We’re unique, we’re peer led
& community based

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Philippa leads DISC Trust and has overall responsibility for the trust’s harm reduction services which include the provision of harm reduction equipment, hepatitis C and HIV screening and treatment, health services, drug checking, and homeless outreach. DISC Trust is proud to be a peer-based service, and we take pride in the fact that we are a ‘trusted front-door’ for people who are hardly ever reached, face ongoing stigma and are often marginalised. Philippa is passionate about supporting the health and well-being of people who use or inject drugs and giving them a voice in the services designed to support them.

Philippa has lived in Waitaha Canterbury for most of her life, is married with three adult children and now enjoys central city living in Ōtautahi.

NATIONAL HARM REDUCTION LEAD

Jason is one of New Zealand’s leading experts on injecting drug use, nationally respected for his leadership in peer-based harm reduction. With over 20 years of frontline and leadership experience in needle exchange, drug checking and harm reduction services, he developed and leads NZ’s first continuous drug checking services and champions a person-centred, evidence-informed approach to harm reduction.

As a member of the Te Pou Addiction Consumer Leadership Group and an establishment board member of the Pacific Network of People Who Use Drugs, he supports consumer voice and innovation in service design. He is also involved in auditing opioid substitution treatment (OST) services as a consumer auditor, helping ensure services remain person-centred and responsive to the needs of people who use drugs.

He delivers harm reduction education to a wide range of stakeholders, including teaching into the University of Otago Medical School. He has been active in research relating to people who use and inject drugs for several years.

SERVICE MANAGER, COMMUNITY HEALTH

Vanessa leads DISC Trust’s Community Health services, overseeing the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, mobile outreach, and a growing range of community-based health initiatives across Te Waipounamu.

Her role focuses on strategic leadership, service development, partnership building, and ensuring DISC’s health services remain accessible, responsive, and grounded in harm reduction. Vanessa supports a multidisciplinary team delivering low-barrier, non-judgemental care across hepatitis C, HIV/STI screening, sexual health, peer navigation, and wider health and wellbeing support. She values whanaungatanga, collaboration, and practical service design that meets people where they are.

Originally from North Dakota, USA, Vanessa now proudly calls Aotearoa home. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Te Waipounamu, hiking and photography.

MANAGER OTAGO SOUTHLAND

Meet Serena, our dedicated Manager for the Otago region who is based at our site in Ōtepoti Dunedin. She has a passion for harm reduction and community connection.

With over 10 years' experience working in a variety of roles at DIVO, she finds it extremely valuable to be able to bring her life experience into her mahi and enjoys supporting clients and the community around Otago and Southland. She loves having a job in a peer-based health and harm reduction service that is dedicated to help eliminate stigma against people who use drugs, keep people safe, and support our community’s health and wellbeing.

Serena grew up in Tapanui and has lived in Ōtepoti Dunedin since 2005. She has a senior cat named Tigger.

MANAGER NELSON MARBOROUGH

Originally from Wales, Zoe moved to Aotearoa in the mid-'90s and now calls Nelson home. With a Bachelor of Health Science, Postgraduate Diploma of Public Health, and extensive health and safety knowledge, she is passionate about harm reduction and social justice.

For Zoe, the most rewarding part of her work is connecting with people—she values the honesty and rawness of those who use the service and believes in creating a space where everyone feels respected and supported.

Outside of work, she’s a mum of three and an animal mum to many. She enjoys time with family and friends, beach days, and attempting to tame her garden—though the weeds usually win!

MANAGER, PROJECTS

Diane is proud to have been involved with harm reduction since 2013. Her role includes leading new initiatives and working alongside the service delivery teams to support the development and implementation of harm reduction services, ensuring they remain accessible, responsive, and focused on the health and wellbeing of the people who use them.

Over the years, Diane has been involved in many positive changes in the services available which make a positive difference to clients.

When she's not in the office, Diane enjoys hitting the greens and perfecting her swing on the golf course.

ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR

Our experienced Accounts Administrator known for her efficiency and organisational skills in managing financial tasks. Her favourite part of her role is contributing to the positive impact that DISC Trust is having on a community that is often overlooked.

When she is not streamlining accounting operations for DISC Trust, she spends her free time cheering on her children from the side-lines, supporting their various activities and accomplishments.

DESIGNATED NURSE PRESCRIBER

Kia ora koutou! Meet Leah, one of our dedicated nurse prescribers at DISC Trust. Originally from Whakatū, Nelson, Leah spent 8 years working in Melbourne at Primary Health Services for people who inject drugs and as an outreach nurse supporting those experiencing homelessness. For the past 8 years, she’s been a vital part of the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, and in 2021, she completed her nurse prescriber course to better serve our community. Leah is passionate about her role, especially when it comes to getting to know the people she meets and witnessing them take control of their health in their own time.

Outside of work, Leah enjoys spending time with friends and family, gardening, running (or walking!) in the hills, and diving into creative projects.

REGISTERED NURSE & REGISTERED AOD/MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN

Toni is Ngati Awa, Tuhoe, Ngai Tahu and Niuean descent. She is a new graduate nurse and completed a Master of Nursing at the University of Canterbury in 2025.  She has over 10 years’ experience in alcohol and other drug and mental health services. She has worked across residential voluntary, compulsory, and aftercare settings, including kaupapa Māori services, and brings a strong whānau-centred, culturally safe approach to her practice. She utilises Māori health models of care such as Te Whare Tapa Wha the Meihana model to guide her practice. Toni is the lead mental health clinician partnering with Housing First to meet the needs of Kaewa.

DESIGNATED NURSE PRESCRIBER

Kay started her nursing in Australia, working across mental health, acquired brain injury, and with adolescents affected by trauma. Since returning to Christchurch 10 years ago, Kay has specialised in sexual health and blood‑borne virus care, with a strong commitment to harm reduction and equitable access to healthcare.

Kay is passionate about community education and empowering people with practical, accurate information about sexual health and blood‑borne viruses, helping to reduce stigma and support informed choice. Her approach is grounded in compassion, respect, and an understanding of the real‑world challenges people face.

Outside of work, Kay enjoys spending time with family and making the most of time at the beach.

HARM REDUCTION NURSE

Pam is a highly experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse with 40 years of dedicated service across palliative care, aged care, and community nursing. Her deep commitment to people and communities has shaped a rich and meaningful career guided by kindness, respect, and genuine care.

Pam is also deeply involved in governance and community leadership. She currently serves as Chair of the Christchurch Methodist Mission, contributing her wisdom, integrity and heart to support community wellbeing across Ōtautahi.

HARM REDUCTION NURSE

Meet Kirsty, one of our Harm Reduction Nurses working within our community health clinic.

Homegrown from Ōtautahi Christchurch, Kirsty has over 30 years nursing experience primarily within mental health services with the last 10 years having specialised in physical health outcomes for consumers within Specialist Mental Health Services Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury.

Kirsty brings her expertise as an experienced phlebotomist along with her passion to provide health care to people marginalised by mainstream health care.

Kirsty continues to work within mental health services part time alongside her part time role with the community clinic.

HARM REDUCTION NURSE, OTAGO/SOUTHLAND

Margaret brings decades of specialist nursing experience in hepatology, hepatitis care, and community-based health. Based in Otago, Margaret former Clinical Nurse Specialist in Hepatology at Southern DHB, and was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to hepatology. She is also deeply involved in hepatitis B work across the Pacific.

Margaret’s mahi is grounded in clinical excellence, equity, and ensuring people can access liver health care in ways that are practical, respectful, and non-judgemental. At DISC Trust, she supports hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and blood-borne virus screening pathways across Otago and Southland.

PROJECT MANAGER | ODYSSEY

Peer-led Mobile Hepatitis C Service

A partnership between Odyssey and DISC Trust.

Charael is a strategic public and community health leader with a strong commitment to Māori health and equity, particularly in Te Tai Tokerau.

With over a decade of experience in health promotion and cross-sector collaboration, she has led innovative, kaupapa Māori-based initiatives that improve access and outcomes for Māori, rural, and underserved communities. Her work is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and He Whakaputanga, with a focus on culturally responsive care, community-led solutions, and sustainable, whānau-centred change.

HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW, DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE & RURAL HEALTH, DUNEDIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.

Dr Noller is a Dunedin-based medical anthropologist, academic and independent researcher specialising in drug use and drug policy. His research informs DISC’s evidence-based harm reduction strategies. Geoff’s 20-year association with the NZ Needle Exchange Programme has involved him in project management, research and evaluation, including periodic whaiora and service surveys, as well as service development and governance.

DRUG CHECKING SITE SUPERVISOR – CHRISTCHURCH

Jenni is the Drug Checking Site Supervisor at the Christchurch Rodger Wright Centre and has played a key role in establishing and delivering DISC’s drug checking service in Christchurch.

Originally from Wellington, she moved to Ōtautahi to take up the role and is central to the consistent, day-to-day delivery of DISC’s drug checking service in Christchurch. She also supports needle exchange service delivery and provides safer injecting and broader harm reduction advice.

Jenni brings over 20 years of lived experience of drug use, including injecting and engagement with opioid substitution treatment (OST) services. Combined with her frontline experience in harm reduction, this enables her to build trust quickly and engage meaningfully with people who use the service.

She values the opportunity to give back to the community and finds real joy in meeting and connecting with people. Her approach is grounded in creating a non-judgemental, welcoming environment, where people feel safe to ask questions and make informed decisions about their drug use.

When not at work, Jenni enjoys spending time with her cat Isla.

PEER NAVIGATOR

Dion supports people to access sterile injecting equipment with harm reduction advice.  He also refers people for hepatitis C and other blood borne virus screening and care.

Dion brings 39 years of lived experience of addiction and mental health, including 36 years of injecting drug use, which deeply informs his compassionate, non-judgmental approach to peer support and harm reduction.

Always a Christchurch boy, he’s currently providing direct harm reduction support to people at the front desk and helping maintain the vending machine. Dion uses his lived experience to build trust, reduce stigma, and support people to feel safe and informed when engaging with DISC and our other health services. 

Dion is known for his ability to connect meaningfully with people from all walks of life, meeting them where they are at and supporting them to take steps that feel right for them. His work is grounded in respect, empathy, and a strong belief in the value of lived experience in creating positive change.

PEER NAVIGATOR - STEROID CLINIC

Josh is a psychology student, therapist, and peer support volunteer with lived experience in addiction, identity, trauma, and recovery. His work is grounded in harm reduction, emotional safety, and helping people rebuild stability, purpose, and connection during periods of significant change.

Alongside his postgraduate psychology studies, Josh supports our steroid and performance-enhancing drug services through peer-based support, education, and non-judgemental conversation. He has a strong interest in the psychological and social factors that influence substance use, identity, masculinity, body image, emotional regulation, and relationships.

Drawing from both formal training and lived experience, Josh aims to create spaces where people feel understood rather than judged, particularly those who may have felt disconnected from traditional support systems. His approach focuses on honesty, practical support, self-awareness, and long-term behavioural change.

Josh teaches paragliding in the summer and has a background in military service, mentoring, and community support work, and is currently completing postgraduate study in health psychology with the long-term goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

PEER NAVIGATOR

Tara brings over 30 years of lived experience with addiction and mental health, including 20 years of injecting experience, which shapes the way she connects with and supports people as a peer. Originally from the West Coast, she is working towards a Level 4 Health and Wellbeing Peer Support qualification and works as the Peer Navigator within the Rodger Wright Community Clinic, supporting people to access hepatitis C and other blood-borne virus screening and care. Tara is also a trained Harm Reduction Advisor, using her experience to build trust, reduce stigma, and connect meaningfully with her community.

Outside of work, she is a proud mum to three adult sons and has two cats.