Louise Marra is Senior Associate at Collective Change Lab and Director of www.louisemarra.com Of Ngāi Tūhoe Māori and Pākehā (Celtic and Romanic) descent, she is an author, movement maker and systems healer. Her leadership spans government, private, philanthropic and NGO sectors, including being an advisor to the Prime Minister, directing companies and leading major policy initiatives. 

Louise has established social innovation labs for government and philanthropy, and now leads restorative leadership, decolonisation and organisational healing programmes. Her work integrates individual, transpersonal, somatic, collective and intergenerational trauma to support system change. She is author and founder of ReRoot, Unity House, and co-founder of the Pākehā Project.

Lynda is Principal of Glenview School in Cannons Creek, Porirua, and a Professional Development Facilitator in trauma-informed education and relational neuroscience. Trained by Dr Bruce Perry, she is a certified trainer in the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME). She has mentored NME trainees across Aotearoa and Australia and presented internationally in diverse contexts. In 2024, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.

Her study of neuroscience, alongside development led in her own school, drives her commitment to advancing relational neuroscience to transform education in Aotearoa. Her work with early years teachers across learning centres has led to significant shifts in kaiako practice and improved outcomes for tamariki.

Karllie Clifton is an experienced educator and tumuaki with over 20 years’ experience across secondary education, pastoral care and community-connected schooling. She is tumuaki of a small, remote kura on Aotea Great Barrier Island, where relationships, community and connection to place are central to learning and wellbeing.

Of Ngāpuhi and Te Atiawa descent, Karllie brings a strong grounding in te ao Māori, with deep commitment to manaakitanga and fostering belonging for tamariki and rangatahi. Her work is underpinned by relational neuroscience and trauma-informed approaches, with a focus on regulation and resilience. She has extensive expertise in supporting young people through complex experiences while uplifting voice, inclusion and equity. 

PhD; PGDipClinPsych; PGDip HealthSci

Andre McLachlan is a Clinical Psychologist and Addictions practitioner based in the Waikato. He has a range of research, lecturing and workforce development roles. Andre is a father of six, including Kanorau-a-io (neurodivergent) and Te Iho Tatai a Rongo (FASD).

Andre has specialist interests in Indigenous approaches to Mental Health, Trauma, Addictions and Neuro-diversity. Andre enjoys creating and delivering interactive workshops to practitioners and whānau that enhance people's engagement in new learning and increased motivation to learn more and directly apply new skills to their practice and whānau. Andre is also co-author of Te Whare o Oro: A mātauranga Māori framework for understanding the roro (brain).

Andrea is founder of nurturing relationships and an award-winning Registered Social Worker, recognised with the 2023 National NZ Social Worker’s Award for Innovative Practice and the 2018 Excellence in Research Award. With a Master of Social Work with Distinction in Mental Health Practice, she brings over 18 years of clinical experience and specialised training in EMDR and Synergetic Play Therapy. In 2015, she developed a trauma-responsive model through her master’s thesis, later rolled out nationally across Oranga Tamariki residential group homes.

As a neurodivergent individual and mum of a child with sensory processing challenges, Andrea brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her neuro-affirming, trauma-responsive work, supporting children and families to heal and thrive through creative, evidence-based practice.

Anna is an outreach specialist teacher at Oaklynn School and has completed the Applied Educational Neuroscience certification from Butler University with Dr. Lori Desautels. She is a champion for supporting our neurodivergent children through a holistic, compassionate, relational safety lens and a firm believer in a ground up approach to shifting the paradigm around understanding dysregulated behaviours. 

Anna is passionate about supporting kaiako and adults to better understand students' distressed behaviours in the educational settings through a relational neuroscience lens, understanding the origins of harmful negative narratives which support punitive approaches, and reframing the understanding of ‘challenging’ behaviour. 

Jase Williams is a TEDx speaker, award-winning educator, and author of Your Trauma Has A Whakapapa. With over 25 years in education, he is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading voices in trauma-informed/aware, equity-centred, and relational neuroscience practice. As Principal of Henry Hill School (2012–2022), Jase led a nationally recognised wellbeing transformation, earning the 2021 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Award.

Jase is known for making trauma relatable and accessible, weaving neuroscience with indigenous ways of knowing and being to create culturally grounded approaches that have been transformational across corporate boardrooms, health agencies, First Nations and Indigenous communities in North America, gang headquarters, and prisons. Today, he continues to advocate for systems rooted in belonging, emotional safety, unconditional love, and healing.

Richie Hardcore is a former professional Muay Thai fighter and boxer who now works as a coach, public speaker, and advocate for youth wellbeing, healthy masculinity, and positive identity. He holds a Masters Degree in Sociology and is widely recognised for his work in mental health, drug reform, public health, and the prevention of gendered violence.

Richie brings a trauma-informed, real-world perspective, engaging audiences through honest conversations and practical, actionable insights. His kaupapa focuses on empowering individuals and communities to build resilience, foster inclusivity, and create meaningful cultural change by addressing the conversations that matter most. Drawing on his lived experience, Richie creates spaces where people can reflect, challenge themselves, and grow, with a grounded and relatable approach committed to supporting safer, healthier communities.

Danyon Fairbrother is a powerful voice for recovery, resilience, and second chances. Growing up in Christchurch, Danyon’s early life was marked by instability, moving through foster homes and institutions while surrounded by dysfunction. His teenage years quickly spiralled into alcohol and drug addiction, and by just 17 years old he was incarcerated in Christchurch Men’s Prison ( youth unit ) believing his future held only two possibilities: prison or death.

Through honesty, vulnerability, and lived experience, Danyon inspires audiences with a message of hope — showing that no matter how dark the past may be, it’s always possible to rewrite your story. Danyon’s platform is called "Answers Within”.