Our Team

Our educators

Mariska Mannes 

Mariska has been contracted as an educator by eCALD since 2010.  During this time, she has conducted numerous classroom training sessions for various health professionals, including consultants, doctors, nurses, and mental health practitioners.  She consistently receives excellent feedback and results from participants.  Mariska is also the Director of Deliquo Communication Limited and has extensive adult facilitation and training delivery experience in cross-cultural and business communication.  Mariska also lectures in an MBA programme where she develops and delivers the module Cross-cultural Behaviour and Negotiation.  In 2023, Mariska completed her PhD.  She investigated the challenges International Doctors practising in NZ faced due to cultural and professional value differences. 

Katrina Penney

Katrina has been contracted by eCALD® since 2017. Since then, she has been teaching several eCALD® modules in in-person and zoom sessions. . Katrina has a background in nursing and midwifery; since 2002, she has worked primarily in the International Humanitarian sector and with Former Refugees and Asylum Seekers arriving in New Zealand. Katrina has worked in Afghanistan, Nepal, Yemen, Haiti and Sierra Leone as a nurse, midwife, hospital manager or field coordinator. Katrina held the position of  Vice President of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia from May 2013 - May 2019 and is a founding Trustee to the  Médecins Sans Frontières New Zealand Charitable Trust.  She has extensive experience as an educator and gained fantastic feedback from our learners.

Ray Law

Ray was born in Hong Kong. He is an NZ registered social worker. He received his Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Auckland, a Master's Degree in Counselling from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor's degree in Counselling and Psychology from the Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Ray is passionate about supporting the Asian community and helped to establish and build new networks to connect Asian families to the broader society.  With more than 15 years of experience working with families and couples in the community and education sector, he loves sharing his knowledge and experience with others.

Vanisri Mills

Vani is the Director and Co-founder of Diversity Counselling New Zealand and a Trustee for Volunteering Waikato. She is a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and served as a registered psychiatric nurse. Vani migrated to New Zealand with her family in 2010 and is committed to actively supports inclusive, diverse, and compassionate communities.