The Team at The Stuttering Treatment and Research Trust

Great to meet you!

We'd love to chat about how we can help

Ki mai ki ahau, he aha te mea nui o tenei ao
Te tangata! Te tangata! Te tangata!

Ask me what is important in this world It is people! It is people! It is people!

We are the only team in New Zealand specialising in stuttering therapy.

Our commitment to ongoing professional development, excellence in practice and team collaboration means that we are leaders in this field. The START team trains other speech language therapists to work with people who stutter and frequently provides advice and support to other therapists. We do this willingly to support better quality therapy and support for people who stutter. There are many ways you can support our team to do their vital work.

Janelle Irvine

BSLT (Hons), MNZSTA, GDipNFPMgt, Executive Director, Clinical Leader – Speech Language Therapy

Janelle, a graduate of the University of Canterbury, joined the START team in 2009, having worked as a Speech Language Therapist for the Ministry of Education prior to this. Janelle quickly developed her specialist skills and passion for working with people who stutter and their families. Having a particular interest in working with children, she has worked with some of our youngest clients and their whānau over her 14 years at START. Over time, Janelle’s belief in social support and quality relationships led to her consciously developing a START ‘community’ through a range of initiatives. This vision and leadership led her to being appointed Executive Director and Clinical Leader of START. Janelle brings her heartfelt concern for those who stutter, and her belief in the START community to her leadership and management of START. She is committed to working to extend the reach and influence of START to benefit those who stutter.

Brittney Mackie

BSLP (Hons), MNZSTA – Specialist Speech Language Therapist

Brittney joined the START team in 2019. She graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2012 and worked for the Ministry of Education in Invercargill and then in the Hutt Valley. After this Brittney spent two years working as a locum Speech Language Therapist in the United Kingdom. She is experienced in working with children and young people with a range of speech, language and communication needs. Brittney has a keen interest in working with people who stutter and is an experienced and creative specialist in this area, able to offer a range of approaches. She values and enjoys helping people to build their confidence and abilities. Brittney involves key family members and others in this journey, where ever that works well for everyone. Brittney also values the opportunity to work with other education professionals to improve the lives of people who stutter. Brittney moved back to her home town of Invercargill in July 2022 and sees most of her clients via Zoom and she is available to see clients in person in Invercargill.

John Doleman

MSLTPrac (Hons), PGCert Psychology, MNZSTA – Specialist Speech Language Therapist

John has worked as a generalist Speech Language Therapist with a long term interest in speech sound difficulties and stuttering. After graduating from the University of Auckland in 2008 and spending a year working as a Speech Language Therapist in New Zealand, he moved to the UK in 2009 and spent the next 12 years working within the NHS and then building his own private practice in London. He moved back to New Zealand in July 2021 and, although he remains passionate about supporting people with a range of communication differences, he is enjoying specialising in working with people who stutter at START and with people of different ages. Drawing on his extensive experience, John likes to work with families and other professionals in a collaborative way; he believes ‘therapy’ should be a two way process as this way of working brings about the best outcomes for people.

Chris Lawson

MSLTPrac (Hons), MNZSTA – Specialist Speech Language Therapist

Chris joined the START team in June 2023. He graduated in 2017 from the University of Auckland with a Master of Speech Language Therapy Practice, with previous undergraduate study in psychology. Chris has gained a wide range of experience working for the Ministry of Education and Talking Trouble Aotearoa New Zealand prior to joining START. His experience as a Speech Language Therapist and prior endeavours as a high school youth worker have led to an interest in working with people who stutter in a holistic way that supports their wellbeing. Chris values the personal experiences and expertise that clients who stutter bring, and is committed to walking alongside and supporting them in their journey. He also has a keen interest in clinical and community education to upskill others so that they can better support people who stutter.

Felix Unger

BASocWk, PGCertICAMH, PGCopCBT, SWRBNZ, ANZASW – Social Worker

Over the past eight years, Felix has worked in a variety of mental health and wellbeing positions across the upper and central North Island supporting young people, adults and families from all walks of life. He graduated from the Catholic University of Applied Science in Freiburg Germany in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Social Work, and made his way to Aotearoa in the same year. He is a (New Zealand) registered social worker. Born and raised in Germany, Felix is a person who stutters. He received speech language therapy in Germany and via START in New Zealand. He understands first-hand many of the ups, downs and challenges which can come with stuttering. Felix brings a unique set of skills and experience to the START team and has completed further postgraduate courses at the University of Auckland including recently being trained in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. He is passionate about combining his professional skills as a social worker with his own experiences as a person who stutters to support others who are impacted by stuttering in their lives. Felix is based in Mount Maunganui and delivers sessions remotely via Zoom.

Dr Anna Hearne

PhD

Anna is an experienced speech language therapist who has specialised in working with people of all ages who stutter for over 20 years. She has a heartfelt commitment to working with people who stutter. In 2006 she completed a PhD at the Australian Stuttering Research Centre (ASRC) investigating therapy for teenagers who stutter. Anna is a member of the Lidcombe Programme Trainers Consortium (LPTC) and delivers workshops internationally. She initially joined the START team in 2007 before moving back to Australia for a number of years. She re-joined START in 2015 and worked co-jointly at START and Massey University until the end of 2021. Since the beginning of 2022, Anna has taken on a full-time remote role at the ASRC which involves working with clients, lecturing, research and training of speech language therapists. Although Anna is now living in Australia, she is still an important part of the START community and continues to facilitate our Lidcombe Program workshops.

Karen Cook

Accountant

Karen has been providing in-house finance and accounting services for a variety of businesses, large and small, for over 20 years. She provides a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over this time and has always tried to include some charitable work in her mix of clients. She aims to make the finance function a simple & efficient part of each business and for the businesses clients.

Nikki Draper

Grants Coordinator

Nikki has worked in a number of not-for-profit organisations over the years, as well as in the corporate world, in a variety of roles from marketing to events and fundraising. Nikki likes to be making a difference with the work that she does and loves seeing the difference that START makes to the lives of those who stutter, and their families. Nikki is our Grants Coordinator and her role is to apply for trust & grant funds for START.

Morgan McGregor

Communication Co-ordinator

Morgan has worked with a number of charities and small businesses on their marketing and administration, and is passionate about helping START reach more people who stutter, in more effective and helpful ways. She works across the organisation’s fundraising, marketing, the website, and START’s digital administration to help make everything function smoothly and securely.

Meet the Board

Our Board is a dedicated team of volunteers who provide support and guidance.

They have been chosen for their wide range of skills, experience and commitment to START and its governance. They provide strategic direction and oversight to the START team together with wider support for the Mission of START.

Eric Allan

Board Chair

Eric’s many years of involvement in social services has included governance and leadership roles in a wide range of community social services. He also has extensive management and direct service provision experience. As an adult who lives with a stutter and who has benefited from the support of speech language therapists at START, he profoundly supports the contribution that START makes to enable a high quality specialist service for people of all ages who stutter. Eric joined the START Board at the beginning of 2018 and has been the Chair of the Board since that time.

Anita Hayhoe

Anita joined the Board in 2018 with interests in singing and working with the voice, as well as in governance, and as a member of the Institute of Directors. As the Marketing Manager in her current role at an investment firm, she plans global campaigns across three offices and 140 countries. As a Board member, she feels privileged to support the team who make therapy and support available for people who stutter and thereby enable them to reach their potential.

Tony McAlwee

For many years Tony held senior executive roles with two major players in the civil construction industry. While still running his own commercial consultancy business in Auckland, Tony has undertaken a permanent role supporting the supply chain requirements of a New Zealand owned business, through this period of global disruption. He’s a member of the Institute of Directors and a Director of a marine related business. The opportunity to be a part of the START team is a privilege, as an organisation that provides real help to real people in need. Tony joined the START Board at the beginning of 2018 and thoroughly enjoys being part of an active and highly functional team.

Geoff Cardale

As a young man, Geoff was one of the founding trustees of START and re-joined the Board in May 2019. He has both financial, management experience across service and manufacturing industries, and he recently completed his MBA. Geoff is a full member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Governance NZ. He has returned to the START Board to use and share his own life experiences to make a difference for young people who stutter.

Rachael Joel

Rachael’s passion for and expertise in effective communication is a natural fit for START. She is delighted to join the Board and contribute to our mission. Rachael is a senior strategic communications professional who works with Fortune 500 companies, listed companies, not-for-profits and fast-growing businesses in established and emerging sectors. She is a member of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand as well as the Institute of Directors New Zealand. Rachael joined the Board in May 2021.

Dean Cook

Dean is delighted to return to the board after three years away. Having stuttered since primary school, Dean’s first interaction with START was as a student in the early 90s when he did an intensive fluency course. Being given the tools to control his speech was life changing. From there, Dean had the confidence to complete his university studies and pursue his chosen career in marketing. Dean has held GM Marketing Executive roles across some of NZ’s largest retail chains for the past 15 years and previously served on the START board from 2006 to 2019. The Board is very pleased to have a much valued Board member back on the Board.

Matthew Hill

Matthew is pleased to be a new member of the START board. After university, Matthew began his career as a lawyer in a national law firm where he now specialises in local government and public law. Matthew has in the past benefited from the services offered by START and is passionate about the work it undertakes to help people who stutter and their families. Through his involvement on the board, Matthew hopes that he is able to make a valuable contribution to the START community and, thereby, to the lives of people who stutter.

Zheen Abdullazada

Zheen graduated from the University of Auckland in 2023 with a Conjoint Law and Arts Degree, majoring in Politics and International Relations, and Criminology. She now works as a litigation lawyer in Tāmaki Makarau. Despite her dreams of becoming a lawyer, there were many times growing up she doubted her career choice due to her stutter. However, therapy from START as a teenager was life-changing for her. In August 2023, Zheen joined the START Board as a Shadow Board Member to give back to the organisation that supported her while also gaining experience in board governance of a community organisation.