About Us
Riette Schwass
Director / Audiologist
BCommPat, MCommPat (Aud), CCC – MNZAS
Riette has almost 20 years’ experience as an audiologist. She studied in South Africa where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Pathology and then proceeded to complete a master’s degree in Communication Pathology specialising in Audiology and more specifically electro-physiology.
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Riette is first and foremost a mother. Riette and her husband Matthew have two young boys and their parenting journey so far has not always been easy.
Riette’s youngest son was diagnosed as being developmentally delayed and on the autism spectrum at the age of three. That was the tip of the iceberg for the family with two children only 13 months apart, one suffering with very (<em>very</em>) severe reflux and the other having been born with some neurological abnormalities. Riette knows first-hand what it is like to hope and wait for some clarity, help and support. It was through this journey of trying to navigate support structures in New Zealand that she realised how important it is to seek help from people who understand and empathise with your own family’s situation.
When given the opportunity to work in New Zealand, Riette working at the Waikato Hospital and split her time between the public and private sector before leaving to work for the NHS in England in 2004. In the UK, Riette worked as a clinical audiologist helping both adult and children with hearing rehabilitation and also in a specialist vestibular clinic under the guidance of ENT specialists.
In 2006, Riette returned to New Zealand and again divided her time between the Audiology Department at Waikato hospital and one of Hamilton’s first private audiology practices. It was while working at the hospital audiology department that Riette first became familiar with Auditory Processing Disorder or APD.
A few years later, Riette’s interest in APD was again cultivated from her own experience with her son who at the age of three was struggling to express himself. Riette went on to undertake further specialist study in APD and joined a number of international professional APD groups for clinicians. With a collaborative approach to his auditory processing, speech and language abilities Riette’s son now attends a mainstream school. His path is still filled with numerous obstacles, challenges and opportunities and so the journey for them as a family continues…
Graeme Dodd
Director
MNSc., RN, MBA (dist.)
Previously, Graeme was Managing Director of Triton Hearing where he was fortunate to have worked alongside Riette for over nine years. Graeme has a Master’s degree in Nursing Science from Otago University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Waikato University.
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Graeme lives in North Canterbury with his wife Kate and their 3 children, Jonty, Tilly and Jasper.
After Triton, he worked as CEO of a retirement village / aged care business. Having been involved in healthcare related businesses for over 16 years, Graeme decided to take some time to better understand and learn about things on the frontline of healthcare. With this in mind, and with the challenge of not having studied science for over 30 years, Graeme completed a master’s degree in nursing science at the University of Otago.
The programme included 1,300 hours of practical hands-on experience with placements in: aged care, mental health, primary care, complex care, orthopaedics, and older persons health. Graeme also had to sit masters level science and pharmacology exams, along with the New Zealand Nursing Council’s Registered Nurse State Exams. While completing his studies, Graeme was terrified that one day he would have to tell his wife and school age kids that he had failed an exam, or that he had grossly overestimated his academic abilities and that he would have to drop out of the course altogether.
Out of necessity, this fear led Graeme to become fascinated by “mental resilience” and “learning how to learn”, he continues to study and learn about various concepts such as accelerated learning and how to get the most from your mind and memory. Thankfully, Graeme passed all the exams and successfully completed his master’s in nursing science and is a registered nurse.
From a very young age, Graeme has always loved and been fascinated by business – it all started back when he would give his baby teeth to a friend at school who had a tooth fairy that paid 20 cents more than his did…
Graeme is absolutely inspired by the unique opportunity and privilege that Bounse has to help people of all ages to listen, learn, develop and get along with others.
Landi Fourie
Bounse Pathway Coordinator.
Landi is often the first person a client or family speaks to, and she takes that seriously. She is there to make the pathway from first enquiry to the right programme feel clear, unhurried, and personal - so that no one is left to navigate it alone.
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Landi has an eye for detail and a genuine warmth for people that she brings to her role as Bounse Pathway Coordinator. With more than a decade in care, operations, and client-facing work, she has built her career around making sure people don’t fall through the gaps – that they know what happens next, feel looked after along the way, and reach the support they came need.
Her working life began in administration and finance in South Africa, where she learned early that behind every appointment, account, and phone call is a person. Between 2019 and 2023 she worked across care homes and schools, supporting adults recovering from brain injuries, assisting children with physical and intellectual disabilities, and caring for older adults. Those years taught her patience, close observation, and how much difference it makes when someone takes the time to communicate clearly and without rush.
She went on to coordinate operations for a busy North Island service team, managing bookings, scheduling, and the daily flow of work, before taking on a consultancy role where she guided clients through an entire journey, from first conversation to completed project.
Now settled in Hamilton and a mum to a young son, Landi understands how full family life can be, and how much it matters that support is easy to access, clearly explained, and fitted around real lives…
Lize Pieters
Hearing-Brain Programme Lead.
Diploma in Psychology and Counselling
Lize is passionate about supporting individuals with hearing loss and auditory processing challenges, helping them stay connected and confident in daily life. With a Diploma in Psychology and Counselling and certifications in Child and Early Childhood Development, she blends professional expertise with personal experience. Having worked in education and learning support, she understands how auditory challenges affect communication, learning, and social connection at any age.
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Lize brings a deep understanding of communication challenges to her role as Bounse Co-ordinator, particularly for those with hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties. With a Diploma in Psychology and Counselling and certifications in Child and Early Childhood Development, she has spent her career helping individuals overcome barriers to stay engaged, independent, and connected.
Her journey began in mining training, supporting adults with diverse learning needs, including auditory and cognitive challenges. This led her to education, where she worked closely with children, parents, and teachers to improve communication and learning. As a teacher and support teacher, she saw firsthand how hearing and processing difficulties impact confidence, relationships, and quality of life.
Lize’s passion for this work is deeply personal. Growing up in a neurodivergent family and raising a child with unique learning needs, she understands the challenges of adapting to communication difficulties — whether in the classroom, workplace, or social settings. She is committed to helping individuals of all ages, including older adults, access the right strategies and support to stay socially active and engaged.
At Bounse, Lize is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where those with hearing loss and auditory processing challenges feel truly heard. She believes that with the right support, people can maintain strong connections and independence at any stage of life.