Our people and community

Melanie is a Professor in Biomechanics and Director of the Motion Analysis Research Lab in the University of Otago School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences. She is originally from the East Coast of Canada, where she studied Kinesiology and Athletic Therapy at the University of New Brunswick (BPE and MSc) before transplanting to New Zealand in pursuit of her PhD in Clinical Biomechanics.

Rich has been the CEO of the Neurological Foundation since 2017, and brings more than 30 years’ experience in business, change and technology. He is deeply committed to the not-for-profit sector, having actively volunteered for over 16 years with a number of organisations.  Rich is the current Chair of the Neurological Alliance, as well as Board Chair of another charity, Project Employ.  He also mentors with the Institute of Directors, First Foundation and provides coaching support for the Springboard Trust.

Josh is a registered Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist and has worked across diverse clinical settings, including adult and child mental health, traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation, and paediatric and adult physical rehabilitation services.

Following his doctoral training, Josh undertook a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the TBI Network, Auckland University of Technology, where he focused on advancing research in brain injury recovery. In 2022, he joined Victoria University of Wellington, where he leads the Neurorecovery and Contextual Sciences (NRCS) Lab, developing evidence-based approaches to support adaptive coping and long-term resilience in neurorecovery.

Alice is known as the “Concussion Professor”.  She is a Professor of Brain Health at AUT and Director of the Brain Health Research Institute (BHRI) which aims to facilitate collaboration between clinicians, academics, policymakers and the community to do research that improves brain health. Alice is an international leader in the field of mild traumatic brain injury including concussion and has published more than 240 articles in high quality journals, including Commissioned Issues of the Lancet Neurology. In 2025 Alice was awarded the prestigious HRC Beaven Medal for Excellence in Translational Research.

Keith has been practising as a Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist since 1999.  He has worked in New Zealand and England and has extensive experience in the field of Neuropsychology, specialising in traumatic brain injury.   He has a particular interest in the recovery process following mild traumatic brain injury.