Our Leadership Team

Anthony Lebis

Finance Manager

Anthony joined us in January 2023 with a strong financial background across multiple purpose-driven industries. A CMA, CPA and MBA holder with over 10 years’ experience in accounting and reporting, forecasting and budgeting, taxation and statutory reporting, financial and commercial analysis and project management.

Anthony brings an agile and goal-oriented approach to his work and thrives working as a team player to achieve great things.

Meghna Thaker

IT Manager

Meghna has 15 years’ experience in IT industry and joined ABI in 2015. Responsible for the strategic direction and management of all ABI Information Technology and Communication Systems as well as managing in-house IT service desk and external providers to support all ABI services around New Zealand.

Meghna has a Bachelor of Mathematics degree and Diploma in Computer Hardware & Networking, she also holds certification in Microsoft applications and infrastructure. Before joining ABI, Meghna worked for a variety of industries including retail, computer hardware and software consulting in New Zealand.

Te Rina Ruru-Pelasio

Māori Development Manager

Te Rina (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa) is grounded in whānau experience as her older brother sustained a severe traumatic brain injury from a motor vehicle accident in 2007. This coupled with the experiences of other whānau she met on their journey, has increased her awareness of the quality, safety and cultural issues whānau face on a day-to-day basis. This inspired her to attain a Bachelor of Laws and Social Science with a focus on Health & Disability.

Te Rina has worked for Te Pare ō Toi (Māori Health – BOPDHB) where she contributed to the implementation of Te Toi Ahorangi. She has been a member of national advisory groups such as Royal Australasian College of Physicians Consumer Board, ACC Whole Pathways Collaborative, HQSC Consumer Network & Te Roopū Māori group, among others.  Te Rina has since co-founded Camp Unity, to support young people who provide care to a whānau, or aiga member with a disability, illness, or injury requiring daily support.

Te Rina is passionate about influencing positive operational and systemic change to improve the experiences of whānau as they navigate the health system. 

Anthony Lowen

People and Culture Manager

Anthony joined ABI Rehabilitation in 2022, bringing a background of providing HR services in public healthcare for over 5 years (including Te Toka Tumai | Auckland DHB and Counties Manukau Health).

He holds postgraduate qualifications in Psychology and HR Management, and is passionate about improving workplace culture to create great places to work. Anthony is particularly interested in continuous improvement in workplace processes, and ensuring our workforce is enabled to perform at the top of their scope.

Donna Gordon

Quality Manager

Donna has been a registered nurse for over 30 years, consolidating clinical practice across a range of health settings including general health and mental health.

Following registration Donna continued to study completing an Advanced Diploma in Nursing and a Masters in Management.

As the Quality Manager Donna is responsible for supporting teams to implement continuous quality improvements across the continuum of services provided.

She is committed to strengthening quality systems with the passionate belief that in doing so outcomes for our clients, their families and whanau will be optimized.

Dr. Pauline Penney

Operations Manager – Community and Residential Services

Pauline believes in a person-centred rehab approach that empowers individuals to achieve relevant, functional outcomes. This is supported by having a skilled team of rehab professionals working collaboratively with clients and families, and underpinned by organisational processes that optimise consistent quality and best practice.

Pauline graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1991, and gained a Masters of Health Science in 2007 followed by a PHD in 2014.

Pauline has over 25 years clinical experience as a physiotherapist, working in a wide variety of public and private settings, with clients from all age groups.

As an executive, Pauline has held management positions in several organisations and is currently on the executive board of the Northern Rehabilitation Providers Group, and the Foster Hope charity board.

Michelle Wilkinson

Service Development Manager

Michelle has 20 years experience in rehabilitation, service design, development and leadership.

She has worked for a large funder (ACC) in practitioner and at strategic leadership levels.

More recently Michelle has worked in operational leadership roles for community organisations who provide rehabilitation. Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Education and post graduate qualifications in Special Education and Business Management.

Michelle is passionate about evidenced based practice, equity, client voice and loves collaborating with like minded people to improve rehabilitation service delivery approaches in New Zealand.

Dr. Angela Davenport

Director of Nursing

Angela joined ABI in 2005 as Nurse Manager, having spent the previous five years as Charge Nurse at Auckland Hospital’s neurology/neurotrauma ward.

In her current role, Angela works with the ABI admissions team and supports nurses in our rehabilitation facilities. Her focus has always been about equitable access to, and seamless transitions from hospital to rehabilitation for kiritaki with TBI.

Angela completed a BHSc (Nursing) through Charles Sturt University and a MHSc (Nursing) through Auckland University. Her clinical doctorate (DHSc) from AUT University explored how rehabilitation nurses documented their contribution within rehabilitation.

She continues to be motivated to advance the specialty practice of rehabilitation nurses.

Tony Young

General Manager – Rehabilitation Services

Tony is a graduate of Auckland Physiotherapy School and worked at Waikato Hospital prior to moving to London.

During his time in London he continued to work in the field of brain injury rehabilitation.

On returning to New Zealand in 2002 he worked at ABI Rehabilitation as a physiotherapist while completing a post-graduate diploma in Rehabilitation.

In 2016, Tony completed a post-graduate diploma in business studies specialising in Health Management through the Auckland Business School and has since taken on the role of General Manager – Rehabilitation Services.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, including involvement from the client and their family, his key philosophy of rehabilitation is to support the client to obtain the skills required to maximise their participation in meaningful activities.   

Dr. Christine Howard-Brown

CEO

As Chief Executive of ABI Rehabilitation, Christine (Te Atiawa) is responsible for the overall leadership of the company, driving the company’s strategy and growth.

Christine looks after all aspects of the company’s business and professional responsibilities working with the executive leadership team.

Christine has extensive leadership experience and an in-depth understanding of the health and disability sector.

She is enthusiastic about creating opportunities to achieve good outcomes for ABI Rehabilitation clients, their families and whānau.

Christine has a special interest in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord impairment and service integration. Prior to joining ABI Rehabilitation, Christine built a successful career in the health and disability sector having led significant projects including the development of national strategies and action plans.

Andria Bayer

Northern Regional Manager – ABI Residential Service/Evolve Rehab

Andria graduated as an occupational therapist in 2000 and gained a a Post-graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation in 2008.

Prior to taking up the role as Residential Services Manager, Andria has worked as a senior community occupational therapist and clinical supervisor for ABI Community Services where she has focused on the development of a specialist paediatric concussion service.

Prior to joining ABI Andria was employed as Area Manager for an Auckland based Residential Rehabilitation Service for adult clients following severe traumatic brain injury.

Prior to this she established and ran a community based multidisciplinary service contracting to ACC which provided therapy services for adults and children following injury.

Andria is passionate about the client-centred rehabilitation which encompasses the client and family’s individual journey towards maximal functional independence.

Didje Zwart

Hadidjah (Didje) has been working as an occupational therapist for over 30 years. She has ties to the UK but has studied and worked in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as 10 years in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Dr. Jonathan Armstrong

National Allied Health Advisor

Jonathan first worked at ABI Rehabilitation in 2008 as an occupational therapist and then took the role of Director of Rehabilitation.  He left in 2018 to lead the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Service at Te Whatu Ora – Counties Manukau, then became Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy, and finally took the role of Clinical Director for Allied Heath across the Adult Rehabilitation and Community Health Services. 

In this role he led the reconfiguration of Community Health Services and the development of general community rehabilitation.  Among many in-patient rehabilitation projects that he was involved with, the one he is most proud of is developing a new Model of Rehabilitation for the Specialised Rehabilitation Unit at Manukau Health Park. 

Jonathan rejoined ABI Rehabilitation in 2022 to pursue his passions for evidence based practice, workforce development, service development, and quality improvement; all components of his role as the National Allied Health Advisor and Educator.  In addition to this role, Jonathan is also a Surveyor for CARF International, a professional advisor for the Occupational Therapy Board of NZ, and has roles in national and international collaboratives that aim to improve the experience and outcomes for people recovering from neurological injuries. 

Jonathan’s doctoral research has explored the experiences of people with brain injury as they re-integrate into their community.

Kath Murrell

National Psychology Advisor

Kath has 20 years’ experience working as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in New Zealand and the UK with both children, adults and whānau. She has been a neuropsychologist at ABI for six years. She has worked for health services at Te Toka Tumai including Starship Children’s Health, the National Metabolic Service, and at the Wilson Centre Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre. Her specialism in neuropsychology has resulted in her clinical practice always being centred on neurodiversity. 

Kath has a doctorate from Northwestern University, Chicago (2001) and originally trained as a psychologist at Auckland University (1993). She is completing a teacher training course for MBSR – a mindfulness programme. 

Kath is excited to move into a role to develop and strengthen the psychology workforce at ABI. She is passionate about understanding how the psychology profession can contribute while travelling alongside clients’ journeys through rehabilitation, disability and illness. Working as a clinician and as a professional lead allows ongoing awareness of practice while being engaged with exciting service development and strategy. Kath is a committee member on the NZSign neuropsychology special interest group. 

Nicola Maycroft

Programme Manager

Nicola joined ABI in July 2022 after almost six years at ACC supporting the provider and business teams with high profile projects including the TBI Strategy and Action Plan, the pain management redesign and the Whole of Pathways Collaborative.

Nicola brings a wealth of experience to the role, and has over 14 years’ experience across private, not-for-profit and Government with a passion for bringing stakeholders together to achieve common goals.

She achieved an Honours Marketing Degree from TU, Dublin in 2006 and has worked in Australasia since 2008.

Annie Jones

Community Services Manager – Wellington, Wairarapa and Manawatu

He aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

Annie is passionate about delivering whānau-centred rehabilitation and enabling people to realise their aspirations and full potential following injury or illness.

A recent addition to ABI’s Wellington Community Services, Annie brings a wealth of health sector experience and knowledge. Since qualifying as a Bobath trained physiotherapist in the UK, Annie has developed a range and depth to her clinical practice working with pain management, orthopedic and brain injured clients before specialising in spinal injuries as the physiotherapy team lead at Burwood Hospital. During this time she completed postgraduate papers in Hauora Māori and Clinical Rehabilitation.

In 2014, Annie joined ACC working across a variety of roles that provided clinical advice in case management including serious injury, health service design, injury prevention and relationship management including the NZ Paralympic Team.

Annie is committed to a diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary therapy environment where our clients’ needs are met, Te Tiriti o Waitangi is realised, and where staff feel valued and continually supported to deliver world classed, evidence based rehabilitation services.

Louise Kelly

Nursing Services Manager – Auckland

Louise is a registered nurse with extensive experience in mental health and nursing education.

She joined the team at ABI in and has worked closely with the nursing team in particular to develop the rehabilitation nursing role.

She became nursing team manager and then operational manager in 2014 and has developed an appreciation of both the client and family expectations as well as the level of service provided in the rehabilitation setting.

Amado Torres

Rehabilitation Services Manager – Wellington

Amado joined the ABI Rehabilitation-Wellington team in 2006 as a Speech and Language Therapist after moving from the USA to New Zealand.

He brings over 28 years of experience to ABI. During the following twelve years, Amado has also filled the role of Therapy Team Leader and most recently has become the Director of Rehabilitation in Wellington.

Amado has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree majoring in Speech Pathology, Master of Arts (coursework) – specializing in Speech and Language Pathology, and a Master of Education specialising in Special Education.

Before moving to Wellington, Amado has worked in the Philippines and the USA. Amado has a creative approach to rehabilitation and is all about getting the best possible outcomes for the clients and their families.

Christine Remfrey

Nursing Services Manager – Wellington

Helena Lister

Rehabilitation Services Manager – Auckland

Dr. Robin Sekerak

Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine
Medical Director – Wellington

Dr Robin Sekerak has been our Wellington consultant since she joined ABI in 2012.

Robin trained as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician at the University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine in The Texas Medical Centre. Robin is a Fellow of The Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Robin is a specialist in Acquired Brain Injury; her training included the cutting edge acute neurotrauma and acute stroke units at Memorial-Hermann hospital to the outpatient setting.

She is passionate about a person and family centered approach; incorporating her training from brain science to that of individuals, families, an society in a holistic model to empower the individual and family in self-management, self-determination and self-advocation.

She loves working with professionals, families and individuals on brain injury and stroke knowledge; from prevention to rehabilitation, and adjustment.

Dr. Soyoung Kim

Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine
Medical Director – Auckland

Dr Soyoung Kim graduated from the University of New South Wales in Sydney and started her rehabilitation training in Australia.

She moved to New Zealand in 2014 and obtained her fellowship as a specialist in rehabilitation medicine from the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine in 2018.

Dr. Richard Seemann

Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine
Medical Director – Community Services

Dr Richard Seemann is a graduate of Otago Medical School and a specialist in rehabilitation medicine who has previously worked in neurology and elder health services.

He has worked for ABI Rehabilitation for 15 years, the last six as full-time director of medical services for the company.

He is very enthusiastic about providing world-class rehabilitation for his patients with traumatic brain injury and other serious neurological disorders, backed up by a significant research programme, and benchmarking with similar services in Australia and the USA.

He also believes in providing services specifically targeted to the needs of Maori and the varied ethnic groups that make up the population of Aotearoa/New Zealand.