“I don’t want to forget what I’ve seen. I want to make it count.”

Ruben

I’m a forensic scientist, author and speaker based in Aotearoa New Zealand. For 23 years, I worked on major crime scenes across the country — from high-profile homicides to forgotten domestic violence cases — trying to make sense of what was left behind.

For most of that time, I worked with PHF (then ESR), New Zealand’s national forensic laboratory, in close collaboration with police. I spent two decades investigating violence in its rawest form - and living with the human cost of doing that work day after day.

In 2022, I stepped back from the front lines, moved into training and intelligence, and later became an independent forensic scientist.

Today, I write and speak about what crime, trauma, and silence do to people - victims, offenders, professionals, and all of us who carry the weight of what we witness. My new project will come out in March 2026.

I now offer:

Keynote talks and live conversations

Expert case reviews and forensic consulting

Workshops for frontline and legal professionals

Writing that bridges science and lived experience

I believe we need new ways to talk about harm - not with shame, but with curiosity, clarity and courage.