Denise is Director of the NZ Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience and has lectured on strengths and positive psychology around the world.

As the only trainer from Australia/New Zealand selected to deliver the University of Pennsylvania’s ground breaking Penn Resiliency Programme, she has worked alongside Prof. Martin Seligman and Dr. Karen Reivich training educators in wellbeing and resilience at leading schools in Australia and the UK (Geelong Grammar School, St Peter’s Adelaide and Wellington College).

Denise has researched and worked extensively in wellbeing development in state and private education over the past decade in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. She shares that experience in The Educators’ Guide to Whole-school Wellbeing, co-authored with fellow NZIWR Director, Dr Lucy Hone (2020). Her work has been published in international academic journals and edited volumes on positive psychology, wellbeing in education, and restorative practices.

NZIWR’s strengths programmes draw on Denise’s validated strengths programme, demonstrated to enhance wellbeing, engagement and relatedness in New Zealand students. She is particularly interested in culturally responsive wellbeing in Aotearoa and local and indigenous strengths. As an adjunct Professor at the IE University, Madrid she has also taught strengths-focused leadership to business leaders from around the world.