Who are our leadership group?

We'd love to introduce you to our leadership group, the people behind the Cult-Informed Professional Network. Our leadership group is here to support the network, to co-ordinate its activities, and to provide strategic overview. There is also some boring administrative stuff they do as well.

Dr Caroline (Caz) Ansley

Clinical Lead

Caz is a general practitioner of 20+ years experience. In addition to her role as a family doctor, she has worked as a clinical lead in mental health and in health system information flow. More recently she has worked as a medical sexual assault clinician, and as a GP in a forensic service. Caz founded the Centrepoint Restoration Project in 2015, a website and contact point for child survivors of the Centrepoint cult, a cult she lived in as a child. Since 2023 she has been co-host of the award-winning podcast and radio-show Cult Chat. Caz wrote a series of guidelines in this role for front line health workers who work with cult survivors which was published all over New Zealand in 2024. She is an advocate of children in cults, firmly pushing for increased awareness of the harms they are exposed to in cults, for increased safety measures, and legislative change.

Dennis Parker

Organsational Lead

Dennis works in governance and consulting roles supporting social enterprises, charities and community organisations, including as Chair of the Decult Trust and a director of Trade Aid Importers Ltd. A Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors with an MA in sociology, his research focused on autoethnographic studies of organisational change and disruption. He brings expertise in strategic planning, organisational development and systems leadership, with governance and management experience across business, tertiary education, central government and NGOs, including senior roles at Macpac, the University of Canterbury and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Raising cult awareness is important to him because of his personal experience inside high-control groups as a young adult.

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Rose Henderson ONZM

Advisor

Rose is a social worker and health leader based in Christchurch. With a career spanning several decades, Rose has made significant contributions to mental health services and workforce development. Rose is known for her deep commitment to human rights, family safety and addressing health and social inequities all of which drive her passion to support the work of the CIPNetwork. Rose’s contributions have been recognised nationally and internationally. In 2024, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to social work and health. She is a Life Member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) and has held leadership roles within the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

Paul Wilson

Advisor

Paul is a registered psychotherapist in private practice in Auckland. He has worked with cult leavers and the families of people still involved in such groups. Paul grew up with close family members in multiple types of cultic settings, which gives him a grounded understanding of recruitment, shame, coercive control, and the long tail of harm. Paul’s clinical interests include complex trauma, identity, sexuality and gender, and the repair of relationships after manipulation. He is a member of the rainbow community and has supported clients who experienced sexuality and gender conversion practices, including within cult contexts. Paul has served on the Council of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (APANZ) and is a past Chair of Ethics for APANZ and brings that governance and ethics background to his work.

Dr Michelle Egan-Bitran

Advisor

Michelle is a researcher, social worker, and advocate with about 25 years’ experience working within govt, NGOs and independent entities. This includes in leadership and senior roles as Principal Advisor and faith leadership team member at the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, as a staff member and researcher at the University of Auckland Social Work faculty, and as a Senior Advisor at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner [Mana Mokopuna]. She is currently the Programme Advisor New Zealand and Pacific at Family for Every Child, the Programme Leader for Childrens’ Rights and Equity for the Foundation for Equity and Research New Zealand and the vice-chair of the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand. Michelle is also a religious institutional safeguarding and change consultant.

What is the role of the CIPN Leaders?

The CIPNetwork leadership group provides strategic direction and oversight while representing the diverse sectors within the membership.

Roles and responsibilities of the leadership Group:

Ensure alignment with the Network’s purpose (kaupapa), ethical framework and objectives.
Oversee strategic initiatives and facilitate collaboration across sectors and working groups.

Roles and responsibilities of the leadership Group (cont):

Effectively facilitate group meetings to ensure the purpose of the meeting is followed and members are safe. Act in response to abusive or disruptive behaviours to protect the culture of the Network.
Promotion of the CIPNetwork and its activities
Communication with members of ongoing events, activities and achievements.
Maintain transparency and encourage feedback from all members.

Who are our leadership group?

What is the role of the CIPN Leaders?

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