Kaimahi/Staff
At Step Ahead we have a dedicated team, committed to providing a welcoming and understanding environment for our members. Many staff have been working here for a long time and some have lived experience.
Anjie Rudge
Activities Coordinator
Anjie joined Step Ahead in October 2023.
Anjie works at our Ashburton base and coordinates many of the craft and cooking activities and day trips.
Charlotte Bougos
Activities Coordinator
Charlotte joined Step Ahead in 2021.
Charlotte coordinates our Te Reo Māori sessions and also gardening often liaising with the council to organise opportunties for our members to help out with planting at our community parks.
Jen Mead
Activities Coordinator
Jen joined Step Ahead in December 2024.
Jen has a Bachelor of Design and coordinates our art, craft, stone carving and singing activities. She works across the Stanmore and Puriri bases.
Malakai Waqasokolala
Ashburton Activities Coordinator
Malakai joined the Step Ahead Ashburton team in July 2025. He calls himself a FIWI (Fijian Kiwi). Malakai has previously worked in the hospitality and public health sectors. He enjoys meeting new people and sharing experiences with good friends and family.
Marco Mancin
Activities Coordinator
Marco joined Step Ahead in August 2024. Marco is an Associate Nutritionist and Lifestyle Coach with a passion for wellbeing and supporting people to live a healthier life, free from stress and focussing on the positive side of things. Marco is origianally from Northern Italy but has lived in Christchurch since 2013.
Olivia Tsouprake
Activities Coordinator
Liv joined Step Ahead in August 2024. She is originally from the USA but has lived in New Zealand since 2019. Liv has previously worked in the outdoor industry leading activities such as tramping, rock climbing, sea kayaking, white water rafting and skiing.
Peggy Tschampel
Activities Coordinator
Peggy joined Step Ahead in 2025. She works across our Stanmore, Puriri and Rangiora bases. Peggy coordinates many of our craft activites and cooks many of our fabulous lunches and dinners.
Rachel MacMillan
Activities Coordinator
Rachel joined Step Ahead in May 2020.
Rachel coordinates many of our art and craft and evening and outdoor activities. Rachel works across our Rangiora, Stanmore and Puriri bases.
SoonMay Travers
Activities Coordinator
SoonMay has been with Step Ahead since December 2022.
SoonMay coordinates our sewing, craft, music and science activities. She works across both Puriri, Rangiora and Stanmore bases.
Tom Pears
Activities Coordinator
Tom joined Step Ahead in April 2023 following a move from the UK.
Tom coordinates many of the outdoor activities such as tramping, surfing and climbing – supporting members to challenge themselves.
Cherie King
Tech Support
Cherie joined Step Ahead in September 2025.
Originally from Auckland she moved to Canterbury with her family in 2017. With a long background in IT, Cherie’s role is to support members and staff and with any technical issues, making technology a little easier for everyone.
Fiona Gill
Financial Administrator
Fiona joined Step Ahead in October 2025. Fiona works from home, overseeing the day to day finances.
Jen Dearborn
Senior Rural Coordinator
Jen joined the Step Ahead team in January 2022.
She is the Rural Senior Co-ordinator for Ashburton.
Anna Tau
Senior Rural Coordinator
Anna joined Step Ahead in 2009.
Anna is a senior co-ordinator who works across both the Stanmore and Puriri bases.
Kaylee Marriott
Enabling Good Lives Coordinator
Kaylee joined Step Ahead as a student, then in 2021 moved into the position of activity coordinator. Since 2024 Kaylee has been our Enabling Good Lives Coordinator.
Kaylee offers individual support with employment options, connecting with community services, referrals, life administration support and study opportunites.
Louise Tane
Communication and Engagement Coordinator
Louise joined Step Ahead in 2022 and works five days a week in the office so she is very likely to answer the phone when you call. She is also responsible for the monthly programmes and newsletters and promoting activities and events.
Prior to Step Ahead Louise was a teacher for 28 years.
Kylie Phillips
Office Administrator
Kylie joined Step Ahead in 2006.
Kylie is responsible for all administration tasks in the office and will most likely be the one to answer the phone when you call.
Annie Southern
Intentional Peer Support Practice Manager
Annie joined Step Ahead in February 2026 and works part time. Her work at Step Ahead focuses on developing Intentional Peer Support (IPS) approaches as ways of deepening Step Ahead’s existing communities of mutual support at every base. Annie comes from a work background in peer support service development and developing training programmes and is an organisational and national trainer in Intentional Peer Support.
Kevin Muir
Puriri Team Leader
Kevin joined Step Ahead in 2006 and is the Team Leader at our Puriri base.
Kevin also coordinates our woodwork and Parkrun acitivities.
Roger Searle
Finance & IT Manager
Roger is a long term staff member who first came to Step Ahead as a member over 30 years ago.
Roger is responsible for digital security, software, funding contracts, reporting, data analysis, performance and audit reports.
Di Cockburn
Operations Manager
Di has been a staff member at Step Ahead for over thirty years.
Di is responsible for overseeing our team of Activity Coordinators and the monthly programme.
Bryan Gilchrist
CEO
Bryan Gilchrist is the Chief Executive Officer of Step Ahead Trust. Originally from the United States, Bryan grew up in the Pacific Northwest and spent 25 years living in the Florida Keys before relocating internationally, most recently moving to New Zealand from Rome, Italy.
Meet us
Who are our board members?
Step Ahead’s board is comprised of trustees. These trustees are from the community and from Step Ahead Trust membership, having each gained a place on the board by being nominated and/or elected by Step Ahead members.
Our trustees are a hugely valuable part of Step Ahead. They use their experience and knowledge to guide Step Ahead, ensuring we continue to strive towards meeting our core philosophy and trust deed.
Those on the board add their own skills and knowledge or experience with mental illness when working with Step Ahead, and their passion for the organisation’s goals is greatly appreciated as we continue to work in the community.
Our current trustees
- Dianne Dinsmore (Chairperson)
- Annette Mildon (Treasurer)
- Eli Sparks
- Merrin Davies
- John Miller
- Natasha Morgan
- Tom Kent
- Mike Bithell
With thanks
Our funders
Without the generous support from our funders, Step Ahead would not be able to offer such a broad range of activities and opportunities to those dealing with mental illness. This support ensures we can continue to enhance the lives of those who need it the most.
Our main funders are:
Services we use:
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