Our team has extensive combined experience in the program co-design methodology, in facilitation and in local connections and networks. 

Dr. Annick Janson is an Associate at the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research, Victoria University of Wellington, past Research Director at the NZ Leadership Institute, University of Auckland Business School and Research Director, Microsoft NZ. She is the c-President of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology and Fellow of the Gallup International Positive Psychology Institute. Annick trained as an educational psychologist with 20 years of experience and lived experience raising her adult disabled son. Her special interest in youth development and network building in the disability sector. Annick is Co-Founder and Research Director of the Now and Next and Keys to Lead suite of programs for youth and families. Rolled out in New Zealand, Australia, Finland and Canada, this Research and Development program pioneers the implementation of Positive Psychology in the Health & Disability sector as an alternative to the traditional deficit-based medical model.

Melissa Janson: Growing up as the sister to a neurodiverse person has been a powerful experience. Melissa believes that societies can benefit enormously, when people with disabilities are supported in such a way that they can contribute and share their gifts, as her brother has. She especially enjoys working with other siblings. In the past 6 years she set up an on-site Positive Behaviour Support team at a residential service provider, made up of about 180 people with disabilities and upwards of 500 staff. Together with her colleagues, she worked to create a space of wellbeing rather than crisis, by training staff in simple evidence-based strategies to use with people they support everyday. She has joined Now and Next, as she knows that this wellbeing and prevention work should start early. She is excited about teaming up with families and supporting their unique journeys.

Janine Morrah has lived experience with disability. She teaches at tertiary level in Linguistics, Human Development, Anthropology and Management. After tutoring and lecturing for 20 years, she shifted into the Disability sector, supporting youth and their family/whanau of those with needs. Working with youth inspires Janine to do better and consider things from more than one point of view – There's more than one way to get to the same end point and she has found that the journey to get there has more meaning than that final goal attainment. “I find that I learn just as much from those keen enquiring minds as they do soaking up the knowledge I bring for them to take and shape in their worlds”.

Bryony

Bryony grew up in Kirikiriroa and, after spending her twenties exploring the world, has made Whāingaroa her home. She joined Youth Quest in 2023 and brings with her a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Waikato. She is currently completing her clinical psychology training. Bryony’s background is in special education, where she supported rangatahi with complex needs. Her warmth, dedication to helping young people grow into independence, and her wonderfully silly sense of humour make her a valued member of our team.

Ruby

Kia ora! My name is Ruby Gibbs and I live in Whāingaroa Raglan. I have been involved with Annick and Youth Quest since early 2024 when I completed the course myself, and I have since facilitated three programmes. I completed my Bachelor's and Post Grad Diploma in Psychology in 2013 and am currently studying to become a secondary social studies teacher. I have experience working as a teacher aide in both special education and mainstream schooling. Myself and Bryony Wilson also run a holiday programme for special needs children in Whāingaroa. I am passionate about youth mental health and am involved in a lot of community initiatives in Raglan. 

Maddie

When I first came about the Youth Quest programme it was through one of my past kindergarten teachers, who taught me through my time at Mackenzie Center, Trisha Benge. Growing up I was diagnosed with dyspraxia and Mackenzie Center really helped me through that stage in my life and I truly believe it made me into who I am today. Trisha was one of my biggest supporters during my time there, so being recommended onto the Youth Quest program to give it a go was honestly one of the best opportunities I had been given. When I first did the program myself it was really cool to see what the program is all about and how it benefits so many people. Goals are always one of the biggest things people struggle with, especially knowing how to start one, the program outlines this well in the structure and leaves people who attend the course feeling like they're on the right track and are starting to succeed their journey towards their goal. One of my goals was based on creating a better study habit towards studying outside of class, from talking to Annick and the factailtors I was able to open my idea into a study planner and it has helped me in multiple ways. I was lucky enough to be approached by Annick about joining the Youth Quest team after completing the first workshop and decided to join. During my time now as a factailtor on this wonderful team I can see how much work is endlessly put into it and how Annick and everyone else puts themselves forward to give their best out of these workshops we present to the people that come along. I have heard from many people that they find these workshops beneficial, supportive and most of all guiding in ways of helping them to understand more things about themselves or who they may desire to become. These workshops impact so many people greatly and I know for a fact that if they keep going we can keep guiding so many people and make the workshops even better. I truly am so grateful for the opportunity of being a factailtor and I hope to keep factaliting as time goes on. 

Kate

I’m passionate about neurodiversity-affirming practices and culturally responsive approaches, especially those that empower Māori and other marginalised communities - particularly within the disabled student population. As someone with lived experience of both autism and ADHD, I’m deeply aware of the societal and systemic barriers disabled students and people face, especially in schooling and psychological services. My biggest goal and passion in life is to help improve outcomes and wellbeing, and to contribute to changing those systemic issues for tamariki and rangatahi wherever I can.