Our People

Our team is made up of talented people who use their expertise and collective experience to deliver services across the country. Our consultants all have front-line experience working with at-risk children and young people including experience from Child, Youth and Family, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Corrections, Police, and the legal profession. Our support team use their expertise in accountancy, sales, marketing, customer service and administration to ensure the logistical and financial aspects of our services are delivered in the most effective and cost-efficient way.

Jane Searle

Chief Executive Officer

Jane started her career as a barrister and solicitor...

Jane started her career as a barrister and solicitor, before joining the New Zealand Police. After qualifying as a detective, Jane worked on child abuse teams for several years. Jane has also worked as a counter fraud specialist in the United Kingdom, where she led a team responsible for fraud detection and investigation in the National Health Service. After returning to New Zealand, Jane worked as a trainer and investigator for local government, financial institutions, insurance companies and the health sector, before joining Child Matters in 2015.

Megan West

National Services Manager

Megan is a qualified and registered social worker...

Megan is a qualified and registered social worker. Prior to coming to Child Matters in 2019, Megan worked at Oranga Tamariki for a number of years where she held the roles of social worker and then Specialist Child Witness Interviewer, which included progressing to a National Assessor and co-trainer for Child Witness Interviewing. More recently she worked as a social work supervisor for Oranga Tamariki. Megan also has experience working as a social worker on the paediatric ward at Waikato Hospital. As the National Services Manager, Megan is responsible for leading a team of Child Protection Consultants and for the delivery of the child protection trainings, consultancy and policy advisory services. She is also a member of the Waikato Child, Youth Mortality Review Group. Megan is also the Chair of the Hamilton Oranga Tamariki Care and Protection Resource Panel.

Moyna Fletcher

Child Protection Consultant

Moyna joined Child Matters in 2007 after having spent 22 years...

Moyna joined Child Matters in 2007 after having spent 22 years working in child abuse prevention and neglect. She has been the tutor for the Diploma in Child Protection Studies for the past eight years. She has a special interest in preventing abuse of children with disabilities. Moyna also provides child protection training to the British High Commission for all officials and professionals who travel to Pitcairn Island and has travelled to Pitcairn Island twice for this purpose.

Alan McGlade

Child Protection Consultant

Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, Alan worked in the United Kingdom...

Prior to emigrating to New Zealand, Alan worked in the United Kingdom Prison Service. In New Zealand, Alan has 25 years’ experience with the New Zealand Police. After he qualified as a detective, Alan specialised in serious child abuse investigation. Additionally, Alan spent five years as the domestic violence mentor to Vanuatu, spending time both in-country and remotely driving improvements in legislation, policy and best practice.

Helen Heta

Child Protection Consultant

Helen has 18 years’ experience working with perpetrators of abuse...

Helen has 18 years’ experience working with perpetrators of abuse, their victims, and their children. She spent 10 years working with victims and children experiencing or surviving the effects of domestic violence with Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women’s Refuge and Hamilton Refuge and Support Services as an advocate for change, as well as finance and funding manager for both refuges. Helen worked for six years with Family Works Waikato as the family/whānau victim’s advocate on the NZ Police Family Safety Team. She also spent two years with the Department of Corrections as a Reintegration Co-ordinator for Tai Aroha Intensive Treatment Unit for high risk violent offenders, and as a Waikato Probation Officers specialising in PAC (Providing Advice to the Courts) report writing. Helen’s passion is working with families/whānau experiencing domestic violence issues and abuse, with a focus on education and tailored holistic interventions, programme design, and programme evaluation. Helen joined Child Matters in January 2018 and draws on her immense experience working with both perpetrators and victims of abuse when developing and delivering her training.

Karen Rogers

Child Protection Consultant

Karen joined Child Matters in 2020...

Karen joined Child Matters in 2020. Karen began her foray into social services in the 90’s working in a community agency where she facilitated family violence groups prior to returning to tertiary education in 1996. Karen then joined Oranga Tamariki and has built up 20 years’ experience as a frontline worker at Oranga Tamariki. Karen has worked in a number of roles at Oranga Tamariki and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of child protection. Karen has is committed to improving outcomes for all tamariki throughout Aotearoa.

Shane Harris

Child Protection Consultant

Shane is a qualified, registered social worker who has been working in the criminal justice, child protection...

Shane is a qualified, registered social worker who has been working in the criminal justice, child protection, and harmful sexual behaviour sectors since 1999.

Shane worked for 15 years with Safe Network as a social worker, trainer, therapist, and as part of the leadership and management team. Through this he gained valuable skills and knowledge of the complex dynamics of harmful sexual behaviour.
Shane’s child protection experience was increased through his role as the Child Protection Service Coordinator for the Counties Manukau DHB, and as a supervisor for Oranga Tamariki (then Child Youth and Family).

Shane recently joined the Child Matters team to expand his capacity to affect greater positive change in the awareness and practice of child protection in Aotearoa.

 
 

Search

Added to basket

CheckoutContinue shopping