Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

​​​​​​​ADHD Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP)

We are pleased to note that the ADHD Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) has been meeting for more than a year. Our core group of six members have met regularly to help us understand the constantly evolving challenges and opportunities for our ADHD community.

Our aim

The aim of this panel is to help us:

• shape our advocacy around key issues  
• develop new services where there is a gap, or improve what we already offer, and
• improve our information sharing and communications.

The panellists 

After receiving the most incredible applications, we were thrilled to appoint six people with ADHD (or close whānau with ADHD) to our LEAP panel. We have been equally thrilled with their mahi supporting our ADHD community. 

To ensure our panel represents our community, we looked for a broad range of people including parents, youth, adults, those diagnosed later in life, the rainbow community and other minority groups to share their perspectives. Our LEAP members attend online meetings and contribute an additional two to four hours each month. You can find out more about them below. 

Soph C

​Kia ora, I’m Soph. I am a nature lover, a lifelong divergent thinker and a multidisciplinary designer/researcher, and I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.

My passion for equality, advocacy, and understanding how things work holistically led to my keen interest in understanding adults’ lived experiences of ADHD.

As a second-generation NZ Chinese, joining the LEAP panel is important to me because Asian experiences of ADHD are so unique yet rarely documented. I believe this needs to change so that the vast array of ADHD experiences can begin to be better understood.

My hope is for a more accurate, culturally diverse, less stereotyped representation of ADHD to be accessible to all. 

Callum McK

Callum McKirdy is a speaker, author, facilitator and coach specialising in workplace dynamics and behaviour.

He has spent the past 23 years assisting leaders and teams to make the best use of their uniqueness.

Proudly dyslexic and ADHD-positive, Callum champions organisations to think differently about different thinking, and challenges leaders to harness their own and their teams’ differences to be better, together – whatever that means to them.

Callum speaks at industry conferences, facilitates high-impact workshops, trains teams, and coaches professionals and leaders with ADHD via his ADHD+ online community. 

He also hosts the You, Me & ADHD podcast.

Tua'ipulotu William C

​Kia ora, I am Tua'ipulotu William Cuthers (Willie).

I am of New Zealand Māori and Cook Islands Māori descent. I was raised by my mother Christine and Samoan step father Kelekolio.

I hold the matai title Tua'ipulotu from the village of Saipipi on the island of Savai'i in Samoa.

As a dedicated police officer and researcher, I bring a unique perspective to the table. Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.

I understand firsthand the challenges and strengths that come with ADHD.

Being part of the LEAP panel holds great significance for me as it provides a platform to amplify the voices of individuals like myself.

Jamie-Leigh T

Jamie-Leigh Timoti​
Ko Rangiahua me Kapuārangi nga maunga Rangiahua and Kapuārangi are the mountains
Ko Wainui te awa Wainui is the river
Ko Tainui te waka Tainui canoe is the vessel
Ko Tōrere te marae Tōrere is where my people stand

Ko Ngāi Tai te iwi They are the tribe, Ngāi Tai
Ko Jamie-Leigh Timoti ahau I am Jamie-Leigh Timoti
Ki te wheiao ki te ao marama to the dawnlight, to the worldlight
Tīhei mauri ora the breath, the energy of life

I received my title "ADHDer" at 38 yrs, this began a path of self-reflection and self-acceptance. I am passionate about encouraging my ADHD tribe to join me in unmasking and allowing ourselves to be our unapologetic neurodivergent selves. I look forward to continuing this mahi through my involvement in the ADHD NZ LEAP roopu. 

Lisa J-P

Lisa is a health researcher with over 20 years of experience in the Health and Education sectors.  As a registered addiction practitioner, her career began in secure hospital settings, working with clients experiencing advanced dementia.  This sparked her interest in the interplay between substance use and cognitive changes, leading her to serve as Clinical Team Lead at a residential rehabilitation service for individuals facing substance-related harm. 

Lisa has spoken internationally on trauma's impact on Rangatahi (younger generations) and has led clinical and educational teams across New Zealand.  Lisa is passionate about ensuring tangata whai ora (people seeking wellness) are central to designing their own healthcare solutions.  Her previous roles include Regional Health Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development, where she began her PhD focusing on neurological differences.  Lisa also collaborated with Victoria University researchers to bring health, psychology and education research to market.

Renetta A

​Ko Renetta tōku ingoa. He uri ahau no Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou.  

I’m māmā of two school-aged boys with ADHD and Autism, I believe my perspective can contribute a unique and culturally diverse viewpoint to the discussions.

I am motivated by a deep desire to ensure that the voices and experiences of Māori whanau living with neurodiversity, neurobehavioural differences such as ADHD, are heard and considered in educational and community settings.

LEAP's co-chairs