Our Team

Prof Vanessa Burholt BSc, PhD, FAcSS

Vanessa has spent 26 years undertaking research with older people and has secured in excess of NZ$113 million in research income for studies on which she been Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator. She is Professor of Gerontology in the School of Nursing/School of Population Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine at the University of Auckland. Vanessa moved to her current position in New Zealand, Aotearoa in Oct 2019 and previously, in the UK she was the Director of the Centre for Innovative Ageing in the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University; Director of the pan-Wales Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research; and founder of the Institute of Creative Ageing Industries (now Awen Institute) in Wales, UK. She has overseen the integration of transdisciplinary research in ageing and dementia, incorporating biological, psycho-social, environmental and social policy perspectives. Vanessa is committed to co-production of research on ageing and dementia and she has published more than 70 papers and book chapters on dementia, rurality, social exclusion, loneliness, support networks, intergenerational relationships, ethnicity and migration. Since 2013 she has been a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (in the UK). Vanessa leads the Knowledge and Impact working group.

Dr Tia Reihana

Dr Tia Reihana-Morunga (Ngāti Hine) is a senior lecturer in Dance Studies, Creative Arts and Industries at The Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Dr Reihana has been an educator in the secondary and tertiary sectors for over 20 years. Her research in the arts and education sectors focuses on culturally responsive pedagogy that is reflective of indigenous knowledge systems revealing challenges that formal education systems present to teaching Indigenous dance and students. Her work with leading Indigenous arts practitioners and communities navigates intercultural praxis. In particular, her work Te mana Motuhake o te kauri (the authority of the Kauri tree) developed an Indigenous Centred intercultural framework with Marrugeku Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading Indigenous performance ensemble. As an Indigenous artist and Kaupapa Māori research practitioner and community facilitator Dr Reihana works extensively in Arts, Education and Health with Indigenous communities in Aotearoa and the wider Pacific. Most recently successful in securing major funding to support the delivery of Toi Rongoā (Māori healing Arts) within the formal Health and Corrections sectors of Aotearoa she is also the Co-director of the newly established Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research (CREATE-AGE) at the University of Auckland.

Dr Joanna Hikaka

Senior Research Fellow, Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Joanna Hikaka (Ngāruahine) has a passion for supporting people to be involved in research and has seen the positive impact that comes with many voices working together on research. She is a pharmacist and health researcher with clinical and research experience in older adult health, Māori health, and health service development and has worked across primary, secondary, and aged residential care settings. Joanna has a broad range of clinical and strategic advisory and governance experience in Māori health organisations, gerontology, quality medicines use, pharmacy, and research. Her current research focuses on health intervention development and implementation in the real world.

Prof Ngaire Kerse

Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. Ngaire is a GP with extra training in older people’s health who has a passion for improving health and wellbeing with older people. Ngaire has expertise in falls prevention, bi-cultural ageing, organisational culture in aged residential care, and clinical trials to test useful ways of working to improve outcomes for older people. Ngaire is actively involved in teaching and research at the University of Auckland as well as governance of assessment processes for the Ministry of Health and President of the New Zealand Association of Gerontology.

Dr Tamika Simpson

Tamika Simpson recently joined us as the Research Operations Manager for The Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research. Tamika is excited to have joined the Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research and says it is just where she asked to be – involved in research that brings direct and multiple experience and experiences together. Tamika is looking forward to working alongside older people as equals again, to formulate research out of their aspirations and needs. 

Tamika moved to Auckland from her family farm in Nelson. She loves to be directly useful to people and while she was at home in Nelson looking after her parents, worked as a community support worker and started a companion gardening business. Most recently, Tamika was a research assistant on the Aged Care in a Changing World project with Ngaire Kerse. Tamika has worked for many years in central government and consultancy, specialising in communications, change management and culture change and leadership. Tamika has a PhD in sociology from Victoria University and a Certificate in Journalism from Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey) and is also proud of her Level 2 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.