DRC Information Consultants have personal experiences with disability, so they genuinely understand your needs.
We’re happy to offer free, non-biased advice, to assist you in making informed decisions on accessing services that will assist you in your daily life.
Feel free to give us a call today.
CEO
Karen Beard-Greer
Karen joined DRC Auckland in November 2010, moving from the private sector into not for profit. She brings a compelling vision to raise the profile of DRC by taking its services into local communities across Auckland as a resource for all people. Karen has 18 years experience running businesses in the health and wellness sector and speaking professionally throughout Australaisa. Prior to this appointment she was General Manager New Zealand for Power Plate Trading. In her past life Karen spent 11 years as an Air Traffic Controller and was a competitive swimmer and netballer. Don’t be fooled by the high heels, she has previously held a private pilots license, has been seen jumping out of helicopters and firing sub-machine guns. She is now the proud mother of two growing and very energetic boys, on Saturdays you’ll find her on the rugby field cheering them on and during the holidays camping and skiing.
Phone: (09) 625 0310 (DDI)
Email: Karen@disabilityresource.org.nz
Finance and Administration
Diane Robinson
Finance Manager
Diane is here Mondays and Wednesdays and as needed or when she senses someone wants to spend money! Diane is a Chartered Accountant specialising in the Not for Profit sector. She is the Principal of Called to Account Limited and holds a Public Practice Certificate from the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants. Previous experience in the NFP sector includes CEO of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and in the finance departments of Baptist Social Services and Presbyterian Support among others. Currently she is a convenor of the NFP Special Interest Group for Accountants. Just Another Fabulous Aucklander she holds a Bachelor of Theology from the University of Auckland. She has been on almost every duty roster of her local church except the singing group, which is a blessing for all in earshot!
Phone: (09) 625 0313 (DDI)
Email: diane@disabilityresource.org.nz
Iris Samsom
Bookkeeper
Originally from the Netherlands, Iris expects her friends and colleagues to pronounce her first name the proper Dutch way. For the rest of you she will probably go easy on you. Iris has had a variety of roles, commencing her working life in New Zealand as a speech therapist. Since leaving the health sector she’s been involved in management roles. She has a natural talent for seeing what needs to be done and telling others to do it! Amongst her many hobbies are rescuing stray cats and eating cheese (we did mention she is Dutch).
Phone: (09) 625 0313 (DDI)
Email: accounts@disabilityresource.org.nz
Russ Hayes
Administration Support
Russ started work at the DRC in 1999. He is responsible for showroom stock control, re-ordering new stock both for the Showroom and Mobile Van Services. Russ also administers monthly creditors and nurtures good supplier relations. He works closely with the Finance Manager and generally assists where needed (even when it means fronting the gadget show on TV!). As a wheelchair user he also has empathy for people with impairments, often helping out in the showroom with product knowledge and information consulting.
Russ is the proud Grandad of Charlie Rex and has now been dubbed “Poppa Wheelie”.
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: russell@disabilityresource.org.nz
Communications
Julianne McEldowney
Key Relationships Manager
Also Access Advisor (accredited Barrier Free Advisor / Master Be.Assessor)
Julianne has a wealth of disability sector knowledge, having worked in a number of roles at DRC over the last 11 years. Her roles have included information provision, customer service and project management (and some would say the boss’ PA!). Julianne is an accredited Barrier Free Advisor Master Assessor for Be. Accessible throughout NZ. She has been instrumental in working with Tony and Peter to develop the Be. Accessible Training Programme that was rolled out throughout the country during 2011 and looks forward to new opportunities to increase access awareness nationwide. Julianne has a degree in theology and thrives on personal development and rubbing shoulders with people from a variety of backgrounds. Beyond DRC, Julianne is a part-time musician, playing bass trombone in the Arty band (Royal NZ Artillery).
Phone: (09) 625 0311 (DDI)
Email: julianne@disabilityresource.org.nz
Showroom and Information
Peter Rawlings
Showroom Manager
Also Access Advisor (accredited Barrier Free Advisor / Master Be.Assessor)
Originally from the UK, Peter still has a ‘bit of an accent.’ Peter joined the DRC in 2005 as an Information Consultant following nearly five years experience as a full-time family care giver. This has provided him with a very good understanding of disability products and equipment and the needs of persons with a disability and their family/carers. Peter manages the DRC Showroom and websites and works on special projects and is an accredited ‘Barrier Free’ and a Master Assessor for Be. Accessible throughout NZ. He has been instrumental in working with Tony and Julianne to develop the Be. Accessible Training Programme that was rolled out throughout the country during 2011. Peter has also worked for eight years as a Research Consultant in the Public Sector and a further four years in computer software and web development. (In other words he knows the difference between bits and bytes).
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: peter@disabilityresource.org.nz
Tony Howe
Information Consultant
Also Access Advisor (accredited Barrier Free Advisor / Master Be.Assessor)
Tony is in his 20th year with the DRC, having come to the Centre as a customer looking at equipment and accepting a voluntary position which eventually led to full employment as an information consultant within the showroom team.
He has a lived experience of disability since birth and uses a wheelchair for all mobility. He has played and coached wheelchair rugby for 12 years (1990 – 2002) attending both the 1996 & 2000 Paralympic events as the NZ Coach (achieving a bronze medal at both events). Tony carried the Olympic Torch as it travelled through NZ on its way to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Tony is a Barrier Free Advisor working within the greater Auckland community and a Master Assessor for Be.Accessible throughout NZ. He is the recipient of one of the 24 Rugby balls (limited edition for RWC 2011) for his contribution to the RWC2011 Accessiblity Programme.
Tony is the proud father of Tammy.
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: tony@disabilityresource.org.nz
Tammy Smith
Information Consultant
Tammy is the baby of the DRC team (the youngest and the most energetic). She started in March 2011 as an Information Consultant. Tammy has invaluable experience as a key support for her father, Tony and thus a strong empathy for disabled people and their carers. With Tammy’s knowledge of aids for daily living she is now our showroom champion and oversees the smooth running of merchandise and displays. Outside of DRC Tammy has a love of animals and last year Tammy completed her certificate in Animal Management from Unitec (Mt Albert campus).
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: tammy@disabilityresource.org.nz
Fabio Augusto Tome Pose
Information Consultant
Originally from Argentina, Fabio injects that Latin vitality into the team, joining DRC in 2010 as an Information Consultant. His younger sister has CP (Cerebral Palsy) so he brings great empathy and understanding to our clients. Fabio now works part time while he studies Biotronic Engineering (a specialisation within biomedical engineering, integrating traditional engineering with biology, medicine, physics and chemistry). This allows the analysis and problem solving in biology and medicine, with the aim of enhancing health care provision. Fabio loves the people contact at DRC and speaks four languages, his native Spanish, Portuguese, English and Guaranii (as well as being rather good at mechanical stuff).
Hours: 8.30 – 5pm Friday and 9 – 1pm Saturday
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: Fabio@disabilityresource.org.nz
Asian Information Service
Zhengxiu Xie
Chinese Information Consultant (Mandarin)
Xiu joined us in January 2011 as a part-time information consultant for the Asian Information Service and works Mondays and Tuesdays. She is our dedicated Mandarin speaker in addition to being fluent in English. Xiu is active in taking information about support services to Asian communities and you will often see her out and about at presentations and expo’s. Xiu is a registered NZ Dietician and is currently doing healthy eating promtions amongst the Asian community plus volunteer work for Diabetes Auckland which adds incredible value to the work we do at DRC and the support she provides her clients.
Hours: 8.30 – 5pm Monday and Tuesday
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: Zhengxiu@disabilityresource.org.nz
Joanne Yee
Chinese Information Consultant (Cantonese)
Joanne Yee is our dedicated Cantonese speaker for the Asian Information Service and has been with DRC since November 2010. She works in our showroom on Thursdays and Fridays but is often called in when staff are out doing presentations. Joanne has personal experience of disability (polio), and is highly motivated in enhancing our services.
Hours: 9 – 4.30pm Thursday and Friday
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: Joanne@disabilityresource.org.nz
Mobile Service
Justin Williams
Mobile Service Manager
Justin recently joined the DRC Team and has an extensive background in retail store development and project management. One of Justin’s first projects is introducing the DRC Mobile Service into our Auckland Communities. He will also develop additional concepts and services as this project matures. Justin is passionate about developing a new look and feel into DRC, bringing it in line with more mainstream products and services to today’s accessible customer. Originally from the UK, Justin and his wife emigrated here 12 years ago. They are thoroughly enjoying the Kiwi way of life, and are busy raising two great Kiwi Kids. A qualified chef, Justin whips up a great BBQ when time allows.
Mobile: 027 283 0310
Email: Justin@disabilityresource.org.nz
Kaz Howlett
Mobile Service Consultant
Kaz has joined DRC for the extension of our Mobile Service and is the driver of “Jackie”, our van covering West Auckland, North Shore and Rodney. She has 20 years experience in rehabilitation and the personal and recreational care of people who use wheelchairs. Some of her clients experienced Tetraplegia, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Muscular Dystrophy. During this time Kaz was a Massage Therapist to a wide range of clients of varying ages and physical disabilities. She was team manager and support person for the SPARC funded tandem cycle which travelled throughout NZ. Kaz is empathetic, a great team player with excellent people and communication skills. She has spent four years as a courier driver in the greater Auckland Region which stands her in good stead for driving our Toyota ZX Van.
Mobile: 027 450 0146
Email: kaz@disabilityresource.org.nz
Projects
Debbie Irwin
Project Manager RWC 2011
Deb was our consulting project manager for the Be.Accessible Programme that DRC co-developed with the Be. Institute. She brings a wealth of experience in product management with American Express, Vodafone, EGG Financial Services (UK) and National Bank. Deb is the very proud mother of three sporty children (2 girls, 1 boy) and as such her weekends are full up attending a variety of games around Auckland. If this is not enough, husband Steve also plays competitive hockey on Sundays. She can often be spotted running around the streets of eastern Auckland with headphones on and also lays claim to being a keen camper.
Hours: 10 – 2pm Monday – Friday
Mobile: 021 028 45130
Email: deb@disabilityresource.org.nz
Volunteers
Alan Harrison
Alan has been supporting and volunteering his time, passion and efforts to the Disability Resource Centre for many years. He has a thorough and sound knowledge of disability products and equipment. He also is the ‘go to’ man for equipment repairs and general help in and around the showroom.
Hours: 9 – 5pm Thursday and Friday
Phone: (09) 625 0322
Email: alan@disabilityresource.org.nz
Hermann Schmidt
Hermann wears many volunteer hats in the community – assisting in very practical ways to enable people in the community to stay at home longer. We are honoured to have some of his time here at the DRC. Hermann assists Russ with inwards goods for our showroom and mobile services. He is great support to the staff when things get busy in the showroom.
Hours: 9 – 12pm Tuesday
Phone: (09) 625 0322
