Our Team | Our Board

DR SAM WHITE PhD
DR SAM WHITE PhDExecutive Director
Sam’s multi-faceted career spans practicing in rural and urban settings; funding and planning across three DHBs; teaching; and GM of an addiction service.
Sam completed a PhD about growing the addictions workforce in 2023. She has a passion for supporting our members to foster excellence and build great careers in addiction practice.
RĀWIRI (DAVID) IHIMAERA
RĀWIRI (DAVID) IHIMAERAPou Rautaki
Rāwiri grew up in Manurewa, South Auckland and he belongs to the Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa tribal groups. In 2002, Rāwiri with his wife and their tamariki moved to Mitimiti in the Hokianga and then to Moerewa in Taumārere. Over the following years Rāwiri connected to the many ancestral markers mentioned in his pepeha, immersed himself in Taitokerau tikanga and tribal histories, and started his first addiction work at Te Hauora o Ngāti Hine in Kawakawa. From these humble beginnings Rāwiri has accumulated numerous clinical and cultural experiences, skills and academic credentials, and he is incredibly proud to be the Pou Rautaki for Dapaanz.

Meet our Board

TAKURUA TAWERA
TAKURUA TAWERAPou Whakarae
Takurua Tawera is Pou Whakarae for dapaanz, nominated by the Māori caucus, and sits on the dapaanz board. A registered practitioner, Takurua is also Co-chair (Māori Caucus) for Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga/National Network of Family Violence Services and Chair of the White Ribbon Campaign Trust.
EMMA HUNTER
EMMA HUNTERChair
Emma is Head of Service Development for The Salvation Army, overseeing procurement, contracting and set up of new services across Social Mission, as well as national workforce development and clinical support and oversight for clinical teams and the lived experience workforce.

Emma’s professional journey also encompasses roles as an addictions & EMDR practitioner. With a background as a senior executive in the international airline and aviation sector, Emma brings extensive board and governance experience to her Chair role at dapaanz and looks forward to supporting the dapaanz membership base, championing innovation, and working collaboratively to advance the addiction sector in Aotearoa.
Driven by a deep commitment to social justice and equitable outcomes, Emma is passionate about amplifying the voices of those with lived experience in shaping service delivery. As a non-indigenous researcher, she is dedicated to advancing Māori health outcomes, with a particular focus on research and evaluation that supports meaningful, culturally responsive change.

POLLY WEBSDELL
POLLY WEBSDELLDeputy Chair
Polly has enjoyed working in the addiction sector for more than 20 years in a variety of roles. She is a registered practitioner and accredited supervisor.
Currently working at Waitematā DHB in a clinical supervisor role, she is passionate about supporting the people in our services, both staff and tāngata whai ora, to have lives and work that are meaningful, satisfying, and in line with their unique values and goals.
She has a particular interest in warm welcomes and engagement and making the first step a little bit easier for people.
BRIDGITTE THORNLEY
BRIDGITTE THORNLEYBoard Member
Bridgitte is passionate about supporting a professional gambling harm workforce that embraces mana enhancing practice and strengthens kaimahi resilience. Bridgitte is a Registered Social Worker and member of Dapaanz. Her current role is Kaihautū Haumanu, Clinical Director of PGF Services. As a previous addiction counsellor, with lived experience of addiction, she understands the mahi and effort required to work in the sector.
ROMY LEE
ROMY LEEBoard Member
Romy serves as the Service Manager – Child and Youth at Asian Family Services and has previously held roles at the Ministry of Health and Whāraurau.

With experience in both lived experience and clinical roles, Romy is excited to contribute to a well supported and diverse addictions workforce. She is especially committed to elevating the voices of young people, lived experience and Asian whānau in her mahi.

Romy holds a Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice.

TOPOU FOLAU
TOPOU FOLAUBoard Member
Topou has worked in the MH&A sector for more than 15 years and is a registered practitioner and accredited supervisor. Currently working at Waitematā DHB in workforce development, he is committed to developing the addiction workforce in Aotearoa and supporting them to achieve their career goals.