Adell Cox
Chair, Te Hau Toka Group
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of Allied Health – Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Addictions Services
Te Whatu Ora Southern
Clinical Psychologist, Diploma of Clinical Psychology; Master of Arts
Adell Cox is a highly qualified and experienced lead clinical psychologist and, as Chair of the Te Hau Toka Group, is strongly committed to working with healthcare professionals and the community to facilitate and support wellbeing initiatives.
She is now a Director of Allied Health for Te Whatu Ora Southern after working for 23 years as a clinician and then as a Professional Lead in Clinical Psychology.
Adell is well versed in local issues, having worked as a clinician across the Queenstown Lakes district for several years. She is passionate about engaging with people from all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities, listening to different viewpoints and facilitating meaningful change to keep our communities well.
Marie Day
Community Partnerships Manager
Queenstown Lakes District Council
Post-Graduate Diploma in Tourism; Bachelor of Arts (History and Politics); NZ Certificate in Te Reo Māori (He Pī Ka Pao) Levels 1 & 2
As Community Partnerships Manager for Queenstown Lakes District Council, Marie is a pivotal ‘connector’ for the region and for Te Hau Toka, with strong local, regional and national relationships across a range of sectors.
Marie is responsible for QLDC’s strategic direction for community development activity and for developing a programme of initiatives to support these outcomes. This includes strategy, partnerships, advice and analysis, advocacy, funding and, most recently, developing a new districtwide Welcoming Communities programme.
A well-known local, Marie has an extensive background in community development, project/event management, health, disability support, and education.
She’s passionate about community wellbeing and enjoys building strong and diverse relationships with individuals and community organisations, connecting people and ideas, and creative problem-solving.
Stacy Harborow
Work Force Development Leader / Clinical Lead Teina / Clinician
Adventure Development Ltd
Registered Nurse; Bachelor of Nursing; Post Graduate Certificate in Mental Health; Bachelor of Arts
As Primary Mental Health Service Manager based in Dunedin, Stacy is responsible for WellSouth’s primary mental health service across the region. This includes oversight of the Brief Intervention Service for patients who are experiencing mental distress, Family Mental Health Service based in Mosgiel, Improving Mental Health Service within Corrections and Suicide Prevention/Postvention across the region.
Stacy also oversees the Family Mental Health Service, providing support to people of all ages experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues. Part of this is single session family therapy intervention which provides an interagency, safe forum for families to activate their own action plans, as well as the Improving Mental Health Service based both in Prison and Community Corrections. This service provides support and therapeutic intervention for people with community and custodial-based sentences. Clinicians support people to transition back into the community, supporting engagement in community-based services. Wrap-around support is also available to whānau and is an integral part of this service.
Stacy has an extensive background in clinical nursing in a number of settings and is strong supporter and advocate for mental health in the region. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the primary health sector to her role on Te Hau Toka.
John MacDonald (consulting part-time)
Te Whatu Ora Southern Mental Health and Addiction Independent Stakeholder Liaison
Chair of the Central Lakes Mental Health and Addiction Network
A well-known longtime Queenstown local and business entrepreneur, John has been a strong community advocate for various causes over the years. And as a three-time cancer survivor who lives with Parkinson's disease, he also knows from personal experience the importance of effective equitable health services and ensuring patient voices are heard.
To this end, John’s been the independent Chair of the Te Whatu Ora Southern Mental Health and Addiction Network Leadership Group (NLG) since 2015. The NLG oversees the whole mental health system in the district and includes both health and community representatives. The NLG was instrumental in the formation of Te Hau Toka in 2020.
John previously chaired the Central Lakes Health Network and the South Island Cancer Consumer Group, and in 2021 retired as a Queenstown Lakes District Councillor after five years.
John brings strong business acumen, governance experience and extensive knowledge and lived experience of the health system to Te Hau Toka. His key focus is on keeping people well, building community resilience, and taking a joined-up approach to ensuring the healthcare system is providing effective and equitable services.
Tina Simmonds
Clinical Manager for Central Lakes Community Mental Health Service
Te Whatu Ora Southern
Registered Nurse; Post Graduate Cert in Advanced Nursing Practice (mental health); Post Graduate Cert in Management
Tina is responsible for managing Te Whatu Ora Southern’s mental health services in the Central Lakes area, including Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.
A registered nurse with a wealth of clinical experience, Tina has worked for many years in the mental health sector across inpatient care and the community. She’s also worked in healthcare education, helping to facilitate the DHB’s new graduate mental health nursing programme.
Following a move to Wānaka with her family, Tina set up the Brief Intervention Service (BIS) across Central Otago in 2008. After a stint working in BIS, she took on a joint clinical and leadership role for WellSouth before moving back to Te Whatu Ora Southern Mental Health, Addictions, and Intellectual Disability (MHAID) Service to take up the role of Clinical Manager in 2018.
Tina brings extensive local knowledge and experience from the mental health sector to Te Hau Toka, particularly helping to map pathways for people needing to access services to support their wellbeing. She’s passionate about improving collective community mental wellbeing and works closely with other agencies to promote support options and reduce barriers to accessing health care. In her spare time, she’s heavily involved in volunteering through St John, running a youth programme and providing expertise on the local area committee.
Karyn Munro
Suicide Prevention/Postvention Co-Ordinator, Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago
WellSouth Primary Health Network
Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Mental Health); Master of Education – Counselling; Diploma in Teaching – Secondary; Bachelor of Arts double major Psychology and Education
A Wānaka-based mental wellbeing advocate, Karyn Munro is the Suicide Prevention/Postvention Co-Ordinator for Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.
Karyn is a trained and registered counsellor with over 25 years’ experience in the community and in schools. She specialises in working with youth and families, supporting them through crises and providing wellbeing life planning, positive coping strategies and resilience tools. She is also a counsellor/provider for Aoake te ra Bereaved by Suicide Service which delivers support across Aotearoa, and chairs the Wānaka Suicide Prevention/Postvention Group.
As well as her extensive background in mental health and wellbeing promotion, Karyn brings an important professional lens to Te Hau Toka around how to have safe conversations with people experiencing mental distress and providing wrap-around services for them and their families. She is passionate about inclusivity, diversity, acceptance, kindness and compassion when supporting others.
Ella Hitchcock
Te Hau Toka Central Lakes Mental Wellbeing Navigator
Contracted through Central Lakes Family Services
Double Bachelor of Law and Health Science (Public Health)
Ella is the Mental Wellbeing Navigator for the Queenstown Lakes and Central region - a role which has been funded by Te Hau Toka since March 2021. She is proving vital in providing clear pathways to mental health services available within the Central Lakes community, identifying critical gaps and working to connect services to those in need.
A passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing, social justice and community success, Ella brings a diverse lens and skillset to the role. Her experience ranges from community development, LGBTQ+ support, and Māori and Pasifika support to event management, student pastoral care, and community service, including disaster and humanitarian relief volunteering for the Lions.
Based out of Central Lakes Family Services in Queenstown, Ella acts as a main point of contact to streamline services and help co-ordinate the region’s mental wellbeing response.
Tina Mongston
General Manager
Central Lakes Family Services
Diploma of Child Protection, Business
A long-time local Social Services professional, Tina is the General Manager of Central Lakes Family Services and has more than 20 years’ experience on the frontline helping children and families in their times of need. Having started with the Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network in 2001, she has seen the organisation through its evolution into Jigsaw Central Lakes, and then a merger with Central Otago Women’s Support Link and then Queenstown Lakes Family Centre to become Central Lakes Family Services in 2016.
Tina manages a team of professionally trained clinicians who are deeply committed to working with the community, primary health, local government and NGO service providers to achieve positive outcomes for children, adolescents and their families/whānau across the region. They provide a range of services from education programmes, advocacy and counselling to emergency aid, child protection and family harm support. The team also runs the Social Workers in Schools programme and perinatal support services.
Tina brings a wealth of knowledge to Te Hau Toka about current family wellbeing issues and proactive education/intervention measures as well as a calm, compassionate and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Jo O’Connor
Health Promoter
WellSouth Primary Health Network
Bachelor of Education (primary teaching); Post Graduate Certificate in Public Health
As a frontline Health Promoter for WellSouth, Jo O’Connor is a well-known face around the Central and Queenstown Lakes region.
Based in Alexandra, she is responsible for the Teviot Valley, Maniototo, Alexandra, Cromwell, Upper Clutha and Whakatipu areas and is a key connector in working with the community to find ways to keep people well.
Originally from a finance and education background, Jo has more than 50 years of seeking the positives in any situation and 15 years in health promotion.
Jo brings strong healthcare, social services and community relationships to Te Hau Toka, as well as a down-to-earth collaborative approach, innovative problem-solving and a knack for delivering clear, simple health promotion advice. She is particularly passionate about joining the dots – bringing people together to share ideas and collectively share the load in helping keep our communities well.
Louise Mainvil
Professional Leader - Health Promotion
Te Whatu Ora Southern, National Public Health Service
Registered dietician; Doctor of Philosophy; Master of Science
Louise Mainvil is a Dunedin-based health promotion specialist for Te Whatu Ora Southern and is part of the National Public Health Service team.
Louise has a strong background in health promotion workforce development (education) and practice-based research, as well as advocacy for sustainable food systems (food security), healthy food and drink environments, and anti-racism in health. For nearly 20 years she was a senior lecturer at the University of Otago.
Louise brings a depth of experience in health promotion, leadership, and research/evaluation to her role on Te Hau Toka, as well as a collaborative style and passion for creating equitable, sustainable health outcomes for all. This includes extensive knowledge of health education and promotional campaigns, public health perspectives, project collaborations, and networks.
She is a strong advocate for the Five Ways to Wellbeing and believes community-led initiatives are a powerful tool to promote wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
Sarah Greaney
Member of Fiordland Wellbeing Collective / Councillor Southland District Council/Business Owner/NLP Coach
Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Administration (HR); Business Studies Degree Bsc Hons
Sarah joined Te Hau Toka in June 2021 and, through her variety of roles – including being part of the Fiordland Wellbeing Collective, an SDC Councillor, a business leader and a healthcare professional - she brings a wealth of knowledge to the group.
Sarah has a range of experience in different sectors including small business, accommodation, retirement housing and banking. As well as being a Neural Coding® coach, facilitator, trainer and human resources consultant for more than 20 years, Sarah’s skillset also includes strong governance and communication, big picture thinking and community connections as well as in-depth knowledge of local issues and government, funding and project prioritisation matters across the Fiordland area.
She enjoys working collaboratively to facilitate change and loves coaching, motivating and inspiring others to be the best they can be.
Anna Star
Fiordland Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator
Contracted by Te Hau Toka
Bachelor of Arts (Geography and Anthropology); Master of Planning; Breastfeeding Peer Supporter
Well-known Te Anau-based local Anna Star was appointed by Te Hau Toka as Fiordland’s Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator in April 2022 to focus on sharing information about wellbeing concerns and co-ordinate wellbeing initiatives within the district.
Anna is a passionate local advocate with a strong wellbeing focus and a background in community development. Having lived in Te Anau for more than 10 years, she has deep links into the community and is best known for her work with Fiordland Family Network and local breastfeeding groups.
Anna believes that her role is a huge opportunity to help her community and influence what is happening in the health and wellbeing space at a regional level. She works closely with the Te Hau Toka group and Fiordland representative Sarah Greaney, and is building a strong network of relationships with local community leaders, groups and social agencies.
Alexa Smith
Fiordland Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator
Contracted by Te Hau Toka
Bachelor of Science with Hons (Biological Sciences with Honours in Psychology)
Alexa Smith was appointed by Te Hau Toka as Fiordland’s second Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator, based at the Great South office in Te Anau, in September 2023. She helps share information about wellbeing concerns, monitors the capacity of mental health services and coordinates wellbeing initiatives in the district.
Alexa has worked in mental health supporting people with head injuries, psychosocial rehabilitation with people living with chronic mental illness and helping raise mental health awareness in schools in the UK. She has extensive large-scale events and volunteer management experience, is also the Northern Southland Regional Leader for the Dairy Women’s Network (since 2019) and is on the Mossburn Primary School Board of Trustees.
Alexa believes her experience working rurally in a farming business, helping non-English speaking migrants settle in New Zealand, and as a migrant herself will be particularly useful in her role. Alexa is passionate about rural remote communities and cognisant of the barriers and challenges they face when it comes to wellbeing. Within the role, she hopes to assist the work already done in identifying gaps and connecting vulnerable communities with mental health services and wellbeing initiatives.
Originally from the Isle of Man, Alexa has spent the last eight years living rurally in Southland, she’s married with two young daughters. This role sees her return to work in her first passion – mental health.
Chris Crane
Time for Change - Te Hurihanga Programme Manager, and Administrator for Te Hau Toka
Te Whatu Ora Southern
Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Arts; Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health; Project Management (PRINCE2) – Foundation and Practitioner Levels; Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) – Foundation Level; Management of Portfolios (MoP) – Foundation Level
Chris is the Programme Manager for Time for Change – Te Hurihanga, a focused, year-long Te Whatu Ora Southern-led programme to address health, equity, location, social and systemic issues, and put people at the centre of care. The programme aims to improve access to quality care for all and is a significant step forward in creating a people-focused, equitable, high quality, integrated mental health system with contemporary models of care.
With more than four decades of experience in the health sector, Chris brings a wealth of expertise to Te Hau Toka including quality and performance improvement, contract management and national portfolio management, leading sector-wide health system reforms in Otago and Southland, developing new roles and teams, and designing and managing projects and programmes.
Chris is passionate about improving outcomes for those who need health care, including equity of services across southern tāngata whaiora, whānau and communities, and ensuring healthcare providers are doing the very best they can with the resources available to them.
Jen Andrews
Contracted communication and engagement specialist
Bachelor of Arts (English); Diploma of PR, Events and Marketing; IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation; Civil Defence & Emergency Management Public Information Manager
Jen is a communication and stakeholder engagement specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in managing strategic and tactical communications, from PR/marcomms campaigns and community and stakeholder engagement to issues management, crisis response and recovery.
With a range of experience in different industries including healthcare, tourism, aviation, events, sustainability, education, local government (arts, culture, recreation, disability advisory, community development), and Civil Defence, she brings a network of strong community, business and media relationships to Te Hau Toka as well as a deep understanding of local and regional issues.
Jen is particularly passionate about connecting people and working together to deliver great outcomes for all. Her key focus is on making communication and engagement opportunities easily accessible to ensure everyone has a voice.
