ABOUT US

Board’s Secretariat

Vanessa Simpson

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

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.

Dr Jane Freeman-Brown

Dr Jane Freeman-Brown (Registered Clinical Psychologist, practising) is another of the Board’s Mātai Hinengaro (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

Haidee Westwater works part-time for the Board as a Mātai Hinengaro (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. Haidee is a Registered Clinical Psychologist (practising) with more than 20 years’ experience in mental health settings.  Her primary focus has been working with adolescents, young adults and their families in services including child and adolescent mental health, first episode psychosis, a bicultural inpatient unit and primary health care. 

Gina Giannios

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.

Dana Calvert

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.

Karen Lee

Katie Simpson

Sharon Weatherall

Jade Wakeling

Tamara Lomas

Dan Moore

Brian Emery

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.