STAFF

Dee has been the General Manager for RISE (formerly SVS - Living Safe) since 2010 and has more than 30 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, both in New Zealand and overseas. She has lived and worked in Vietnam, Cambodia, Bougainville, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Laos, and Zimbabwe. She feels strongly about the organisation having solid financial management, sound human resources practices, and the best staff possible to deliver the organisation’s services. Dee is based in the Nelson office and works one day a week in the Motueka office.

Dee has a Bachelor of Business Studies, a Diploma in Business and Administration in Management, and a Diploma in Development Studies, all from Massey University. Dee lives in Motueka and loves spending time reading and being in the outdoors.

Angela has worked with RISE since 2010 as its Service Coordinator. She provides administrative and clinical administrative support to the organisation and Clinicians. Over the years, Angela’s role has grown in line with the growth of the organisation. She attends the daily Family Harm meetings with other like social services and Police and is accredited to deliver the Strengthening Safety Service intervention for Ministry of Justice clients. Angela loves her work environment, her colleagues and making a difference in people’s lives.

Delwyn started working with RISE in early 2020. She worked for 12 years at Work and Income as a Case Manager and prior to that she was a filing clerk at Children and Young Person’s. Delwyn enjoys being front of face at reception and is very happy in her role and providing support where it is needed.

Aaron has been with RISE since 2017, first as a Clinician working predominantly with male and youth clients in the non-violence field, and now as Development Coordinator seeking out improvements to client services and staff training. He also facilitates the successful Dads Programme twice each year.

Previously, Aaron worked for the Department of Corrections as a Programme Facilitator specialising in the Mauri Toa Rangitahi programme, a specialist rehabilitation programme for ages 18-21 within the Corrections system. What keeps Aaron engaged is seeing the change and growth that occurs for individuals and families when given the support and how this helps them have healthier, happier communities now and into the future.

Aaron has a Master of Education in Counselling from Canterbury University and a Bachelor of Leisure and Sport from Waikato University. He enjoys the outdoors with his family for the adventure and balance they bring to life. He particularly likes mountain biking, running, getting out into the mountains and when possible, surfing.

One of our Nelson-based Clinicians, Mark has a background of working with groups in the adventure tourism industry. He mostly works with non-violence programmes and with youth and specialises in anxiety, stress, and self-belief. He brings 15 years of group experience and nine years of counselling experience in the field of family violence to our practice. Previously, Mark worked as a crisis phone counsellor for Lifeline and as a mentor for the Timaru Grey Road youth drop in centre. Knowing people and families will have a better, happier future is what keeps Mark in this line of work.

Mark has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science with a major in counselling from Waikato Institute of Technology. He lives in the Nelson region with his daughter.

Fran joined RISE in 2023 and is based in the Motueka office. She works as a Clinician (Family Worker) with children and youth following on from her work in the UK where she was a children and family social worker in Derbyshire for two years. There she supported families and safeguarded children who experienced family violence.

Originally from Nottinghamshire, she moved to New Zealand with her partner in 2022 and travelled extensively across the South and North Islands before settling in Nelson.

Lara started working as a Clinician for RISE in December 2015, the day after she graduated from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology; her final placement for her degree was with RISE, formerly SVS - Living Safe. She works one-on-one with women, men, and children and she co-facilitates an educative group programme for women. Lara was born in Nelson, grew up in Dunedin, and returned to live in Nelson in 2013. She is passionate about teaching people what healthy relationships look like, compared to abusive ones, and that change is possible.

Lara holds a Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences (Social Work) in 2015 and a Certificate in Introduction to Social Work and Counselling in 2010 from the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Jeannette is a contractor working from the Nelson office since 2015. She co-facilitates the men’s Non-Violence Programme and has worked with other groups and individuals on safety education. Prior to 2015, she worked for Stopping Violence Services Christchurch, also facilitating non-violence programmes for men, women, and youth. During the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, while working for Relationships Aotearoa, she broadened her counselling services to include family mediation and counselling and worked with many clients experiencing trauma. Jeannette started her professional career in IT, banking and payroll, working for at the Royal NZ Navy Dockyard in Devonport, but changed careers in 2004 because she wanted to do what she was passionate about: helping people. She loves being on the journey alongside the people she helps to share effective tools that equip people and families to be happier and safer.

Jeannette has a diploma in Counselling from Vision College in Christchurch. She is a member of New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association (NZCCA). She was born in Devon in the UK and emigrated to New Zealand as a teenager. She has been married for 30 years to a Canadian man, also an immigrant, and they have two teenage sons and an old, big, black Doberman. She loves swimming all year round as well as running and cycling and she’s a serious coffee afficionado.

Benita joined RISE’s Motueka office in 2016 and she works with men, women, youth and children impacted by family violence. In the past she worked with youth, people experiencing mental illness, and people with disabilities to assess their workplace needs and to understand how workplaces and community participation facilitates mental and emotional wellbeing. Benita is passionate about being part of positive change in people’s loves. She feels that assisting in the healing of even one family, can impact positively on the whole (extended) family.

Benita holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching from Christchurch College of Education and Learning and a Level 7 Visual Arts Diploma.

Victor joined RISE in 2014, working in both its Nelson office and in Kaikōura on the non-violence programme. He was a programme facilitator and probation officer for the Department of Corrections for nine years prior. Earning a PhD in systems theory, he has used his study to develop a systems-based understanding of the nature of violence and this helps inform his work. Victor has four relevant peer reviewed publications. He is the author of two books, Gonna lay down my sword and shield and When the Dragon Stirs and the co-author of two additional books. He is currently working on a follow up book. Victor is intensely curious about the nature of human behaviour and continued use of violence to resolve differences and strategies to develop alternatives. Victor lives an idyllic lifestyle in a motorhome cruising the amazing land we live in with his partner Monika. He has an adult daughter living in Melbourne.

Victor holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Māori Studies from Canterbury University, a Master of Arts in Chaos, Complexity and Creativity from the University of Western Sydney, and a Doctorate in Systems Theory from the University of the Sunshine Coast. He also holds a Diploma in Social and Community Work from Otago University.

Wayne joined RISE for the second time around in early 2020. Today, he’s a Clinician – Social Worker facilitating groups and working one-on-one with adults and youth clients as a clinician and social worker. On his first stint with RISE more than 10 years ago, when it was named SVS – Living Safe, he was studying to become a social worker and trained with the organisation, facilitating groups with men and youth. He started a full-time role after graduation for a few years. In between, Wayne worked for Presbyterian Services as a youth worker and at Barnardos as a family violence response coordinator before moving to Australia. Initially taking time out to travel, Wayne took up various roles with an organisation on the Gold Coast and at Broken Hill Hospital. But Wayne’s home has always been Nelson, and so he returned last year to his family, his home in central Nelson, and to RISE. Wayne feels that if he is going to practice social work, it should be in his home community.

Wayne received his Diploma in Social Work from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in 2007 and is a Registered Social Worker. He lives in Nelson and spends his spare time playing tennis and golf and enjoying the Nelson climate and community.

Based in Kaikoura, Rob joined RISE in September 2021 as a facilitator of our programmes in the Kaikoura community formerly covered by a Nelson-based staff member. Rob is well known in Kaikoura having lived there for 25 years and through his current position as an elected councillor where he chairs the Kaikoura Community Services Committee. He has held a variety of community social service roles such as a youth supervisor and as Wellbeing and Rehabilitation Advisor to the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery project (NCTIR).

Rob is working on a diploma in Social Services from Te Kiawhina Ahu Mahi. He’s involved in several men’s support groups and enjoys one-on-one mentoring roles. He and his wife Jen, born in Kaikoura, and their five adult children and five grandchildren all call Kaikoura home.

Jaron is based in our Nelson office and he attends the daily family harm meetings with Police and family violence agencies as part of the SAMs programme. He joined our team in late 2022 after working as a facilitator for ACC’s Mates and Dates programme and as a sports and fitness trainer and mentor. Jaron is also a mental health coach and continues to offer those services outside of his RISE work. Every individual has things in life that they enjoy and excel at and they also have their own personal physical and mental barriers to overcome. Jaron enjoys assisting people to overcome these barriers and find the path to living the life they want.

Jaron has Post Graduate Diploma in Science (Psychology) from Massey University of New Zealand and a Bachelor in Applied Science (Psychology) and a Diploma in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the Open Polytechnic. He also has a Teaching Diploma from Christchurch College of Education.

Jamie is based in our Nelson office and is a Clinician working with the men’s Non-violence Programme and with youth. In the mid-2010s he decided to retrain as a counsellor after working in construction, hospitality, and retail. In recent years he has worked with youth and children at Blind Low Vision NZ and at Birchwood Primary School as a teacher aid/counsellor. He also works as a counsellor with Male Room where he develops his skills as a counsellor and finds ways to incorporate physical activity in the therapeutic process.

Jamie has a Counselling degree from NMIT. He lives in Nelson and grew up in Stoke. He loves living in the Top of the South and has a connection with and appreciation of nature. He loves to tramp, surf and rock climb and he trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Joelene is one of RISE’s Nelson-based Clinicians. She has worked here since 2007 facilitating non-violence and safety programmes. Her specialised focus is working with youth.

She began her journey in this area of work as a student volunteering with Te Waiariki Women’s Refuge in Rotorua as an advocate for women and children. She worked there for three further years training and supporting volunteers. After, she facilitated group programs for youth as a trained high ropes instructor at Tui Ridge adventure Park and later as a women’s facilitator at Whenua Iti outdoor pursuits centre in Nelson. Prior to starting her role at RISE, when it was SVS-Living Safe, Joelene managed the Nelson/ Marlborough Branch of CanTeen, supporting teenagers living with cancer. She is passionate about supporting and empowering positive change within families in the community that she loves.

Joelene has a Bachelor of Applied Social Science with a major in Adventure Therapy and a Certificate in Adult Teaching. She’s a mum to four children.

Marissa has joined the RISE team full team after completing her Social Work Degree at Te Pūkenga/NMIT in 2024. She worked part time at RISE while studying, an experience she says really complemented her learning.

Marissa’s desire to work in the family violence sphere drew her to study Social Work, and she completed her Year 3 placement of her degree at RISE, as per her request. That experience solidified her interest in working in the family violence area. She also fell in love with RISE, which is why she leaped at the chance to work at RISE when the opportunity arose.  

She works across the various services RISE offers. At times she co-facilitates both the adult safety group and non-violence group, and she also works on an individual basis with clients of all genders and ages. Currently Marissa works predominately with women but she hopes to work in all areas as she enjoys the variety that offers. 

She loves that RISE acknowledges the importance of supporting everyone impacted by family violence, whether it be those that experience harm, those that use harm or those exposed to it. She understands that support needs to be given in all areas to create lasting change. 

Marissa feels extremely lucky to work in a space where she can work alongside and learn from RISE’s specialist staff. “It is just a really welcoming and supportive environment,” she says.

Jordan joined RISE in 2024 and is based in Nelson. Jordan is initially going to be focusing on working with children, youth, and women; however she aims to work in all areas. Prior to working at RISE, Jordan was a Care and Protection social worker at Oranga Tamariki. She was also appointed as a Family Violence Response Specialist and was part of the national framework Whangaia Ngā Pā Harakeke which sees police, iwi and other specialists work together to reduce family violence.

Jordan completed her Bachelor of Social Work Degree at NMIT/Te Pūkenga in 2018. As part of that she did a placement at RISE in 2017. This sparked an interest in working in the family violence sector. She is passionate about working with people affected by family violence, and really enjoys working face to face with individuals and their whanau.

Born and raised in Auckland she has lived in Nelson since she was 20. She has three gorgeous boys aged 17, 13 and 22-months.

Michelle is based in RISE’s Motueka office and works in Nelson on Fridays. She will initially be working with women and youth, but aims to work across all areas. Michelle was a case manager at SASH before starting work with RISE. She completed her Social Work Degree at NMIT/Te Pūkenga in 2023.

Community-minded at heart, Michelle has a background in care, support and social services work. She has worked in the mental health and disability sectors in New Zealand and Australia. She worked with an indigenous organisation in a family harm shelter for women and children in Townsville, Australia.

Michelle lives in Motueka and has two adult children. She is excited about working with RISE and is looking forward to working in the non-violence sphere for an organisation that works with all whānau members to help build safer communities.

Steffen is a trainee clinician at RISE based in Motueka who works mainly with youth.

He has a background in outdoor and alternative education having worked in those fields for the past 15 years, most recently at Whenua Iti Outdoors in Lower Moutere.

Steffen is completing a counselling degree at Bethlehem Tertiary Institute in Tauranga.

He sees his move into the family violence prevention sphere as a natural extension to his work helping others and hopes to help clients develop skills they need to progress and show them they are valued and loved.

Steffen says he was drawn to working at RISE because of its great reputation in the industry and its culture.

“RISE is such a supportive place. Everybody is working together and has each other’s backs.”

Originally from south Auckland, Steffen lives in the Motueka area with his wife, two children and an energetic pet spoodle. His wife is from the UK, and they lived there for a number of years before moving to the Tasman area.

Steffen loves the lifestyle on offer in the Tasman district and outside of work enjoys mountain biking, tramping and kayaking.

Nikki has worked in the family violence and sexual violence field for about 30 years – in direct practice as a senior therapist with STOP in Ōtautahi I Christchurch , through prevention initiatives, providing training, carrying out practice-focused research, and, more recently, advising the Chief Social Worker and supporting Oranga Tamariki workforce development initiatives under Te Aorerekura: Action Plan for the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence.

She is honoured to lead Hikitia! – RISE’s ACC-funded primary prevention mahi (work) and be part of a movement that collectively makes a difference in the lives of tamariki, whānau and families in her local community.

Nikki spent 20 years working as an academic, and prior to her time at Oranga Tamariki was a Senior Lecturer in Social Work practice, policy and research at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | The University of Canterbury.

During her time as a senior lecturer, she held a range of advocacy and knowledge dissemination roles including as a Working Group Member on the establishment of the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse. She is the author of a number of academic papers and has supervised hundreds of student and community research projects.

Nikki has also co-authored and illustrated a range of therapeutic books for young people that have sold nationally and internationally. Her books cover a range of topics including trauma, loss, anxiety, and family relationships. A book she wrote with her son, following the Christchurch earthquakes, was developed into an audio book by RNZ.

Nikki lives in the Kaiteriteri area and moved to the Tasman region to be closer to her children and young grandson. She has a Chihuahua called Brutus. Outside of work she enjoys walking, cycling, travelling, photography, film, and making stuff.

Born and raised in Brazil, Pâmela arrived in New Zealand in 2019. She relocated to Whakatū | Nelson in 2023, after four years living in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland. Pâmela has a wealth of experience in administration, business management, and academic research within the non-profit sector. She also has a background in leading volunteers, working on community projects, and supporting organisational missions. Pâmela has extensive experience in client and stakeholder relations and designing and implementing training programmes.

Her skills were honed through roles in IT, customer service, and leadership. She has a strong academic foundation in human resources and business operations. Pâmela is passionate about using her expertise to problem-solve and foster positive relationships. She currently volunteers for charity Mother’s Helpers and Victory Community Centre.

As Administrator for the Community-led ACC Hikitia Prevention Initiative, Pâmela plays a pivotal role in supporting manager Nikki Evans and the wider team by providing administrative and logistical support. You will find her managing day-to-day administrative tasks, coordinating meetings and events, maintaining accurate records, conducting data analysis, and communicating with the team and external partners.

Pâmela lives in Nelson with her partner and enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, quiet time at the region’s beaches and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Karolina joined the RISE team as the Communications & Engagement Lead for Hikitia!, RISE’s ACC funded primary prevention mahi (work), in February 2025. She has a wealth of experience and a strong motivation for activism and social movements.

Previously, Karolina worked as a contractor developing, organising, and delivering projects for businesses, regional development companies, non-profit and charitable organisations at a local, regional and national level. Karolina has a solid background in communications and recently worked with MEDSAC (Medical Sexual Assaults Clinicians Aotearoa).

She loves engaging with communities, especially when delivering meaningful outcomes and making important impacts. She truly believes in the power of storytelling and creativity, which she uses to connect with communities. As an illustrator and designer, she likes to capture the essence of subjects in strong lines and bold colours.

Karolina holds a Master’s degree in European Culture and Social Studies, with majors in Visual Culture and Communication between Cultures. A strong Tangata Tiriti (Treaty partner), Karolina is originally from Poland. She met her New Zealand partner more than 20 years ago, and they live with their two children and dog in sunny Whakatū Nelson. In her free time, she loves exploring nature with her whānau (family) and friends. She is passionate about social justice, contemporary arts, and physical theatre.

Miranda Warner is a Community Mobiliser with Hikitia! - RISE’s ACC funded primary prevention mahi (work).

She joins Hikitia! after two years working as a Clinician in RISE’s Nelson office. Miranda worked in the non-violence and safety sphere with all ages and genders at RISE. It was this work that inspired and convinced her of the importance of working in the prevention space with Hikitia!

Miranda brings her wealth of energy and innovation to Hikitia! especially in relation to community education, drama and the creative arts. She is a playwright and actor, and is usually putting on a play, acting in one, or writing one. She is currently writing a musical.

Miranda produced and toured British writer Rebecca Abram’s play “All of Us” around the rohe (region) in 2023/2024. She used the performance and Q and A discussions after the show to encourage community engagement and education around the themes of family violence and restorative justice.

Originally from the UK, Miranda moved to Aotearoa in 2009. She holds a Master of Arts in Applied Theatre (Drama and the Criminal Justice System) from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She also holds a Master of Arts in Divinity (Hons) from Edinburgh.

Her role with Hikitia! is 20 hours a week and Miranda will continue her part time work with Restorative Justice Nelson where she works as Restorative Justice’s Business Lead and as a facilitator.