Kia ora, I’m Alex! I grew up in Auckland and come from a Pakeha - Iranian background. I moved to Wellington in 2016 to study and am currently completing a postgraduate degree in educational psychology which is both exciting and sometimes a bit stressful! I have become a Piki peer supporter due to my own lived experience with mental distress, in particular navigating social anxiety and struggling with self-worth. I aspire to create a supportive environment where people can explore themselves and make positive strides forwards, including myself. I am a big fan of dinosaurs, reading, creative writing and looking at pictures of animals!

Hello! I am Hope, I am a kiwi, born and bred. I reign from the mighty Wairarapa and have lived here my whole life. Although we are an hour away from Wellington we are still counted as being in the Wellington region, which is my only connection to Wellington! My life journey has come with the amazing, the ugly and the soul shaping experiences. This has shaped me as a person, and I have not one bit of regret from my point of view. I have lived experience of mental distressed and when I was going through these, peer support was what I needed. So now I feel like I have dealt with my stuff, it's time to help others. I absolutely adore animals; I have 2 personal pets Bunny and Pig (can you guess what animals they are?!) And at the flat I live in; we have a wee puppy Lio (named after Lio Messi!) He is super adorable and is a Labrador crossed with Huntaway! Welcome to Piki, take is as an amazing experience and remember we are here for you 😊

Kia ora, my name is Alice! I’ve lived here in the beautiful Wairarapa for the past 5 years and the Wellington region for 10! Before that I was born in the UK and raised in Auckland and Nelson. For 10 years I worked for the same organisation in a variety of positions which included advocacy and leadership which is what led me to my current role with Piki! I came into this role knowing the importance of sharing lived experiences in building strong connections with others. The best part of my work is connecting with people from different backgrounds and finding those random little things you have in common. As well as Peer Support, I also work on a lifestyle block, so I spend my days with animals as well as having a house full of our own pets along with two boys who are 9 and 6. Our spare time is filled with exploring, playing sport and plenty of time at the pool, beach or river over summer!

Hello, I am Campbell, a NZ European male. I grew up in rural Southland and worked in the construction and farming sectors. I came to Wellington in 2012 to study a Degree in Creative Writing. Since achieving my Degree in Creative Writing in 2014, I have also studied business writing and business administration. I love and follow many sports, particularly cricket, rugby and martial arts. I frequent the gym 2-3 times a week and love walking all over our beautiful Wellington City. For over 20 years I have received specialist support from multiple mental health specialists. I try to incorporate all of the positive life-changing moments from my past into my role as a peer supporter.

Kia ora, I’m Maria. I became a peer supporter because someone saw something in me that I couldn’t see, and I wanted to provide that same support to others. I want to provide hope and believe in people, despite the adversity and challenges we may face, and to let people know that someone sees them, hears them, and understands what they are going through. I love peer support because I enjoy the connection with others that challenges and helps us grow. My hobbies include sport (I play at national level) for softball and rugby, spending time with friends and whanau, music, and going out and eating good food.

Hi I’m Will. I’m Wellington born and raised; and love the uniqueness and beauty of this city. I’m currently on a journey of self-discovery, finding my place in the world and discovering how I can positively change the world around me. I’m a bit of an all-rounder with a love of both extroverted and introverted hobbies/ interests.Such as working on/ riding motorbikes, pool, various sports, classic literature and cinema, cooking/baking and board games. Above all I love being either outside or around people. I’ve come to peer-support through personal experience and seeing firsthand the power of connection and I wholeheartedly believe in the good that this work does and the impact that it can have in people’s lives.

Kia ora! Ko Nic Allan tōku ingoa. I grew up in rural Canterbury, completed study in Christchurch and Wellington, and now work as Clinical Psychologist based in the Wairarapa. I enjoy working with a variety of ages from childhood to adulthood. I strive to understand the uniqueness of a person and their background, to collaboratively come up with a treatment plan tailored to an individual’s needs. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, which is a gold standard treatment for overcoming trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I also utilise multiple treatment approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to support a person’s therapy goals.