Ko tō tātou whanaungatanga te mea nui | About Us
Building connections comes first. Meet our people
We are a national not-for-profit organisation, proudly led and operated entirely by people who have navigated their own lived experience journey through mental health and addiction.
Ko wai te whānau nei | Who is Changing Minds?
We are a whānau first and foremost. We believe in upholding, protecting and nurturing the mana and potential of all Tāngata Mātau ā-wheako – people with personal experience of mental distress and/or addiction, right across Aotearoa.
We are a national not-for-profit organisation that is committed to ‘living’ our whanaungatanga – connection, identity and purpose within te Tiriti o Waitangi for the hauora – wellbeing of all Aotearoa and providing a space for all our staff to enhance and express their own cultural confidence and connection.
We also pride ourselves in being operated entirely by those who have navigated their own lived experience who now stand tall as living examples of what is possible when we recognise and embrace our experiences as taonga – sign of the potential we all hold to influence greater hauora.
Tō mātou whāinga matua | What we do
We embrace and nurture whānau mātau ā-wheako to embrace the mana of their lived experiences as a source of collective strength to activate equitable wellbeing across all of Aotearoa.
We work in the broad area of hauora services, advocacy, human rights, and health policy, and we collect, articulate, and activate the strategic voice of lived experience.
Te tāhuhu o te whakaaro mō anamata | Strategic themes
Huringa mai | Impacting change
Increase our reach and impact - making a difference to equitable hauora - wellbeing for individuals, communities, workplaces, and systems.
Whakaohoohotia | Inspire
Transformation and awareness of equitable hauora - wellbeing by putting people at the centre in communities, workplaces and systems
Poipoia | Nurture
Te reo o te Whānau Mātau ā wheako, the voices of lived experience as individuals, whānau and communities by listening to and amplifying their voice in strategy.
Whakahohetia | Activate
Whānau mātau ā wheako to embrace the mana of their lived experiences as a source of collective strength through:
• Information and resource provision
• Education and training
• Leadership development
Mā ngā uara mātou e ārahi | Our values
Ngākaupono | Absolute integrity
We fight for what is right, we stand for what is true, we are driven by our pursuit of equitable wellbeing for all of Aotearoa.
Hei tiaki | To protect what is sacred
We acknowledge all lived experiences as a taonga. We protect and nurture these taonga throughout our journey together with all whānau as a source of mana.
He mana tō te kōrero | Words hold great power
We tell our stories, we speak as one, we support the voices of whānau to be heard.
Tino-rangatiratanga | Leaders of our own pathway
We recognise whānau mātau ā-wheako as the leaders of their own journey, just as we are of ours.
Whanaungatanga | Connection and identity
Our unique experiences, relationships and connections allow us all to find our own individual identity within one united whānau.
Te hāro o te kāhu | Board of Trustees
Anne Bateman | Chair
Saima Hussain Anis | Trustee
Latayvia Tualasea Tautai | Trustee
Amanda Luckman | Trustee
Megan Campbell | Trustee
Johnny Kumitau | Trustee
Te Pou Henry | Trustee
Ngā ringa raupā | Staff
Kevin
CEO, Chief Enabler
Kevin joined the Changing Minds whānau as our CEO and Chief Enabler in May 2022, having long been a supporter of Changing Minds’ mahi to strengthen Lived Experience voices, talent, and expertise.
He brings a wealth of knowledge from the public sector and is widely regarded as a champion for the Lived Experience community in Aotearoa.
During his career Kevin has helped lead transformation in mental health by putting people’s wants and needs first and supporting innovative and alternative responses. Kevin envisions a system designed by people, for people and delivered collectively and connectedly to build on people’s rights and strengths.
Prior to joining Changing Minds Kevin had over 16 years expertise in Aotearoa’s public sector, holding roles at the Department of Labour, ACC and most recently, as Principal Advisor to the Lived Experience and Clinical Advisory Rōpu - Mental Health and Addiction at the Ministry of Health.
Jodie
Kaiwhaihua I Engagement Manager
engagement@changingminds.org.nz
DDI +64 9 242 1089
Jodie’s experience in mental health, wellbeing and social policy has made her passionate about the power of collaboration to create positive transformation, believing that ‘none of us are as smart as all of us.' She embraces her lived-experience as taonga, and remains committed to challenging stigma and prejudice around mental health and addiction, one conversation at a time.
With a corporate background in commercial management and strategic partnerships, Jodie also brings extensive corporate affairs and campaign management expertise to the Changing Minds team.
Prior to joining us, Jodie worked under a UN-led international working group leading global gender equity initiatives, and has worked with several global brands to embrace diversity, inclusion and intersectionality into their kaupapa. Her title Kaiwhaihua was gifted to her by our Cultural Advisor, as one who ‘seeks the positive, the benefit, the opportunity or the truth, and brings it to life.’
Originally from Christchurch, Jodie is a proud mother to her two children and puppy, and is currently on a mātauranga Māori journey, reconnecting with her Ngāti Kuri (Ngāi Tahu) whakapapa and learning to better understand te ao Māori.
Megan
Communications Co-ordinator
‘Visual communicator’
communications@changingminds.org.nz
DDI +64 9 242 1086
Originally from the Kāpiti Coast, Megan has called Tāmaki Makaurau home for more than 10 years.
Coming to Changing Minds from a policy and advocacy background, Megan uses a range of mediums to highlight lived experiences and emphasise the knowledge and wisdom within our communities.
As a self described 'research geek', she holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Psychology and uses this to explore how creative and ‘people focused’ research methods can better inform academic and legislative dialog.
Megan is an artist. For her, printmaking is a grounding experience; a chance to be present in a process but accepting that you’ll never know exactly what the final work will look like until you lift the paper off the press.
Art and music are a key part of maintaining her wellbeing, and Megan aspires to one day share her passion for creative expression as an art therapist.
Andrea
Project Lead
projects@changingminds.org.nz
T: +64 9 623 1762
Andrea loves metaphors, as they seem to bring clarity to ideas. Having worked with words, concepts and projects in communication and marketing the last 20 years, Andrea is relishing the opportunity of seg-waying into the wellbeing and mental health space. Most recently Andrea was a self-employed communications contractor, where she worked with a client in co-developing a series of well-being modules.
As well as navigating her own mental health journey, Andrea has lived experience of women’s health challenges. Both issues Andrea has blogged about, in the hope of supporting other females facing similar adversity.
When not walking her local beach with Roxy the Spoodle, Andrea can be spotted café hopping or roller-skating with her 8-year-old niece.
Sumarie
Operations Lead
operations@changingminds.org.nz
T: +64 9 623 1762
Hi there!
My name is Sumarie Eksteen and I am the new Operations Lead for Changing Minds.
I am originally from Bloemfontein, South Africa and moved to NZ when I was young and grew up in Christchurch. I moved to Auckland in April of 2022.
I have my bachelor’s degree in business management specialising in Operations and Marketing and after 3 & ½ years of working in the Construction and Property Space, I have made the switch over to the Mental Health Space.
In my spare time I enjoy baking, going air riffle shooting painting, going to the gym, spending time outside and with my friends.
Yuri
Community & Education Support Intern
education@changingminds.org.nz
My name is Yuri Sugimoto
I have come from Japan to join Changing Minds as an intern. I have been wanting to work with the team because of my strong motivations to learn about why Lived Experience is important for community support, and how to maximize the values of Lived Experiences.
I worked in PR section in national research institutes and other stakeholders for nearly 10 years in Japan. Though working for mental health has always been in my mind as my life theme.
I love cooking, watching movies, traveling and everything I can learn or feel something new
Te reo tautoko | What people are saying
Mahia te mahi e ora ai ngā moemoeā | Featured Projects
Ways we can support you on your journey
Te kāhui āwhina | Our Supporters
Our connections of support
Āwhina atu, āwhina mai | Ways to support us
When you support us, you support the people
Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu | Donate
When you support us, you support real change, for real people.
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We would love your thoughts on a few questions about our website that will help inform us on what you find useful, or not, so we can provide more relevant information to support you, your whānau, and community.