Meet the Team

Kim

Wāhi Mārie Service Manager

Kia ora, my name is Kim and I am a forensic nurse and the Service Manager for Wāhi Mārie.

I hail from USA, living on the Canadian border and the shores of the Great Lake, Lake Superior for much of my life.

I am a Registered Nurse and have 20 years working as a Nurse Practitioner with vulnerable populations prior to moving to New Zealand in 2003.

I have a Kiwi husband and 2 grown sons and 2 grand daughters who I love spending time with.

I love to travel, cook, garden, going for long walks and spending time watching the waves out my back door.

Oh, and I love crosswords and number puzzles!

Jen

Wāhi Mārie Clinical Lead

She/her pronouns

I’m the Clinical Leader for the Medical and Forensic Sexual Assault Service and am also a Sexual Health physician.

I’m one of the doctors people will see when referred to our service and work both during the daytime and out of hours for forensic exams.

I trained as a doctor in England and have worked in New Zealand most of my professional life, working in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Auckland, Rotorua, Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch and Hawkes Bay before settling here with my whānau here in 2011.

It’s a privilege to work in this role, and I appreciate the trust you place in us when you come to our service, thank you.

When not at work I spend a lot of time outside paddling, walking and biking.

Most important to me are my whānau and friends, and human rights.

Katherine

Wāhi Mārie Lead Nurse

My name is Katherine and I am an experienced Registered Nurse.

I have worked in various nursing roles throughout my career including a post grad qualification in Mental Health.  More recently I have been working as a Practice Nurse, smear taker and trainer.

I started my role as the Lead Nurse for Wāhi Mārie in February 2024. I was drawn to this role, and the valuable work it undertakes, providing care for people who have experienced sexual violence and family violence. 

Outside of work, I enjoy running in the hills of Whanganui-A-Tara and spending time with friends and family.

Susanna

Wāhi Mārie Clinical Lead

I have been a GP for 30 years and have done sexual assault forensic work for 20+ years.  My ancestors came to NZ from England in 1865.  

No Ingarangi oku tipuna. I tae mae rātou ki Aotearoa i te tau kotahi mano, waru rau, ono tekau ma rima.

No Tauranga ahau

Kei te Whanganui- a -Tara e noho ana ahau inainei.

Ko Susanna Kent toku ingoa.

Fay

Wāhi Mārie Nurse Practitioner Lead for Wairarapa

Kia ora,  I am proud to be part of a local service for the communities within the Wairarapa region. I work in the Emergency Department at Masterton hospital part time and have been doing this additional role and mahi since 2022. My family and I live in the Wairarapa,  I am passionate that specialist services and care should be available to all communities.  I can flex my time and work out of various clinical locations in North and South Wairarapa to enable access that works for you. 

My children and farmyard menagerie keep me entertained when I’m not at work, so happy to chat about all things rural as well as the important subject of sexual wellbeing.”

Aoife

Wāhi Mārie Daytime Forensic Examiner

I’m originally from Ireland, and have lived in Aotearoa for the last eight years. I originally trained as a GP and Forensic Examiner here and I work between Porirua and the Wāhi Mārie clinic just off Cuba Street in Wellington.

My role with this service is guided by you and what you need on your journey. Sometimes this is medical care and sometimes it is something else entirely. We are here to help.

When I’m not at work I’m walking my dog on one of the many beautiful tramps Te Whanganui-a-Tara has to offer.

Sophie

Kaiāwhina

Kia ora, I am Sophie the Kaiāwhina here at Wāhi Mārie. 

I was brought up in Te Awakairangi/ Lower Hutt and have spent time studying at Victoria University as well at Otago University, graduating with a degree in Gender Studies.

I am currently based in Wellington and live with five lovely flat mates. In my spare time I am often found reading, exploring nature, or grabbing a coffee with a pal.