Staff members

Mark Benjamin QSM

CEO, SAMS (Standards and Monitoring Services)

Mark has been working, in a range of roles, with SAMS since 1989. Over this period, Mark has led a variety of evaluation, education, research and resource development projects. Previously, Mark has been involved in several roles within the disability sector, developing services that effectively enable individuals and...
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Audrey Buel

Audrey is an Evaluation Team Leader for SAMS and has undertaken several roles within the organization since 1991. Audrey has led evaluations and facilitated training projects which aim to empower others through sharing information. Before SAMS, Audrey worked alongside disabled people on a horticultural farm, facilitated training for...
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Lianne Clarke

Lianne’s primary role with SAMS is as a team leader of service evaluation. Lianne is also involved in co-facilitating the Carers’ courses. Lianne is a teacher, a Mum and keenly interested in ensuring all people have access to the information they need to make choices in their lives.
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Richard Buchanan

Richard lives in Christchurch and manages a small consultancy business called ‘Buck The Trend Ltd’ providing independent service consultancy and support to individuals and organisations primarily within the disability and health sectors in New Zealand. Richard has worked in the disability sector for the past 18 years including tertiary teaching,...
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Wendy Isaia

Wendy’s role is to contribute as a team member when undertaking an evaluation and as a developer and co-facilitator of Family Development courses.As a member of the team, Wendy believes she is fortunate this role allows her to interact with many of the disabled and their families.
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Tina Lincoln

Care Matters Leader - Mid Central EGL Leadership Group

Tina has 19 years’ experience in the disability sector and has been with SAMS for 11 years. Tina believes everyone should be treated equally and have opportunities in the community.
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Rebekah McCullough

Rebekah is an Evaluation Team Leader and Trainer for SAMS. Rebekah has been involved in the disability and education sector since 1974. This has included working in Special Education as well as working for IHC (now IDEA) for 14 years.
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Hannah Perry

Hannah’s role is to encourage and support services to increase inclusion in the community for the individuals who use their services. This is done through leading developmental evaluations, customising and facilitating learning and development sessions, as well as mentoring individual staff and teams. Hannah’s formal involvement in the disability sector...
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Maureen Steed

Project Manager and National Office Co ordinator

Maureen has been employed by SAMS for the past 13 years as Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive. Before joining SAMS Maureen worked in a number of administrative roles, and spent time in the education sector teaching people with disabilities. Maureen’s work is ever changing...
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Rebecca Walton

Rebecca has been working for SAMS since 2005. Her role within SAMS has predominately been to facilitate a range of training workshops as well as lead Ministry of Social Development evaluations. Rebecca has worked in this area for over 20 years, in a variety of roles for a...
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Christine Wilson

Christine began working for SAMS in 1996 as the Advisor for the South part of the North Island. In that time Christine led teams, conducted research and provided training in a number of areas. Christine then took a six year break to begin a family between 1999 and 2006, but...
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Cindy Adams-Vining

Cindy has been involved with the sector since the birth of her daughter in 1989.She has volunteered and worked in supporting families and training. She has also had governance roles both nationally and internationally with disability organisations and education and has worked for SAMS for eight years.
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