Our People

Light on paid staff but heavy on volunteer commitment and resources, we strive to find the right balance to maximise the support to families and their precious babies.

As we’re all about people (helping and supporting people), we felt it was the right thing to give you an insight into the team – read the details provided by the people themselves.

In addition to the below, you can read about the great work some of our great volunteers do on this page.

Sarah Rusholme

Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive

Sarah joined the Little Miracles Trust in 2024, proud to be giving back to a charity that supported her and her family throughout their NICU journey. 

Her sons, Cormac and Ziggy were born at 34 weeks after a Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome pregnancy. Ziggy died before delivery, and Mac spent several weeks in Wellington NICU. As a result, Sarah and her family are passionate supporters of the Little Miracles Trust and SANDS NZ, having experienced firsthand the difference their support makes. 

Sarah started out as a scientist and has a PhD in medical genetics. She soon swapped the lab for not-for-profit sector leadership, and sits on a number of boards – including Dyspraxia New Zealand:  another small organisation that does fantastic mahi across Aotearoa!

Outside of the Trust, Sarah is mum to thriving high-schooler Cormac, and his older brothers: Isaac & Rufus. Her partner Stephen and two SPCA rescue dogs round out the household. To unwind, she loves cinema, walking the dogs on Wellington’s beautiful beaches, and swimming.

Justine Brooker

Operations Manager

Justine is a born and bred Wellingtonian and has been part of the team at The Little Miracles Trust since 2016. 

All 4 of her boys were born prematurely which has fed her desire to help others in a similar situation.

Her passion for The Little Miracles Trust truly developed after the extreme arrival of her youngest son Harlow, who was born at 24 weeks.  

Being able to help support families during what can often be a daunting and stressful time is why Justine is now devoted to raising awareness for The Trust and supporting neonatal families.

Prior to joining The Little Miracles Trust, Justine shared the story of her son Harlow’s arrival as part of the 2014 World Prematurity Day awareness activity. You can read the article here.  You can also read part of her story in the published book The Unexpected Patient by Dr Himali McInnes.

Samantha Bennett

Fundraising Coordinator (Part-time)

Sam is mum to 15 year old Oliver and 12 year old Ava, who was born at 34 weeks weighing 2100g and spent just over 2 weeks in the Wellington NICU.

Being able to use her marketing and fundraising experience to help families going through the rollercoaster of a neonatal journey was the key reason Sam joined The Little Miracles Trust team.

Previously Sam has worked in a variety of marketing and research roles, predominately for banks and financial institutions. 

In her spare time Sam is a bit of a gym bunny and enjoys spending time with family, especially supporting her kids in the activities they love – cricket, netball, football and dance!

Jadey Drury

Service Delivery Manager Waikato (Part-time)

Jadey is a mum of two, 7 year old Frankie who was born at 28 weeks and spent 76 days in Wellington NICU and 7 days in Whanganui SCBU and 5 year old Ivy who is the sass queen of the family.

Jadey received so much support from The Little Miracles Trust when she was a long way from home after having Frankie. It was here that her want to help others started. She has so much passion to support families in the unit during their journeys and afterwards.

Jadey is originally from the UK and has lived in NZ for 8 years, her and her husband spent the first few years exploring all NZ has to offer, it was at this point they decided this was where they wanted to raise a family.

When she isn’t working with The Little Miracles Trust or running around after her little ones she is either styling hair, events and weddings or snapping pictures.

Diane Pope

Family Support Office Manager Auckland (Part-time)

I first became familiar with the work of the Little Miracles Trust when I was working for Heart Kids.  I would visit the NICU unit daily as I supported those families whose babies were diagnosed with a congenital heart condition. I hoped eventually I would be able to work for the Trust as I could see what amazing work they were doing and wanted to be a part of it.

I worked closely with the medical and nursing and support teams during that time and was looking forward to stepping in to this role to be able to do this again.

So for me it was true, “dreams really do come true.”

Chavvah Harlock

Family Support Coordinator – Auckland (Part-time)

Kia Ora! My names Chavvah and I’m thrilled to be joining The Little Miracles Trust.

I am mum to two ex prems. Hudson was a 25 weeker and Sloane, a 34 weeker. We live in West Auckland and I love spending time at local parks, beaches and the zoo.

I’ve recently left the corporate world to be able to be more present with my little ones and am over the moon to be able to do this while working with The Little Miracles Trust.

We received so much love and support from The Little Miracles Trust during our journeys and I hope to be able to provide the same to the families currently going through this journey. 

Simone Kantor

Family Support Coordinator – Auckland (Part-time)

Hi, I’m Simone, a mother of three, and my youngest, Tia, spent nearly three months in NICU after arriving at 28 weeks.

Now nearly 5 years later, we love exploring local parks and beaches in Central Auckland with coffee and hot chocolates in hand. 

The Little Miracles Trust provided us incredible support during that challenging time, and now, I’m thrilled to join their team.

As a former stay-at-home mom, I believe there’s no better place to make a difference than here, where I can be there for the families going through their NICU journeys.

Drawing from my own personal experience, I’m dedicated to supporting them every step of the way.. 

Lisa Mackenzie

Family Support Coordinator Auckland (Part-time)

Hi, I’m Lisa and I’m so delighted to be joining the Little Miracles Trust team. 

My daughter Millie was born 26+3 weeks and spent 98 days in Auckland Hospital’s NICU. 

Getting thrown into motherhood so early is a huge shock and it was 6 days before Millie’s dad and I were able to hold her for the first time.

However, we soon got into the NICU routine of daily ward rounds and the intense medical terminology. The hardest thing was not being able to take my little girl home each night. 

Millie is now doing really well and has started her first year of school.

I am an advertising account manager and will be helping the LMT whenever I can. 

I’m looking forward to being part of the team and returning some of the support I received during my time with Millie in NICU.

Emma Clark

Family Support Coordinator – Waikato (Part-time)

Emma is a mum of two, 4-Year-Old Ada & 3-Year-old Walt. Walt was diagnosed with Fetal Hydrops at 31 weeks and born at 33 weeks.

Walt spent 5 weeks in Auckland NICU under very intensive care, before being transferred to Waikato NICU for a further 4 weeks. Walt was able to go home on Oxygen support and continued care with the Home Care team, after many months Walt was officially discharged at 19 Months of age.

 Emma received so much support from the Little Miracles Trust in both the Auckland and Waikato regions and is keen to support other families going through such trying times. 

When Emma isn’t working in the unit she’s running around after her kids, managing a building company, and spending every free weekend camping around the country. 

Trish Lapthorn

Family Support Coordinator – Waikato (Part-time)

I was originally from Waimate, in the South, but have been in living in Te Awamutu with my family for the past 5 years. My husband, Barry is from the UK and together we have 3 daughters. Our twins, Ella and Abi were born at 29.5 weeks in Osnabruck, Germany in 2004. We were living there due to my husband’s military posting.

Our NICU journey was hard with having no family or friends around, we were literally on our own, and of course not understanding German medical terms made it harder at times. We are ever so grateful to the staff there and their extra support we were given with our situation.

We were lucky to return 5 years later with our daughters to visit the NICU. Our third daughter, Kate was born here in NZ and was just a little overdue.

I have also had 2 sisters that have had the journey of NICU here in NZ, both in Christchurch.

When I am not up on the Ward at NICU supporting families, you will find me working with International Exchange Students as the local Coordinator for Student Travel Schools, or being a Host Mum to one of the students.

Jemma Hartley

Family Support Coordinator – Christchurch

Jemma is passionate about supporting families going through the NICU experience and really enjoys working alongside the NICU team at Christchurch Womens Hospital.

Jemma is Mum to Georgia and Ella and has experienced NICU firsthand, when at her 20-week scan with Ella they picked up she wasn’t growing so well, from there Jemma and Ella were monitored and under the care of Maternal Fetal Health at Christchurch Womens Hospital until Ella was born at 36 weeks weighing in at 1.7Kgs. Ella spent her first 7 Weeks moving her way through the NICU at Christchurch Womens before coming home.

Jemma is married to Steve who works in the broadcasting Industry and are both from Christchurch, they lived in Auckland for 10 years while both building careers, before moving back to Christchurch to build a new home, be closer to their family and friends and start their own family.

Susie Cant

Family Support Coordinator – Christchurch