Presenters Listed Alphabetically
Pauline Allen – Palmerston North
Specialist Early Childhood Consultant and Trainer. Registered teacher. Dip Teaching Early Childhood. National Trainer – Born to Learn Curriculum (PAFT and Family Start). Pauline has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education and Child Protection for over 30 years. The last 17 years have involved specialist work in early brain development from conception to 5 years. She has a special interest in how early experiences affect the growing brain, and the flow on experiences through early and middle childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Pauline is the mother of two adult children and grandmother of seven & great grandmother of one.
Marion Angela – Nelson
Marion is a part time music teacher and has trained in Integrative Psychology (Hakomi). She was involved in the research project Youth 2000 at Auckland University. Marion provides Brainwave presentations for the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
Judy Bailey – Auckaland
Judy is now a writer and broadcaster, but most well-known for her past role as a television news reader. She has also for many years been actively involved in voluntary charity work including: Patron of North Shore Hospice, Patron of the Friends of Women’s Refuge, Patron of the National Collective of Women’s Refuges, Patron of Seasons; a grief support organisation for children and young people, Patron of The Grief Centre; a national organisation dealing with grief and loss and Patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand. Judy dedicates much of her time, and skills in journalism and fundraising to Brainwave as a Trustee, Presenter and Advisor.
Sarah Best – Wellington
Sarah has three young daughters, all of whom have been instrumental in uncovering a hidden passion for advocating for children and educating parents about the hugely important role they are undertaking. Also a facilitator for workshops on Child Development and the Playcentre SPACE programme for new parents and their babies, Sarah is a passionate believer in conscious and respectful parenting and allowing our tamariki/children the gift of free natural movement. Initially based on instinct, the emerging neuroscience is now proving these approaches to be highly beneficial for the development of the next generation and it is incredibly exciting for Sarah to be involved in disseminating this critical information to parents and caregivers through the Brainwave presentations.
Jodie Blackbourne – South Auckland
Jodie belongs to a number of community and service groups, including the Zonta Club of South Auckland, through which she became involved with the Brainwave Trust. She presents for us in the South Auckland area.
Sue Blair – Auckland
Sue is a Londoner with two school-aged children. She has a corporate background and is a qualified MBTI practitioner and a Director of Personality Dynamics. Sue has run over 150 training courses for parents and teachers, helping them understand the different personalities of the children in their care. She has also been a volunteer Toolbox facilitator for Parents Inc. for the past 10 years, running parenting skills courses for parents of children from birth to teens. The Brainwave message “It’s never too late to change the life of a child” can be told, lived and learnt in so many ways.
Jigs Bradley – Whangarei
Jigs is a presenter based in the Whangarei area. She is a mother of three and grandmother of four. She has a Diploma of Teaching and is a Trainer for SKIP and the Ministry of Education.
Kathryn Berkett – Wellington
Kathryn is a presenter in the Wellington region. She is the mother of two young children. Kathryn has her Masters in Educational Psychology. She has an incredible passion for the Brainwave message and enjoys her work immensely as it combines her two greatest passions – Neuropsychology and Talking.
David Burrowes – Nelson
David is a Registered Social Worker, with a degree in social work, and tertiary qualifications in business studies and adult education and training. He has recently retired after 37 years with Child Youth and Family, where he was involved primarily with foster care, and adoption of children from within New Zealand and overseas.. He is also a parent, step parent and grandparent of 19 grandchildren aged between 4 and 23 years. David became a Brainwave presenter in 2006. He says that the Brainwave message enabled him to understand the profound impact of early childhood experiences on the lives of all children. This information is invaluable for parents, caregivers and professionals alike. David is available to make presentations in Nelson and Marlborough
Dot Capon – Christchurch
Dot is a teacher with more than 34 years of experience teaching successfully at a range of levels from early childhood and secondary teaching to tertiary lecturing at the University of Canterbury. After completing a MTchLn thesis focused on prematurity she moved to her current role as Playroom Coordinator/Early Childhood Teacher at the Champion Centre. She maintains a passionate interest in infant and toddler care and education, early literacy and the importance of the early years, and continues to publish and present in the early childhood field. She is married to a busy chartered accountant, the mother of 4 adult children and now grandmother of one lovely grandson.
Marcia Cassidy – Dunedin
Marcia’s background is with Maori communities, marae and whanau. Marcia has a 7 year history within Maori Mental Health and is currently working with Atawhaingia Te Pa Harakeke delivering child focused tikanga Maori Professional Development to Providers, whanau, hapu and iwi around Aotearoa. Marcia has been engaged in this work for the past 7 years. Their work is premised off Te Puawaitanga o te Tamaiti which is a Maori understanding of child development, whanau development and has carried the neuro-science information since 2001. Marcia is a mother of 3 and holds a Masters of Indigenous Studies Degree in Maori models of practise. She is highly passionate and driven for the successes and achievements of whanau to care for and nurture their babies in the best ways possible.
Norma Hayward – Auckland
Norma has had a 12 year career in management training and business development. Since leaving work to raise her two young daughters, she has worked as a volunteer with disabled and special needs children through Riding for the Disabled (RDA). She is currently President of the Henderson RDA group. Norma is also a member of the UK charity What About the Children which works to promote better public and professional understanding of the emotional needs of babies and infants. Norma has become acutely aware that not all babies are getting the best start in life and that many families are confused by the parenting information that is available. She is keen to spread the Brainwave message as it is backed up by scientific research and case studies. She believes that parenting in the first three years does not have to be complicated or expensive but there are some essentials that our little ones must receive if they are to flourish.
Shelley Gilliver – Wellington
As the National Foundation Skills Manager at GymSports New Zealand, Shelley is dedicated to sharing the knowledge of the importance of the first three years of a child’s life, and the impact that early experiences have on life-long development and learning. Previously employed by Sport & Recreation NZ (SPARC) where she managed the national implementation of the Active Movement initiative for 0-5 year olds, Shelley has worked in the area of Child Development since 2002, and during this time, has been fortunate to have had opportunities to work with many of the experts in this field. “Our society has changed dramatically over the past 20 to 30 years, in regards to our children’s social and community environments especially – it’s essential to the development of today’s children, and that of their future children, that they are provided with the opportunities that they need to develop to their potential”.
Bronwyn Gardner – Hawkes Bay
Bronwyn is the mother of two lovely boys. She is a trained Child Birth Educator teaching antenatal classes and works as a Birth Doulas for Hawkes Bay women and their families. Bronwyn is very passionate about the importance of parenting and the challenges it creates and understands the impact parenting has on how a child’s brain wires up. She pesents for Brainwave across the Hawkes Bay area.
Karen Laurie – Northland
Karen is a highly qualified facilitator who has worked across a range of levels within the education and recreation sectors. She is a qualified Physical Education teacher with a post graduate qualification in special education and has a particular interest in the role of movement and physical activity in brain development. She is the mother of two teenage sons and currently works for Athletics New Zealand as the national programme manager for their fundamental movement skills programme.
Miriam McCaleb – North Canterbury
Miriam is the at-home mother of a high-energy daughter. She is a teacher of adults: at Tennessee Tech University and the Christchurch College of Education; and of infants and toddlers. Miriam has done intensive brain development study in the USA, and is a certified trainer for PITC – the Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers. She has published in NZ and the USA for Early Childhood News, The First Years, and Child Care Information Exchange, and continues to write between presentations and parenting.
Maria McKenzie
Maria has a Masters in Educational Psychology and is a member of NZAC. She has worked in the education sector for the past twenty years as a counsellor. resources teacher, advisor, and classroom teacher. Most of her work has focused on supporting young people at risk. She has joined the Brainwave team in the Wairarapa area.
Graeme MacCormick – Auckland
Graeme is a retired Family Court Judge and Humans Rights Commissioner. He is part of our Advisory team and lobbies for Brainwave and we are very pleased to have him available to provide Brainwave presentations in the Auckland area.
Nathan Mikaere-Wallis – Christchurch
Nathan is currently a lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education, lecturing in human development, brain development, language and communication and risk and resilience. Nathan has a background of working with children in counselling settings relating to domestic violence, sexual abuse and childhood trauma. Involved in his background working with and for the local iwi (Ngai Tahu), Nathan has established and managed educational contracts in Christchurch including Parents As First Teachers and Te Waka Huruhurumanu a Ngai Tahu indigenous early learning centre .
Wendy Nelson – Auckland
Wendy is a New Zealand Registered Nurse who has 28 years experience in paediatrics and holds a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies. She commenced her career in general paediatrics followed by several years Plunket Nursing in the Wellington region, thereafter moving to London in 1986 where she became involved in Paediatric oncology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. It is here that Wendy became a Charge Nurse covering oncology, haematology and bone marrow transplantation. She moved into the role of the Ward Based Educator, before finally returning to NZ in 2000. Wendy was the President of her local Plunket Committee for several years and is now very involved in her local school as well as coaching and managing several children’s sports teams. She is a mother of 2 sports-mad boys.
Julia Nevill – Auckland
As a Certified Power Coach with training based in neuroscience, Julia is passionate about sharing the powerful Brainwave message; as it is based on how the brain develops and she believes it has the power to make a positive difference in our communities. Having lost a sibling to violence, Julia has a first hand understanding of the devastating effect this has on families, and wants to help others understand how, with the education and prevention provided by the Brainwave message, we can all assist in breaking this cycle. “Violence touches and alters all of our lives, both directly and indirectly. It also affects our behaviours and the way we treat others – often in a negative way.” She is married with 3 step-sons and presents in the Auckland region and for our Prison programme.
Hilary Nobilo – Auckland
Hilary has a Post Graduate Diploma in Child Advocacy and a Post Graduate Certificate in Community Child Health. She has had a significant career working alongside families with a focus on child development including her role as an educator with PAFT and work with teen parents. Her passion for child advocacy led to an involvement with Action for Children and Youth in Aotearoa for which she co-authored a report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. She works for Roots of Empathy and as a Brainwave presenter.
Keryn O’Neill – Auckland
Keryn has a Masters Degree in Psychology, and Post Graduate Certificate in Educational Psychology. She has 17 years experience in services for people with an intellectual disability, working in a variety of roles including staff training, and as a behaviour specialist. Mother of two delightful primary-school-aged daughters, Keryn is keenly aware of the conflicting information available to parents. She is passionate about the opportunity Brainwave provides to share evidence-based information about children’s needs during the very important early years, and is able to draw on her academic, professional and parenting experiences.
Debbie Rewiri – Central North Island
Debbie has a wealth of experience in facilitation, training, mediation and mentoring. She provides Brainwave presentations mostly in the Central North Island areas. She is currently working .8 as a Waewaetaaha for Atawhaingia Te Pa Harakeke (Ministry of Education) in the Mataatua/Waiariki area. She is a National Lead Trainer for Ahuru Mowai Born to Learn (Family Start and PAFT Educational component). She is also a National Trainer for SKIP and a National Facilitator for Family Partnership. Debbie has a varied background of work at both the grassroots and at a Policy Level. She has two adult children, four whangai, and three mokopuna. Her three strongest attributes are passion and compassion for herself, others and the work that she does to support whanau, haapu and Iwi development; sense of humour and the willingness to put all that she knows aside to learn anew/ano.
Dr. Simon Rowley – Auckland
Simon Rowley is a neonatal paediatrician at National Women’s Hospital as well as working with children of all ages in private practice in Auckland. Simon’s concern for the health and wellbeing of our children led him to become a Trustee for Brainwave as well as a presenter. His clinical experience, depth of medical knowledge and relaxed friendly manner make him a popular speaker to medically oriented groups as well as at conferences, seminars and talks to parents and caregivers.
Anthea Springford – Auckland
Anthea spent many years as an investment banker with CS First Boston in Wellington and Auckland. She has spent the last 14 years at home with her three children. During that time she has been active in a number of voluntary organisations in Auckland and Hong Kong including the Auckland and New Zealand Multiple Birth associations, UNICEF, Hong Kong International School Parent Advisory Group and Hong Kong Island Stingrays. Anthea is also a narrator for the Royal Foundation of the Blind. Anthea brings a strong background in business and organisational issues in her voluntary work as a Trustee, Treasurer and presenter.
Jim Sole – Christchurch
Supervisor for the Family Safety Team for the NZ Police Force in Christchurch. Jim is one of the Brainwave presenters in the Canterbury area. Jim received a Queen’s Service Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours 2010 for services to NZ Police.
Lyn Lecofsky – Hamilton
Lyn is the Centre Director for the ABC Learning Centre, Te Rapa. She studied Early Childhood Education (ECE) at Palmerston North Teachers’ College, graduating in 1986. She has taught in and managed kindergartens, childcares and home based childcare for many years before diversifying into child protection, adult teaching,victim support and presenting for the Brainwave Trust in and around the Hamilton area and environs.
Jane Valentine – Auckland
Currently Brainwave’s Presenter Co-ordinator/Trainer and a Brainwave presenter; Jane comes from 11 years of experience as a Police Officer. She specialised for the last 5 years in Family Violence prevention which involved improving child and victim safety, quality control of Police action and staff training. She has also spent 2 years on the front line attending emergency incidents such as domestics etc, and then moved into Police Education for 4 years where she taught violence and drug free programs. Jane is also a qualified and practicing Clinical Hypnotherapist/Counsellor. She has a daughter and son in their twenties.
Sue Younger – Auckland
Sue Younger is a freelance documentary maker. She has directed a number of social documentaries on a wide range of topics. She has a particular interest in health and has made many programmes about children and family issues, including autism, pre-natal testing, recurrent miscarriage and premature babies. Sue has lectured in a documentary making and professional writing course at AUT and has recently completed a Diploma in Professional Ethics at The University of Auckland. Prior to her career in television Sue was a secondary school English teacher. She is a Trustee and sits on the media committee of Brainwave, creating educational resources and looking for opportunities to promote the Brainwave messages into mainstream media as well as providing presentations in the Auckland area.
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