Meet Our Team

Ben graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1997. He spent two years working in Dunedin and then Christchurch hospital after graduation before heading to work in London. After nine years away from Christchurch practicing dentistry in London and Auckland, Ben returned home to Christchurch in 2007, having just completed his Fellowship in Sydney, Australia.

Ben has been on the Lumino clinical board since 2011 and is an active member of the NZ Dental Association and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

Ben has always strived to achieve excellence in his work and stay at the forefront of technical advancements in dentistry. He performs general and cosmetic dentistry using the latest equipment, materials and methods including digital scanning and digital smile design. He is driven to give his patients the best care and experience possible. He regularly attends lectures and courses from minimal intervention to advanced procedures such as root canal therapy and Implant restoration.

Ben has an interest in reconstructing worn mouths and the prevention of dental disease. He enjoys developing and implementing a long term plan which future proofs someone’s mouth, with the goal of leaving the patient in a maintenance program with peace of mind that their teeth are disease-free and optimally restored.

Ben grew up on a farm in North Canterbury and brings exceptional skills, experience and clear no-fuss communication to the team. Outside of dentistry Ben has a passion for health and fitness and can either be found at the gym, spending time with his young family or thinking about going back to the gym.

Elena graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in 2016. She worked in private practice on the Kapiti Coast for several years before moving to Christchurch and joining the Shirley Lumino team in 2023. 
 
While Elena loves the variety that a job in general practice provides – no two days are the same – she gets the greatest satisfaction from relieving acute dental pain. Placing an emphasis on clear communication and tailoring the conversation to each individual, she strives to make every patient feel at ease, informed and involved in their dental care. Eager to stay at the forefront of dentistry, Elena regularly attends professional development courses to ensure she can offer the absolute best treatment to her patients. 
 
Outside of the job, Elena is studying towards a qualification in interior decorating and in her downtime can usually be found bingeing podcasts on long nature walks with her retired greyhound Mia. 

Te Maia graduated with a Bachelor of Oral Health from University of Otago in 2024.

Te Maia enjoys providing dental hygiene treatments and giving personalised oral health advice based on her patients' different needs. She is very interested in dental therapy, particularly the artistic side of restorative work. Te Maia is also very interested in keeping up to date with the latest dental trends and treatments. 

Te Maia has a particular passion for improving the oral health outcomes of Māori and being able to provide support to all whanau. She aims to incorporate te ao Māori and Te Tiriti into all aspects of her practice as a clinician. 

Te Maia loves empowering her patients and helping enable them to look after their oral health. It brings Te Maia lots of joy when she can help patients feel more confident and happier with their smiles. She also enjoys improving patient’s dental experiences by maintaining a supportive and non-judgemental environment.

Outside of the practice Te Maia loves to crochet, craft and listen to music. She can often by found at a café drinking a coffee. Te Maia wasborn in Melbourne, Australia but grew up in Dunedin.