Who Am I?
Physician
I am a physician of over two decades experience, working in the areas of general practice, forensic psychiatric and sexual assault assessment and treatment settings, in both the hospital and community. I bring this clinical expertise to all of my work.
In my cult advocacy and education work I combine my personal experiences with my professional expertise to advocate for increased understanding and awareness about cults. I am uniquely placed to bring insight and understanding directly to the workforce who most able to make a difference in the lives of cult-impacted people.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Science (BSc, Canterbury 1996)
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MbChB, Otago 2002)
Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of Practitioners (FRNZCGP, 2009)
Level 4 Te Reo Māori (Te Wananga o Aotearoa, 2023)
Sexual Assault Examiner (Medsac - Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa, current)
Masters of Public Health (Otago, current)
Lived Experience Advocate
As a child I lived at the Centrepoint cult, a community notorious for manufacturing and selling drugs, using these and classic thought reform and indoctrination methods to lower the inhibitions of members, coercing adults in sex acts, and grooming children into accepting sexual abuse. It was through understanding this experience that I started to recognise the harms of group coercive control and how it damages a hidden population of New Zealanders.
I authored a 2024 clinical guidance "High-Control Group" pathways on Healthpathways. This medical guidance aimed at doctors is the first of its kind internationally and offers assessment and management guidance for the New Zealand medical workforce to support culturally appropriate and trauma-informed support for survivors of high control groups.
