EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Philippa leads DISC Trust and has overall responsibility for the trusts harm reduction services which include needle exchanges, hepatitis C screening and treatment, health services, drug checking, and the nation-wide pharmacy needle exchange programme. 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 Otautahi.

MANAGER | SOUTHLAND

Kylie Munro is the Manager of our Waihopai Invercargill exchange, where she is dedicated to supporting clients through needle exchange services. Her personal journey, including overcoming addiction, deeply fuels her passion for helping others facing similar challenges. Kylie places a strong emphasis on building meaningful relationships with clients, ensuring they feel valued and supported throughout their journey.

Outside of her professional role, Kylie prioritises her children and has a profound love for animals, reading, and music.

MANAGER | OTAGO

Meet Serena, our dedicated manager for the Otago region. Based at our needle exchange in Ōtepoti Dunedin, Serena is passionate about harm reduction, equity and the rights of people who use drugs.

With over 10 years' experience working in a variety of roles, she finds it extremely valuable to be able to use her life experience to help support clients and build relationships within the community. Her lived experience fosters and deepens reciprocity and empathy with clients and she enjoys the strong sense of community and solidarity. She loves having a job in a peer-based harm reduction service that is dedicated to help eliminate stigma against people who use drugs.

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

MANAGER | NELSON NEEDLE EXCHANGE

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 | CANTERBURY

Meet Belinda, our dedicated Manager for Canterbury. Based at the Rodger Wright Centre in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Belinda brings over 20 years of experience in needle exchange services to her role. Her extensive background spans various positions within the field, including managing the Timaru and Ashburton exchanges since 2015, and overseeing all of Canterbury from 2023. Belinda also served on the board of the National Needle Exchange Programme, underscoring her commitment and expertise.

Belinda’s passion for her work is evident in her enjoyment of front desk interactions and meeting new people. Originally from sunny Queensland, she has called New Zealand home for over 30 years.

Outside of work, Belinda is a fan of good food and books and shares her life with her beloved cat, Owyn.

NATIONAL HARM REDUCTION LEAD

Jason is a nationally respected leader in peer-based harm reduction, with over 20 years of frontline and leadership experience in needle exchange and drug checking services. He developed and leads NZ’s only continuous drug checking service 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.

Jason 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 PWID for several years.

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.

SERVICE MANAGER, COMMUNITY HEALTH

Meet Vanessa, our champion for health and community matters at DISC Trust. As the Service Manager, Community Health, she’s dedicated to health promotion and harm reduction principles, leading the Rodger Wright Community Clinic and Mobile Hep C Outreach across Te Waipounamu. Vanessa excels at building strong relationships and fostering whanaungatanga with everyone she works with. Her favourite part of the role is witnessing the positive impact of our initiatives on the community and celebrating those successes.

Originally from North Dakota, USA and now a proud Kiwi, Vanessa enjoys exploring our beautiful Aotearoa through hiking and photography.

MANAGER, PHARMACY & PARTNER PROGRAMME

Diane is the Manager of the Pharmacy and Partner programme, a national role to support participating pharmacies and alternate outlets across Aotearoa that are part of the needle exchange programme. This includes recruitment and training with ongoing support, engagement, and continuing relationships with their teams. Diane is proud to have been involved in harm reduction since 2013 and has seen many positive changes to the services provided to clients over that time.

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

PEER LEAD, TIMARU NEEDLE EXCHANGE

Kara Voice has been a vital part of the DISC Trust's Timaru Needle Exchange since 2016. With both lived and professional experience, she has witnessed the evolution of harm reduction services in Aotearoa, driven by forward-thinking people committed to positive change.

Passionate about education and advocacy, Kara works to break down stigma and discrimination, ensuring that people who inject or use drugs are treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone else when seeking support or medical care. She believes harm reduction benefits the entire community and is dedicated to sharing knowledge that fosters understanding.

Originally from Christchurch, Kara and her partner relocated to Timaru after the earthquakes. They now live rurally, about half an hour from town, with their beloved 11-year-old German Shepherd, Jacks. In her free time, she enjoys walking in nature and unwinding by the river.

TE AO MĀORI ADVISOR

Stacey is a Te Ao Māori Advisor with over 12 years’ experience in rangatahi leadership, Māori governance, and whānau-focused development. As the driver of DISC Trust’s Ruku Hōhonu Māori Capability Plan, he ensures the organisation lives its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Stacey has represented Kāi Tahu and his hapū, Te Rūnaka o Koukourārata, for the past four years and brings a spiritual connection to the whenua and mātauranga Māori. Through his guidance, kaimahi grow their confidence in Te Reo, pūrākau, and tikanga, supported to learn, make mistakes, and deepen their connection to Te Ao Māori. 

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.

RESEARCH FELLOW, DUNEDIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Geoff is a medical anthropologist and independent researcher, with more than two decades of experience in drug policy, public health, and harm reduction research.

As a Research Fellow at the University of Otago and Research Coordinator for DISC Trust, Geoff has led pivotal studies including Aotearoa’s most recent seroprevalence survey (2023) and the successful trial of peer-led hepatitis C point-of-care testing (NZMJ, 2020).

Geoff’s 20-year association with the NZ Needle Exchange Programme has involved him in project management and evaluation, including periodic client and service surveys, as well as service development and governance.  He plays a key role in national hepatitis C planning and continues to centre peer involvement in research and service evaluation.