Our People

I am an experienced Occupational Therapist who first qualified in 1986 and moved from Scotland to Central Otago New Zealand in 2003.  I have a Diploma and Degree in Occupational Therapy and also a Master of Health Science (endorsed in Palliative Care). In Scotland I worked for many years in community before moving into management of services for people with physical disabilities. On immigrating to New Zealand I managed an Occupational Therapy Team in a rural hospital before changing into private practice for a number of years.  In 2012 I moved into palliative care working within rural communities. In 2023 I moved to Dunedin and after taking a break I am about to take up a position in vocational rehabilitation. I have previously worked on the OTNZ-WNA council for 6 years first in the research and development portfolio before moving to the treasurer portfolio, when council members held portfolios. I am married with three adult children who have all flown the coup and we have Bailey; a huntaway/collie cross. We lived in Central Otago for 20 years before moving to Dunedin. I am looking forward to making new friends and catching up with old friends and family. I have a keen interest in always trying to see the bigger picture for the development of our profession.  I have enjoyed representing OTNZ-WNA as Tangata Tiriti Council President and look forward to supporting and guiding the Association over the next year.

I have been an occupational therapist and member of OTNZ-WNA for over 20 years because I value the professional connections, advocacy & development opportunities membership provides.  As an OTNZ-WNA Tangata Tiriti Council member I bring business background and skills in the areas of governance, strategy and finance. During my term on Council I am invested in developing a future-focussed Association that is strategic in thinking and approach to ensure we drive efficiency & tangible outcomes. I believe that if Council, the Association operations team and members can work together, we can secure our place in an allied health workforce of the future as a progressive, forward focussed profession. During my workday I am a co-founder and the Managing Director of reThink Children’s Therapy where I lead a multi-disciplinary team, while also building relationships with key stakeholders throughout Aotearoa. I am a true southerner having been raised, studied and now living with my husband, teen & young adult children in beautiful Otēpoti Dunedin. I value every opportunity to spend time with my whānau as we explore both locally & globally together. 

Ko Nikisha (Keisha) Edmonds ahau. I am based in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, and have been practising as a Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau for almost 7 years. During my time in this profession, I have worked in Kaupapa Māori AOD services, Regional Forensic Kaupapa Māori secure units, and Specialist Community kaupapa Māori adult mental health teams – all of which have been within a DHB setting. Outside of OT, I have the awesome mahi of being a māmā to two young tamariki who keep me on my toes, keep me humble, and most of all, keep me grounded. As a Tangata Whenua Council member, my passion for all aspects of Te Āo Māori has grown immensely. This has extended to my mahi as a Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau Māori – where striving to ensure that Māori feel supported and heard in all the different areas of occupational therapy has been at the forefront. I take pride in knowing that OTNZ-WNA is a two-house governance model that highlights the mutual respect and on-going reconciliations of both tangata tiriti and tangata whenua to ensure Te Tiriti o Waitangi continues to be upheld. My goal is to further encourage and unify the working partnership between both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti to promote a wāhi for all OTNZ-WNA members to flourish together.

“Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati ki te kāpuia e kore e whati“– If there is but one reed it will break, but if it is bunched together, it will not. 

I have been a registered Occupational Therapist for over 15 years working primarily in the Mental Health and Addictions sector, with time also spent in private vocational rehabilitation and older adults’ services within NZ, Australia and the UK. I have worked within project leadership/ management and Occupational Therapy leadership positions within Waitematā Mental Health and Addictions Services, however recently I have taken up a role as the Allied Health Care Capacity Demand Management Lead for Waitemata. I feel an incredibly strong connection to occupational therapy as a profession and the impact that we can have moving forward. Outside of the workplace I reside in Beach Haven on Auckland North Shore with my wife Bec and two daughters Aggie (5 years) and Daisy (3 months), I can often be found in my shed buried in parts and memorabilia working on vintage motorcycles.