Staff from our different locations can be found below. Please feel free to expand their information to find out more about each staff member.
Our People
As Chief Executive of ABI Rehabilitation, Christine is responsible for the overall leadership of the company together with the Managing Director, 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.
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.
Deborah is a graduate of the Auckland Physiotherapy School. She specialised in Paediatrics with a particular focus in the area of Neurodevelopmental rehabilitation. In 1997 she established PRS, a community based multidisciplinary team contracting to Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to provide therapy services for children with complex injuries. As the service grew the scope of services expanded to include national Assessment services for Adults and Children. In 2015 PRS gained the highly regarded CARF accreditation including Specialty programmes for Traumatic Brain Injury, Paediatrics and Independent Evaluation Services. With ABI’s purchase of PRS in 2018 Deborah assumed the role of General Manager of Community Services. Her belief is that the provision of a quality service on every level of an organisation is fundamental to clients achieving meaningful outcomes. It is her intention that every person who interacts with the Community Service will have a quality experience.
The position of General Manager – Business and Resources is challenging and rewarding which gives Sue the overall responsibility for business services across the organisation including Finance, Human Resources, Quality , IT and Administration. With a Post Graduate degree in Business and a background in Human Resources and Business Administration, Sue brings many years of knowledge, skills and experience to this position. Sue’s personal philosophy is that we are only limited by the limits we place on ourselves. To that end , she sees her role as helping to create an environment within ABI Rehabilitation that ensures the provision of consistently high quality services through sustainable practice and professional and committed teams.
Hailing from the US, Dr. Tanya S. Harris received her medical diploma from Philadelphia’s Temple University School of Medicine in 2002. She went on to graduate at the top of her residency at the University of Kentucky before starting her own rehabilitation practice. Drawn to neurorehabilitation, she went on to earn subspecialty board certifications in Brain Injury Medicine and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She has had the pleasure of serving as the TBI/Polytrauma Director for Bay Pines Veterans’ Hospital where she helped bolster function and quality of life among combat veterans. She enjoys teaching at local medical schools and volunteering as a medical board examiner in her free time. She is now excited to contribute to brain injury care in New Zealand under the auspices of ABI, Auckland.
Angela has worked as an RN for over 20 years. She was charge nurse at Auckland Hospital’s neurology/TBI ward for five years before moving to ABI Rehabilitation initially as nurse manager. Angela now works with admissions team and liaises with DHBs within the North Island. Following graduation, Angela completed a BHSc (Nursing) through Charles Sturt University and a MHSc (Nursing) through Auckland University. She is currently working on her clinical doctorate looking at the contribution of nursing within rehabilitation.
Graham has over 20 years’ experience in operational financial management, specializing in establishing and streamlining systems. A resourceful and innovative problem solver, he holds the firm belief that robust processes and procedures are an integral part of sound commercial management in any sector of the economy. Graham enjoys the challenge of working as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure the highest quality service standards are delivered, to ensure positive outcomes for clients, their families and wider communities. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Graham is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a commerce degree from the University of Auckland majoring in accounting.
Stephanie has worked in the health sector for 30 years. As a Registered Nurse, Stephanie initially worked in neurosurgical and neurology wards both in New Zealand and the UK. Following this Stephanie gained nursing experience in general medicine, gastroenterology and clinical research. In 2003 Stephanie moved into a management role for the Health Foundation of New Zealand. Stephanie assisted with the development of a community based cardiac rehabilitation programme. Between 2007 and February 2015 Stephanie worked for two District Health Boards in their Planning and Funding Teams. The focus of this work was on long term condition services in General Practice, palliative care and cancer control. Stephanie is the Quality Risk and Compliance Manager at ABI. Stephanie is based in Auckland but works across all ABI services. Stephanie is focused on improving the overall quality of ABI service, reducing the risks that can occur to clients and staff, and complying with national and international standards for the delivery of health care 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.
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.
Shona is the Rehabilitation Services Manager for our Auckland Intensive site. Shona has an Occupational Therapist background predominantly working in community and inpatient neurological rehabilitation settings, as well as within a specialised wheelchair and seating service. Shona has previously worked in both clinical and leadership roles and is currently completing her Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management.
Christine joined ABI in September 2019 as the Nursing Services Manager at the Wellington facility. She is responsible for the smooth running of the facility and the growth and development of the nursing and rehab assistant roles within the service.
Christine is a registered nurse with extensive experience in the primary health sector and experience with leading teams and managing change. She has a form commitment to applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles of equity to practice, embracing whānau as key participants in the client journey.
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.
Rachelle worked in inpatient and community rehabilitation since 1996 and brain injury rehabilitation in residential and community settings since 2000. Rachelle has had many roles within ABI Rehabilitation since 2008, including rehab coordinator, community occupational therapist and Team Leader for ABI Rehabilitation’s concussion services. For the past year Rachelle has been employed as the community services manager. Rachelle manages the community team in Auckland as well as carries a clinical caseload. Working in the community and helping clients achieve their goals is a rewarding part of her role. Rachelle is focused on growing the community team and building excellence and skill amongst ABI’s clinicians. Rachelle has implemented strategies over the past 12 months that have improved ABI’s 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.
Kristen graduated from the CIT in Wellington as an occupational therapist before working in many areas of mental health in both New Zealand and England. On her return to NZ in 1996 she worked to develop the Mental Health Service Coordination role in the Wellington Region. After a break to have children, she began working in the field of Serious TBI before moving to Vocational Rehabilitation and ACC contract work. Kristen then worked as a contractor for ABI as well as a private practitioner in Vocational Rehabilitation. In 2016 she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Rehabilitation at Otago University. She began her role as Community Service Manager at ABI Wellington in October 2015 and is enjoying the experience of service development and consolidation at ABI Wellington.