ABOUT US

Vanessa Simpson

Chief Executive/Registrar | Tumuaki/Pouroki

Vanessa Simpson is the Board’s Chief Executive/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.

Gina Giannios

Deputy Registrar | Pouroki Tuarua

Gina 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.

Tamara Lomas

Continuous Improvement Manager | Kaiwhakahaere Whakahou Kaupapa

Tamara is the Board’s Continuous Improvement Manager and oversees a variety of portfolios.

Tamara joined the Board in December 2023 and has a background in health, project/change management, emergency management, learning & development and AoG/interagency simulation and lessons learned.

Ann Connell

Senior Psychology Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātua Mātai Hinengaro

Ann Connell (Registered Clinical Psychologist, practising) is the Board’s 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.

Brian Emery

Cultural Adviser | Kaitohutohu Tikanga-ā-Iwi

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.

Zen Williamson

Kaiāwhina Tumu | Executive Assistant

Zen comes to us from Spark where she provided executive level support to three directors. Zen’s work will incorporate the Board Secretary and Accounts duties as well and providing valuable CEO support.

Dr Jane Freeman-Brown

Psychology Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātai Hinengaro

Dr Jane Freeman-Brown (Registered Clinical Psychologist, practising) is another of the Board’s Psychology Advisors. 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.

Jane is of Ngai Tahu iwi, and is a registered clinical psychologist with 17 years of clinical experience in mental health and forensic settings. In addition to her clinical experience she has steered her career to towards the interface between ethics and the law and has previously worked as a senior advisor to the Department of Corrections with a focus on psychological practice and psycho-legal issues. Jane has previously been the chair of the ethics committee of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.

Haidee Westwater

Psychology Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātai Hinengaro

Kia ora koutou, ko Haidee Westwater toku ingoa.  He Mātai Hinengaro ahau.

Hi, my name is Haidee, and I am one of the Psychology Advisors working for the Board.  I am a registered Clinical Psychologist with more than 20 years’ experience in mental health settings.  The primary focus of my clinical work was with adolescents, young adults and their families in services including child and adolescent mental health, first episode psychosis, a bicultural adolescent inpatient unit and primary health care. 

I started working parttime for the Board in 2023, and I am now in a fulltime role.  The job of Psychology Advisor is varied and interesting, including answering ethical queries which arrive in our PA inbox, checking supervision reports, auditing CCP logbooks, reviewing best practice guidelines, considering complaints as part of the Conduct, Competence and Fitness Committee, assessing applications from overseas practitioners, arranging panels for competence, conduct and accreditation, and contributing to teaching programmes or professional development. 

I am particularly enjoying meeting such a wide range of practitioners who hold my wholehearted respect for the work they do.

Rob Paramo

Psychology Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātai Hinengaro

Rob is registered in the general scope, with a history in forensics/Corrections/Private Practice. Rob was also employed as an Assistant Psychologist in the UK, so brings hands on experience of a similar model.

Rob leads the Assistant Psychologist Project and Chairs the Internal Steering Group. Rob also assists with general psychology advisor work and leads the Guideline review.

Justine Croxen

Psychology Advisor | Kaitohutohu Mātai Hinengaro

Justine has been employed by NZPB on a contract basis (for 3 months initially) to support the Psychology Advisors workload. In particular, to ensure BAU continues during the busy phase of developing the Assistant Psychologist model.

Justine is a clinical psychologist, practising across a broad range of settings, both in public and private sectors in the UK and NZ. She also has Family Court Report writing experience. Justine has chaired several PCCs for us so comes with familiarity of that area of our work.

Karen

Registration and Standards Coordinator | Kaituitui Rehita me nga Paerewa

Karen joined the Board in October 2023 and is one of the Board’s Kaituitui Rehita me nga Paerewa | Registration and Standards Coordinators. This role includes managing applications for registration and practising certificates, coordinating complaints, competence and fitness issues, the Continuing Competence Programme annual audit and providing advice to practitioners and the general public on registration matters and the complaints process.

Karen has a strong background working across different government organisations and regulatory authorities in advisory roles.

Jade

Registration and Standards Coordinator | Kaituitui Rehita me nga Paerewa

Jade is one of the Board’s Kaituitui Rehita me nga Paerewa | Registration and Standards Coordinators this role includes processing applications for registration and practising certificates and the coordination of the Continuing Competence Programme annual audit. Jade’s role also includes working with the Psychology Advisors to manage conduct, competence and fitness cases.

Gilly

Registration and Standards Coordinator | Kaituitui Rehita me nga Paerewa

Kia ora koutou – My name is Gilly and my role as Registration and Standards Coordinator is to initially review and process applications for psychologists and practising certificates who want to practice here in Aotearoa. I am also responsible for the coordination of the Continuing Competence Programme audit and work together with Psychology Advisors to manage conduct, competence and fitness cases.

Dana Calvert

Work Programme Support & Policy Lead | Awhi Kaupapa me te Taki Tikanga

Dana is the Board’s full-time Work Programmes Support and Policy Lead. 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 supports the Board’s various projects and continuous improvement work, and leads policy development and planning for the Board.

Alex Dean

Office Administrator | Kaiwhakahaere Tari

Alexandria has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in sociology and history and a background in administration, finance, and human resources, having worked in the health and business sectors. Alex supports the Team with general administration and accounts in addition to providing resilience for Board/Committee logistics.

Dan Moore

Work Programme Coordinator | Kaupapa Kaituitui

Dan is the Board’s full-time Work Programme Coordinator. He helps the Board’s various projects and continuous improvement work. Dan has a background in project coordination, customer service and regulation advisory mahi in the health, accounting, and farming sectors.

Joanne Henare

Lived Experience/Whānau/Consumer Advisor

Joanne supported PSAG with their work last year and is now offering valuable lived experience to the Board through the Assistant Psychologist model. Joanne is instrumental in ensuring that the lived experience voice is heard and linking NZPB with key Māori and consumer contacts.