Meet the team
Judith Mukakayange
Judith has been working with people living with HIV and communities affected by HIV in Aotearoa since 2014. She currently serves as the Community Support and Health Coordinator at Positive Women and also leads Te Taenga Mai.
Ash Ali-Aziz
Ash has been the Programme Coordinator for the development of Te Taenga Mai. During her time in this role, Ash played a key role in collaborating with Judith to bring the programme to life. Ash’s strong community connections and marketing expertise were instrumental in the development and success of the programme.
Milly Stewart
Milly Stewart is the Pou Tahuhu, of Toitū te Ao, the only Māori HIV Support and Advocacy organisation in Aotearoa. Milly worked with us as the kaiārahi for the Te Taenga Mai programme. She developed the model of practice, which is the foundation of the programme, embracing manuhiri to Aotearoa.
Roopu Tautoko (Support Group)
A Roopu Tautoko (Support Group) was established to operate from a community-shaped approach, ensuring the participation of people from migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker backgrounds (including those living with HIV in these communities) in the development and implementation of this programme.
The aim of this Roopu Tautoko is to offer advice and support, and to guarantee the programme and resources developed are culturally and ethnically appropriate. Additionally, it ensures our programme caters to the needs of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers residing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Roopu Tautoko Members:
Dr. Lisa Amin
Dr. Lisa Amin is a GP with 18 years’ experience. She has a vast knowledge and rapport with immigrants, being one herself. Currently, she is running Christchurch Immigration Health, where she performs medicals for immigrants coming into New Zealand as well as those heading out to other countries. She is looking forward to working closely with Te Taenga Mai in improving the health of our migrant and refugee communities in Aotearoa.
Rami Alrudaini
Rami’s family were displaced from their home country in the Middle East due to war and instability. Together with his family, Rami migrated to Aotearoa NZ in 1996. After experiencing the challenges of resettling and seeing the injustices faced by migrant communities. Rami developed an insatiable drive to address social injustices.
With a Master of Business Administration under his belt, Rami has more than 15 years’ experience working in both frontline and senior leadership roles across mental health, housing, homelessness, and social services. He is currently the Programme Manager for Housing First Auckland: a role that sees him actively (and proudly) pursuing systems change and challenging inequities.
Passionate about systems change and challenging inequity. Rami believes the right to decent housing is fundamental to the success of people, whānau and communities. He understands first-hand that when the right support is available, everyone can live well, and anything is possible.
Ayan Said
Ayan Said is a sexual and reproductive health educator and researcher. She is of Somali descent and originally from Mogadishu, Somalia. Ayan has been a public health professional, educator, and advisor for the past ten years. Ayan holds a bachelor’s double major in psychology and health promotion, a Master’s in public health, and is currently undertaking a PhD in public health at Auckland University of Technology.
Amita Kala
Amita Kala, a 3rd generation South African born Gujarati Indian, is the director and founder of Aunty’s House. Dedicated to uplifting, connecting, and empowering the South Asian diaspora in Aotearoa, Amita’s work at Aunty’s House centers around fostering community and creating spaces for cultural reclamation, activism and healing.
Susan Clare
Susan has been working with former refugees for about 25 years in both the UK (where she is from) and New Zealand.
She now coordinates a driving programme for former refugee women in Greater Wellington, for ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum. This programme helps to fulfil the organisation’s mission of seeing ‘New Zealanders of refugee-background fully participating in New Zealand life.’
Susan is passionate about supporting former refugees to settle and succeed in New Zealand and sees her role on the advisory group as contributing towards this.
Huda Alkaff
Huda Alkaff (MBBS, MPH)
RIMA Programme lead at Think Hauora and HOW2.
Huda is very passionate about community well-being and health equity; her work mainly focuses on refugees and migrants.
Somayyeh Ghaffari
Somayyeh is a Community Development Advisor, leading the Welcoming Communities Programme, for Palmerston North City Council.
Welcoming Communities has been developed in recognition that communities are healthier, happier and more productive when newcomers are welcomed by the existing community, and when the community has a good understanding of the positive social, economic and cultural benefits of diversity. It is a nationwide programme led by Immigration New Zealand, in partnership with the Office of Ethnic Communities and the Human Rights Commission.
Somayyeh has been in the role since 2022 and she is passionate about working with the community.
Kay Eddy
My role is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Assistant Clinical Nurse manager at the Christchurch Sexual Health Centre.
Provide testing, treatment, care, and education for those with a sexually acquired infection. We provide specialist care for people living with HIV within the South Island. Educate community groups and other health professionals in HIV and sexual health. Help support other positive organisations to help increase awareness to testing and living with HIV. I am very passionate about normalising living with HIV and breaking down the stigma.
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