The Human Mind: Why We Think, Feel and Behave the Way We Do

Jo Dowley is the founder of ReFrame Lab, a neuroscience-informed coaching and facilitation practice based in Hawke’s Bay.

Originally from England, Jo trained and worked as an Occupational Therapist, later leading one of the largest hand therapy units in the UK before moving to New Zealand in 2009. Her own “squiggly” journey has included leadership, entrepreneurship, vineyard ownership, co-founding a start-up, psychosocial facilitation with the New Zealand Red Cross, and ultimately creating ReFrame Lab.

Passionate about human behaviour, nervous system safety, emotions, and the brain, Jo translates neuroscience into practical and accessible insights that help people better understand themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that shape how they think, feel, and respond to life.

Her work explores how the brain is constantly predicting and responding to the world around us, how stress and safety influence thinking and behaviour, and how greater awareness of our own nervous system patterns, triggers, environments, and responses can help us think more clearly, adapt more effectively, and create lasting change.

Known for her warm, thought-provoking, and conversational style, Jo combines science, storytelling, and real-world experience to create engaging discussions that leave people reflecting differently about themselves and others.

Christina is a lifelong learner with a profound passion for exploring diverse cultures and disciplines. Her curiosity has inspired extensive global travel, from teaching English to Buddhist monks in Laos and volunteering at a Thai orphanage to visiting museums across Europe, the UK, and Asia. A highlight of her travels is the Bishop Museum in Hawai'i, which she visits frequently, including during the 2014 World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education.

Her academic journey began with law and politics at Waikato University, where she discovered dispute resolution. She subsequently earned a Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Strathclyde University, UK. This period included an exchange at the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and research in Hong Kong on the ombudsman's role.

Currently a Learning Facilitator for Love Heart Social Learning, Christina also teaches the Restorative Practices microcredential at Victoria University. A fully accredited restorative justice facilitator and assessor, she recently delivered mediation training in Micronesia. Previously, she served as Director of Employee Assistance Resolution Services at Victoria University.

Outside of work, Christina enjoys connecting with loved ones and attending international events, such as the 2025 Restorative Practices conference in Singapore, to continually expand her expertise.