022 bringing a background of leadership and governance across the ambulance and health sectors.

Ann Connell (Registered Clinical Psychologist, practising) is the Board’s Kaitohutohu Matua – Mātai Hinengaro (Senior Psychology Advisor). She advises the Board, the Secretariat, and the wider psychology community on professional aspects of complaints, competence, fitness, and registration matters, as well as any other issues arising that impact on the psychology profession. She takes a lead role in setting up Competence Reviews and Programmes, and is a member of the Complaints, Competence, and Fitness (CCF) Committee and Accreditation Committee.  Ann has previously worked as a Clinical Psychologist for DHB mental health, addiction, and intellectual disability services. She is the usual first point of contact for psychologists who want to discuss professional matters of concern.

Gina Giannios is the Board’s Pouroki Tuarua (Deputy Registrar). Her role includes considering applications for registration and practising certificates, and working with the Professional Advisors to manage conduct, competence and fitness cases. Gina’s role also includes the administration of the Board’s accreditation processes for university- and agency-based training programmes as well as the coordination of the Continuing Competence Programme annual audit.

Varsha Parsotam is is one of the Board’s Kaiwhakarite Rēhita me te Paerewa (Registrations and Standards Coordinators). Varsha has a background in registration from her previous role in a similar regulatory authority. She also supports the Board in ensuring the Board meets its obligations in terms of the principal purpose of the HPCA Act. She processes registration applications in accordance with the HPCA Act and Board policies. Varsha also helps to administer those sections of the HPCA Act that deal with competence, fitness to practice, and other concerns about registered psychologists.

Becca Jennings is one of the Board’s Kaiwhakarite Rēhita me te Paerewa (Registrations and Standards Coordinators). Becca has come from a long background in Emergency Services and now processes registration applications in accordance with the HPCA Act and Board policies. She also supports the Board in ensuring the Board meets its obligations in terms of the principal purpose of the HPCA Act. Becca also helps to administer those sections of the HPCA Act that deal with competence, fitness to practice, and other concerns about registered psychologists.

Dana Calvert is the Board’s Kaiāwhina Rehita me te Paerewa (Registration and Standards Assistant). Dana has a background in policy and regulatory environments and is a Bachelor of Health graduate majoring in population health, policy, and service delivery. Dana is currently working for the board on a part-time basis and is assisting with policy updates and rebranding.

 Alexis Kemelmager is the Board’s Kaiāwhina Tumu me te Hēkeretari o te Poari (Executive Assistant and Board Secretary). Alexis coordinates Board meetings and minutes and provides administrative support to the GM. She has worked across both public and private sectors in administrative and advisory roles, most recently in regulatory health.

Jo Pugh is the Board’s Kaiāwhina (Administrative Assistant). She undertakes general office duties, maintains records and computer files, co-ordinates meetings and functions, undertakes projects, processes applications for registration from overseas-trained practitioners, and assists the rest of the team as required. She draws on extensive experience from her previous career as a retail banker with a strong focus on customer service and administrative processes.

Maria Thomas is the Board’s Kaitohutohu Whakawhiti Kōrero (Communications Advisor). Her role includes communicating and distributing quality content to foster engagement between the Board, it’s members and the public. Her background is in science communication, where she has worked with research institutes.

Rachael Heslop is the Board’s Kaitohutohu Rautaki me nga Kaupapa (Strategy and Projects Advisor). She has been working in professional regulation since the early 2000s and has held statutory and senior positions in several regulatory authorities. Rachael is currently contracted to the Board on a part-time basis.  She is involved in progressing several of the Board’s strategic projects

Leigh Hikawai is the Board’s Tūmāia Kāiarahi Project Lead. She has been working in the health sector for more than 20 years. Leigh has held nurse related positions in education, leadership, clinical and project management, and managed a district health board’s general practice. She is a health sector standards auditor and quality surveyor with a focus on safe and equitable services for Māori and vulnerable people. Leigh is currently employed part time by the Board. Her role is to assist Tūmāia Kāiarahi in their assigned work integral to the Board’s whole systems review.

No Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Matakore, Ngati Haua, Ngati Kauwhata. Ko Brian Te Rauroha Emery. He is an independent consultant, auditor and surveyor of health services for Nga Paerewa Health and Disability standards.  Previously he was General Manager Support Services for Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau January 2012 to May 2013. Brian was Quality and Risk Manager from 2004 to 2012 for Te Roopu Taurima and Eastern Access Community Health, Melbourne. From 1997 to 2003 he was Manager Maori Mental Health, and Group Manager Maori Health at Counties Manukau DHB. From 1999 to 2005 he was auditor/surveyor/team leader for Quality Health NZ. He has served on several boards for schools, education and training, health services, disabilities, and Maori health.