The Imperfect Parents Team
Who We Are
Over the past two years, the Imperfect Parents team of facilitators has been growing! All of our facilitators are qualified and experienced in facilitating groups, supporting parents, and have an understanding of child development and evidence-based practice. We are passionate about helping parents to feel confident, building community, and making connections, all while advocating for the idea that there is no 'one right way' for every whānau.
Click on a facilitator's image to read more about them.
Sophie Moskowitz
Founder
Imperfect Parents' group Facilitator
Antenatal educator
Sophie Moskowitz has qualifications in Psychology, Early Childhood Education, and Transition to Parenthood Education. During her latter studies, Sophie was mentored by the late Lou Kelly, a trans and queer reproductive rights educator and activist - this cemented her commitment to providing inclusive spaces that cater for all whānau structures and parents.
She started Imperfect Parents in 2022 to provide a unique and much-needed space for parents to connect in a way that centres their wellbeing, because she believes that when parents feel supported, confident, and trust in themselves, their whānau will thrive.
After the birth of her second child, during the April 2020 Covid lockdown, Sophie began sharing her own parenting and self-growth experiences on Instagram, and quickly realised that people were hungry to hear about others' authentic experiences, in a way that wasn't sugar-coating it, or telling parents to 'enjoy every moment'. She also struggled with feeling isolated and disconnected from community during the lockdowns, cementing her belief in the importance of connection and community.
Sophie began offering pregnancy circles in early 2022, as a space for pregnant people to connect and share the emotional journey of pregnancy, and then followed this with the first Imperfect Parents' group in July 2022.
Witnessing the incredible connections that were made in that first group - who are all still in touch with one another today! - gave Sophie the drive to expand. The overwhelmingly positive experience of the initial group members has helped to spread the word about Imperfect Parents' groups throughout Tāmaki Makaurau, and in a short space of time we have grown to offer multiple Imperfect Parents' groups for different age groups, a Nature Playgroup, an evening group and now antenatal classes so we can offer wraparound support for whānau throughout their parenting journey!
Sophie lives in central Auckland with her partner, dog and three children, and is passionate about building community.
Tjala Judd
Imperfect Parents' group Facilitator
Antenatal Educator
Tjala (pronounced T-jala) is a registered midwife, specialised in postpartum care, with a passion for supporting whānau to trust in themselves and their pēpi. She is experienced in establishing feeding plans with whānau, whatever that might look like, and her aim in all her mahi is to promote confidence in parents as they care for their pēpi - and themselves! Tjala believes in promoting holistic wellbeing for whānau, with mental and emotional wellbeing being as important as physical wellbeing.
Tjala is also a Māmā of 11-year-old triplets! She has learned some incredible tools and skills in her role as Māmā, with first-hand experience of parenting multiples, long-term breastfeeding, extreme sleep-deprivation, and building a village of support that you can lean on.
As a facilitator, Tjala creates a warm environment where group members feel safe to share openly and be met with open-minded support, humour, and compassion. She has extensive experience with the Rainbow community, as well as lived experience with Te Ao Māori.
Dagmar van Antwerpen
Nature Playgroup and Imperfect Parents' group Facilitator
Dagmar facilitates the Nature Playgroup at Imperfect Parents, and often one of our weekday support groups, as well as jumping in to relieve other facilitators if they can't make it.
Dagmar loves supporting parents to build trust in themselves and their children, navigating individual challenges and changes to find a way that works for them, and create a partnership that will last a lifetime.
For over 10 years Dagmar has been working with children and parents in a variety of ways, facilitating parent-infant groups and playgroups, encouraging parents to see the unique development of their child, showing them how to create an environment for play to unfold and how to enjoy and explore nature together.
Outside of her work, Dagmar plays by creating food, learning to sew and do pottery, spending time in nature, dancing like no one’s watching at live music, enjoying local theatre, practising yoga and experiencing life with friends and family.
Joe Angus
Evening group Facilitator
Joe joins the Imperfect Parents team in 2024 to facilitate our evening group.
Over the last 10 years, Joe has worked as an educator for both children and adults. Originally a specialist learning support for children with additional needs, he now holds teaching qualifications from both the UK and Aotearoa New Zealand and is passionate about helping school leaders, teachers and tamariki realise the power they have to work for a more equitable society.
He is currently a Year 4-6 teacher and across-schools leader in a school in West Auckland, having recently returned from his role working with leadership teams across the North Island as a facilitator for Poutama Pounamu. During his time working with schools in this role, Joe began to ponder the possibility of taking the same reciprocal learning, group-talk approach and applying it to one of life’s other huge undertakings: parenting.
Joe lives with his partner Lily, their son (3), his two daughters (13 and 10) and Hamburger the Cat, in a very happy blended family home on the fringes of Te Wao Nui-a-Tiriwa.
His thirteen-year journey (so far!) as a parent has taken Joe through a huge range of circumstances, both joyful and painful. As a father to four, he brings with him the experiences of learner-parenting through clinical mental health struggles, emigration, parenting a child on the autistic spectrum, divorce, child loss and creating a blended family. And the learning continues.
As a facilitator, Joe prioritises creating an environment where reciprocal trust, support, respect and shared experiences underpin free-flowing and vital conversations. He places great value on humour, camaraderie and the power of talking to someone going through the same stuff, over a cuppa.
Outside of work, Joe is an avid reader and writer; loves whipping up solid feeds in the kitchen and is unhealthily obsessed with football.
Kate Kemble
Imperfect Parents' Group Facilitator
Antenatal Educator
Kate has worked for the past few years as a Transition to Parenthood facilitator at Central Auckland Parents Centre, working alongside parents on their prenatal and postnatal paths. Kate's facilitation style is underpinned by evidence-based support and whānau-centred care, and she feels it is both a privilege and delight to connect parents and empower them to love and nurture their families in the way that best suits them. Kate's professional background in Occupational Therapy and peer counselling further inform her skills in the parenting space.
Alongside her mahi, Kate loves and adores being Mum to her four (mostly) adult children. She has a daughter and three sons aged 19yrs – 26yrs. Kate also gains much pleasure from creative pursuits including baking, card-making, embroidery, and cake decorating, and she loves a good tramp or a night at the theatre!
Kate is looking forward to delving deep with Imperfect Parents'; exploring and celebrating the good and the hard of parenting with kindness, curiosity, safety, and respect.
Carla Canty
Imperfect Parents' Group Facilitator
Hobsonville Point
Carla has worked for the last four years as a Certified Restraint Technician, helping parents navigate the complexities of car seat safety. While meeting with parents from pregnancy through to pre-teen years, she has enjoyed supporting families to build confidence in their parenting decisions. With a background in Family Studies and Human Development, she believes in the importance of connection and sharing of evidence based support in navigating parenthood.
Over the years, Carla has worked with parents and children running play groups and events, fostering meaningful connections between families. Having navigated the challenges of parenthood herself, she understands the struggles and joys of going through the early stages of parenting.
Carla is passionate about creating a space for parents to share their experiences, feel supported, and build lasting community connections.
When she’s not working, Carla enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband, two young children and their dog. Carla and her whānau live in North-West Auckland, in the same community where she will be facilitating
Kat Kirchmann
Imperfect Parents' Group Facilitator
Orewa
Kat has a background in health promotion and qualifications as a childbirth educator and hypnobirthing facilitator. Deeply passionate about all aspects of birth and the journey through pregnancy and into parenthood, Kat is inspired by the growth and magic inherent in this transition.
A strong advocate for whānau-centered care, Kat is committed to supporting and empowering parents to embrace their unique journey with confidence, guided by their own values. She sees community and connection as key ingredients for families to thrive during this transformative stage of life and believes in the positive impact of safe, respectful spaces where parents can authentically share, process, and reflect on their experiences.
Having become a mother to her children, now 11 and 14, Kat recognized the gap in postpartum support for families and is excited to join the Imperfect Parents team to help bridge this gap. Through her work, she aims to help parents build confidence, forge meaningful connections, and foster a sense of community. Kat lives in Hatfields Beach, where she enjoys yoga, being creative, and spending time at the many beautiful beaches and parks nearby with her family and friends.