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 to 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. 

Choi Foong Kew

Choi is a cross-cultural educator working with eCALD® Services since 2019. She is a Dapaanz accredited clinical supervisor and registered AOD/PG practitioner. She was the practice leader of Asian Family Services and had extensive experience as a trainer before joining the eCALD® team.  Before she migrated from Singapore in 2014, she worked with the National Addictions Management Service within the Institute of Mental Health as a senior counsellor. Choi comes with more than 22 years of work experience in the social service and mental health fields, including counselling, training and supervision. She obtained her Master of Social Science in Professional Counselling from Swinburne University of Technology (Australia).

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.

Dulani Abeysinghe

Dulani is a registered social worker majoring in Psychology from the University of Auckland before gaining a Master of Applied Social Work from Massey University. Dulani has over 16 years of experience working in the mental health and addiction sector in New Zealand and Australia, working with people of various cultures and backgrounds. She has worked with the Community Clinical Team at Refugees as Survivors NZ. Dulani has facilitated training on working with refugee populations to multiple groups over the years. She is also a social work supervisor and has received excellent feedback.

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.