Speakers

Sylvia Admans

Sylvia is the Chief Executive Officer of The R E Ross Trust, a charitable trust established in Victoria, Australia, in 1970 by the will of the late Roy Everard Ross. Sylvia joined the Ross Trust following nine years as CEO of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) where she establisshed the Foundation in Bendigo, Victoria. In her role at FRRR, Sylvia was responsible for developing innovative programs and partnerships for the benefit of rural Australian communities. Following the 2009 Victorian bushfires, FRRR responded by designing a collaborative Repair-Restore-Renew Grants Program to assist community recovery in bushfire affected communities. The Grants Program was an innovative partnership between philanthropy, community and government and provided medium to long term support to communities to recovery following the bushfires.

 Prior to working in the philanthropic sector, Sylvia was a senior manager with the Australian Public Service, working across a number of programs. She is a qualified librarian, a Graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, a Churchill Fellow and holds a Diploma, Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Goldie Akapita

Iwi:  Ngāti Rangi / Te Atihaunui a Papārangi / Ngāpuhi.  Ngati Rangi Trust is situated at the foot of Mt Ruapehu.  Goldie is a Funding officer Assisting the funding needs of the Trust as well as the 14 marae within the Ngāti Rangi area.  She also manages the Kaitoko Programme (sponsored by TPK) to facilitate and broker services to assist vulnerable families.

Sir Ray Avery

Ray is the 2010 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year and also the recipient of the 2010 Blake Medal.

He is a successful pharmaceutical scientist, a founding member of the Auckland University School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and former Technical Director of Douglas Pharmaceuticals.

After spending his childhood in English orphanages and foster homes, Ray developed an interest in science at age 14, while living rough on the streets of London and finding warmth and inspiration in public libraries. He went on to become an award-winning scientist and a successful businessman.  However, it is Ray’s groundbreaking work in the developing world that has brought him respect and recognition internationally.

He has worked on breakthrough technologies and treatments, which have made a major difference to developing countries in Africa and Asia.

 In 2003, Ray founded Medicine Mondiale, enlisting the help of other scientists and social entrepreneurs to work with him.   Today, an international network of scientists, technologists,  Nobel Laureates’, alongside various New Zealand companies, support him by donating their time and knowledge for free.  For further information on the work of Medicine Mondiale visit www.medicinemondiale.org.   

Megan Barclay

Megan lives with her family Clint and Mclean in Auckland, New Zealand.  She is currently the Executive Director of Leadership New Zealand.   Previously Megan worked with Vodafone New Zealand in a variety of leadership roles including leading a team of 360 at the Vodafone Contact Centre based in Manukau, Auckland, regional programme management, and playing a pivotal role in the design and implementation of a Customer Experience strategy that fed into a global Vodafone approach.  Megan was introduced to Leadership New Zealand and the not for profit sector through her participation in the Leadership New Zealand Leadership Programme and subsequent work with community groups through the Leadership New Zealand SkillsBank Programme.  Megan studied Marketing and Psychology at University and holds a Legal Executive Diploma in Conveyancing and Property Law.

Andrew Bascand

Andrew has responsibility for all Australasian equity portfolios. Prior to joining Harbour Asset Management, Andrew spent 10 years with AllianceBernstein (NZ) as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager responsible for portfolio construction of all Australasian mandates.

In that role Andrew and his team were consistently recognised by the industry for excellence in funds management. Andrew has more than 27 years' investment management experience in roles with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of England, AMP and with Merrill Lynch Global Asset Management (UK) as Managing Director of Global Equity Products. With Merrill Lynch, Andrew managed global equity accounts for pension funds in Japan, Sweden, Spain, Chile, England, the US, Germany and South Africa.

Moi Becroft

Moi is the Project Manager of the ASB Community Trust’s Maori and Pacific Educational Initiative (MPEI). MPEI funds a small number of fully funded multiyear projects aimed at increasing the academic achievement of Maori and Pacific students in the Auckland and Northland Regions. It is hoped through the evaluation of the MPEI projects, evidence in best practice and what works can influence future infrastructural change within the educational sector for the betterment of Maori and Pacific communities. Before joining the Trust Moi worked for the Department of Internal Affairs for 11 years, doing community development work and coordinating Auckland COGS committees during that time. With Nga Puhi (Ngati Hau, Ngati te Pou) connections through her mother, she grew up in Port Albert as a fifth generation Albertland settler on her father’s side. Well networked and known within Auckland and Northland’s social service sector, Moi has a profoundly deaf daughter, which also connects her to the deaf community.

Sara Bennett

Sara Bennett has an extensive background of over 15 years expertise in the health and social policy sectors, including evaluation, research, strategic planning, and policy development. As a consultant and senior manager, Sara has worked with a wide range of NGOs, DHBs and central government.  Sara is currently working with Capacity Development New Zealand, and is part of a group of people passionate about the NGO and not for profit sectors and the role they play in the lives of New Zealanders. CDNZ’s aim is to work collaboratively with people, organisations and sectors to support the growth of strong, sustainable and capable teams, structures and systems.  Currently Sara is part of the CDNZ team supporting the ASB Trust to develop and implement a high engagement funding model to support youth sector providers.  Sara is leading the approach to developmental evaluation and reflective learning.

Mark Bentley

Mark is Chief Executive of Auckland Communities Foundation, a major new fundraiser and grant maker for good causes in the city. The Foundation builds upon the previous experience of over nine years of operation of the Manukau Community Foundation. Mark is also on the Board of Directors of the Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand and recoup Audit Limited.

Previously, Mark was General Manager for a national leadership institute in New Zealand, and prior to that he coordinated The University of Auckland Business School's marketing and fundraising strategy and, in particular, the drive to raise $50m for the “World Class Business School” project. Mark has also managed corporate marketing and alumni relations at Manchester Business School, a highly regarded international business school, and had prior experience of marketing and enterprise roles in the TV sport, further education and construction industries.

Mark has a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK and recently completed an MBA at the University of Auckland (including a research study on incentivising collaboration between charities). He is a graduate of the Committee for Auckland’s Future Auckland Leaders Programme 2004/5.

Te Rawhitiroa Bosch

As the National Youth Coordinator for the Enviroschools Foundation Te Rawhitiroa is currently working with the Kōtuia! crew leading Te Aho Tū Roa - Kōtuia! - a nationwide project working with rangatahi Māori in wharekura and communities around Aotearoa to connect: People to People, People to Place.

Te Rawhitiroa has been an instigator, mentor, facilitator and leader at the Enviroschools Youth Jam events in 2007, 2008 and in the ReGeneration Roadtrip in 2009.  Receiving the Vodafone Foundation World of Difference grant in 2010 enabled him to work with his passion for rangatahi and performance and realise the vision of Kōtuia!

Te Rawhitiroa presented at Involve 08 and was a youth keynote speaker for 2009 NZ Association of Environmental Educators, he was also recognised with the Youth Week 08 award Celebrating Everyday Young New Zealanders. Te Rawhitiroa presented a keynote at Involve 2010.

Paul Brock

Paul Brock is the Chief Executive of Kiwibank. Paul has an extensive background in New Zealand's banking industry, including senior managerial positions with Westpac and Trustbank. He was part of the team that created Kiwibank in 2002. Since then Paul's held a number of key positions within the bank, including General Manager Marketing and most recently General Manager Savings and Transactions.

Paul holds a degree in Business Studies from Massey University.

Steven Burkeman

Steven Burkeman currently serves as a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and of Jessie’s Fund (www.jessiesfund.org.uk). He also founded, and now chairs, the Rowntree Society (www.rowntreesociety.org.uk).

Steven was educated at the Universities of Manchester (Law), York (Education), and Birmingham (Public Sector Policy). He worked as a teacher, and then in local government and the National Health Service before joining the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust as Trust Secretary (CEO) in 1982. He left JRCT in 2001 to work as a self-employed consultant.

Among many past appointments, Steven has been a Synergos Senior Fellow; a Lay Member of the Council of the Law Society (and member of Law Reform Board); a Lay Member of the Board for the Legal Complaints Service; a Board Member of the Community Fund (aka National Lottery Charities Board, now the Big Lottery Fund); and Honorary Visiting Fellow at the Politics Department of York University.

Steven has written and lectured widely on matters relating to philanthropy, and you can find some examples, including downloads at: www.stevenburkeman.co.uk

Kathy Cave

Kathy Cave is a portfolio manager for Russell Investments based in Russell’s Sydney office. As portfolio manager, she works closely with a number of key clients in advising on investment strategy and implementation.  Prior to joining Russell in 2005, Kathy worked with Challenger Financial Service Group in the role of senior manager research and alliances where she was part of a team that managed several multi-manager and multi-sector funds.

Previously she worked as an investment consultant in Towers Perrin’s Sydney office.  She was responsible for providing investment advice to several large institutional clients with respect to investment policy and strategy, asset allocation, asset class structures and manager selection.  From 1989 to 1999, Kathy managed money in South Africa, principally for Liberty Asset Management Limited. In addition to managing balanced funds, which invested across all asset classes, an industrial unit trust and a small capitalisation fund, she was a member of the asset allocation committee.

Michael Chamberlain

On 31 March 1998 Michael formed MCA NZ Limited. MCA is a specialist actuarial, investment and employee benefits consulting firm. Since its beginning on 1 April 1998, MCA has become one of the leading investment advisory consulting firms advising clients with collective assets of $4.5b. MCA also provides superannuation advice to in excess of 45 employer and trustee groups including 3 of New Zealand’s top 10 companies. MCA NZ Limited is part of the Aventine Group.

Michael’s experience in consulting in the investment and employee benefits areas spans 30 years with many of New Zealand's leading companies and organisations. Michael is recognised as one of New Zealand's leading superannuation and investment consultants.  Michael is also a past chairman of ASFONZ, the Association of Superannuation Funds in New Zealand.  Michael is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in London and a Fellow of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries.

Karen Clifford

Originally from the United Kingdom, I have a strong background in community service and community development practice.

Whilst working in the UK, I took a lead role in the implementation and development of two very innovative projects.  Firstly, with ‘Sure Start’, a Government initiative which aimed to "give children the best possible start in life" through improved childcare, early education, health and family support, emphasising outreach and community development, and later on I was involved with starting up the ‘Children’s Centre’s’.  At the time I was one of the few people in the UK qualified to lead an integrated Children’s Centre, where all the different support agencies are brought together, all in one place.  And although centres are developed in line with the needs of the local community, so no one ‘children’s centre’ is the same, it’s a place where your child can make friends and learn as they play, a place where you can get professional advice on health and family matters, learn about training and job opportunities or just socialise with other people.

I have been in New Zealand now for four years, and I’m just loving Wellington. Currently I have the pleasure of being a part of the whanau out at The Great Start House in the Taita/Pomare community of the Hutt Valley.  For me…. right now… I am stretching in mind, body and spirit, experiencing the wonders of a new country and learning heaps….

Sue Cooper

Sue joined Prometheus Finance as its CEO in September 2010 having come to New Zealand on a secondment from the UK office of Triodos Bank in February.  Triodos is Europe’s leading social bank investing exclusively in social and environmental projects. Sue joined Triodos 12 years ago after 20 years of senior experience at Barclays Bank, a major UK bank. Sue was a senior lending manager specialising in social and charitable projects and grew Triodos’s lending in this sector from $21m to $478.

Sue worked on a full range of projects from the small to the very large. The larger ones were complex and for amounts up to $53m and to a wide range of charities, including Greenpeace and Amnesty International and community initiatives including development trusts, faith groups and housing associations. Sue built a personal profile in the UK as an expert in social enterprises, charities and social finance including working with local, regional and national government, and pursuing these themes academically.

Jess Dart

Dr Jessica Dart is a recognised leader in evaluation with over 18 years of involvement in evaluating social change programmes in Australia and overseas. She specialises in the evaluation of projects with complex, intangible outcomes. As part of her PhD she jointly developed the ‘Most Significant Change Technique’ alongside Rick Davies. Her main interests are in programme logic; qualitative inquiry and participatory monitoring and evaluation approaches. In 2005 Jessica established Clear Horizon Consulting, a rapidly growing and successful company comprising eleven specialists. Clear Horizon has clients from a variety of sectors, including overseas development, natural resource management, community development and more.

The latest technique to come from Clear Horizon is the ‘Participatory Performance Story Reporting’, which has been developed over the last five years and was influenced by John Mayne’s seminal work on Contribution Analysis. In 2006 she won the National Evaluation Development Award. 
www.clearhorizon.com.au

Bev Edlin

With a background in marketing Bev has held senior management positions across a number of industry sectors. Her responsibilities have been extensive including: overseeing a national education programme, major branding initiatives, product development and structuring companies for success.

Her doctoral thesis entitled “Corporate Governance: Determinants of Effective Decision-making” has practical application for boards.  She now consults with boards and delivers a wide range of board related activities including board assessments and training sessions for current and aspiring board directors/trustees.  She facilities Massey University’s MBA module on Governance and will be running a series of training sessions this year in collaboration with Massey University’s School of Business.

In recent years she has been involved in the establishment of a number of boards. Currently she chairs two boards and serves as a director on other private and not for profit boards.  She enjoys the challenges that come with being a Trustee of Eastern and Central Community Trust (ECCT).

She regularly writes a blog on governance related matters which can be seen on boardroom360.com

Terri Eggleton

Terri has a varied background and skill base. She has qualifications in Business Studies, Management and Economic Development, and is a Chartered Accountant.

The decision to leave her Chartered Accountancy practice was fuelled by a desire to make more of a contribution to the community and has seen her involved since in many government, community and business projects across the Bay of Plenty, with a heavy focus of capacity building.

Currently, Terri is a trustee of Eastern Bay of Plenty Hospice, and a Council member of Te Whare Wananga O Awanuiarangi.  Terri was a Trustee of BayTrust for 8 years from 2000 to 2008, before taking up the newly created position of Community Development Advisor in October 2009. She brings to this position a huge empathy for communities in need and a desire to make a positive difference to any position or project she is involved with.

Lani Evans

Dickie Farrar 

Since joining the Whakatōhea Maori Trust Board in June 2010, Dickie has been busy reviewing the organisations structure and its business operations. Dickie brings with her expertise in the area's of organizational change management, strategic planning and implementation and overall management leadership.

Of Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu decent, Dickie is passionate about iwi development and growth. Her vision is to create a strong Whakatōhea presence in all areas of their business. She believes Iwi should collectivize and balance their wealth to develop future opportunities.

Prior to her appointment to the Whakatōhea Maori Trust Board, Dickie held the position as the General Manager of Raukawa Trust Board where her primary role had been to develop their 50 year strategy, new vision and mission for the Iwi as well as new five year strategic and annual business plans for the Raukawa Trust Board.  Her secondary role had been to develop a new group model to receive the current and future treaty assets.  This required working with a range of legal, HR and accounting teams, as well as a change manager to implement the closedown of the current Trust Board and the setting up of a Trust compliant to receive settlement assets.  Dickie also has experience developing statement of investment policy objectives (SIPO). 

Dickie’s appointment in Whakatōhea has been very well received by Iwi.  Her open communication style with hapu, strong leadership skills and ability to undertake a very large workload have been openly appreciated by Iwi and the governing Board of Trustees of the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board, all of whom look forward to achieving significant milestones in the future. 

Craig Fisher

Craig Fisher is a Chartered Accountant and an experienced, passionate and pragmatic presenter of local and national presentations on such topics as auditing, accounting updates, fraud prevention, and governance matters.  With a special interest in the not-for-profit sector, he has co-presented Charities update seminars for accountants nationwide and was the key note speaker for the Charities Commission at their 2009 AGM.

He acts for a large number of charities and not-for-profit organisations in his capacity as an audit partner at Hayes Knight Audit, and is a regular technical author helping translate accounting and auditing issues into accessible information for users.  From 2001 to 2008 Craig chaired the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand’s Professional Standards Board responsible for all professional and ethical standards developed by the Institute other than the financial reporting standards.  In this capacity he has represented New Zealand internationally in audit and assurance standard setting.

Craig is passionate about ensuring organisations are aware of the implications of recent and proposed changes and translating the sometimes confusing into the easily understandable.  He aims to break the boring accountant stereo type.

John Forbes

John Forbes has been a member of the Opotiki District Council since 1986, and Mayor since 2001.  His capable capable chairmanship and leadership is also recognised nationally and in December 2011 he became Vice President of Local Government new Zealand.

Regional and national roles include chairing the Rural Sector of Local Government NZ (LGNZ), co-chairing the Rural Provincial Sector, filling the role of Acting President of LGNZ from time to time, and chairing the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group.  John is also active on a number of national working groups of focusing on such things as climate change, engagement with Maori, economic development, and is a member of NZ Walking Access Commission.

John is a strong advocate of economic development as the vital pathway to social development. He also powerfully argues the case for more attention to the development needs and potential of rural communities which collectively total the equivalent population for Wellington and Dunedin, represent a significant percentage of NZ’s land area and a considerable amount of our nation’s wealth. 

Henrietta Fourmile Marrie

Henrietta Fourmile Marrie was born in Yarrabah, south-east of Cairns.  She is from the Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji people and is a direct descendant of Ye-i-nie, King of Cairns. Henrietta  has worked for many years as an academic with over 30 publications focused on the protection of indigenous cultural heritage, intellectual property, the bushfood industry, and access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.

She has served on a number of government committees and inquiries, and acted as a consultant to a number of Australian government bodies. In 1997 she became the first Indigenous Australian to gain a senior position with a United Nations agency. She is a Program Manager with the Christensen Fund, a California-based philanthropic body which makes grants to indigenous and local communities in a number of regions around the world. 

Through Henrietta, the Christensen Fund has made over $20 million in grants to support indigenous initiatives in Australia, Henrietta is also working to establish the United Nations University Institute for Traditional Knowledge in northern Australia. She has established the Wungal Environment Foundation, an Aboriginal organisation that will assist traditional owner groups to manage and secure land. From 2005 to 2009, Henrietta co-chaired Philanthropy Australia’s Indigenous Affinity Group. She continues to keep a close connection with her traditional Gimuy Walubarra clan country, the area south of the Barron River on which the City of Cairns now stands.  www.christensenfund.org

Helena Francis

Chair of Wayne Francis Charitable Trust and Director of Nevele R Stud, Chair Lifepaths Charitable trust and Board member of Philanthropy New Zealand, Helena has two children and a husband and lives in Christchurch.   She has a passion for young people and their transition to adulthood and all that involves and is interested in promoting philanthropy and family grant making in particular.

Kate Frykberg

Since 2005 Kate has been Executive Director of the Todd Foundation (www.toddfoundation.org.nz), a family foundation established in 1972 which focuses on funding for children, young people, their families and their communities.    She is also active in philanthropy in her personal life, establishing the Thinktank Charitable Trust in 2003 after the sale of her family-owned Internet company.   Kate is chair of this trust, which focuses on funding that supports young children and their families.  This reflects her personal passion that every child should grow up in a family that is at least "good enough" and non-damaging.  Kate is also deputy chair of Philanthropy NZ.

Kate’s background includes a degree in English Literature and 20 years in the IT industry.  She won the 2000 ASB Business Woman of the Year award and received a royal honour, the NZ Order of Merit for services to business and the community, in the same year.
Kate has been a volunteer all her adult life and currently works with the Generosity Hub and helps out with Refugee Services as a resettlement volunteer.   She lives in Wellington with her husband and three sons.

Bev Gatenby

Bev Gatenby has been Chief Executive of Trust Waikato since 2006.  Bev has always been passionate about issues of social justice in local communities and the work of community groups.  In the past , this passion has lead to completing a doctorate involving research with Anglican Action  looking at services provided for women and children.  A previous role as founding CEO of Social Services Waikato (now Community Waikato) also offered opportunities to be deeply involved in building the capacity of community organisations and the community and voluntary sector.   Bev spent over a decade as an academic at the University of Waikato, where she taught communication, women and management and not-for-profit management.  She has also held voluntary roles in a number of community groups, including the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, the Community Sector Taskforce, Hamilton YWCA, the National Association for Loss and Grief, and the usual school and sports groups that happen along with 3 busy teenage daughters.

Catherine George

Catherine George is the Grants Advisor for Arts, Culture & Heritage at ASB Community Trust.  Having started her career as a  journalist, Catherine has now worked in grant-making for over 15 years. 

Catherine is leading the ASB Community Trust Emerging Artists Pilot.  This is an innovative 18 month programme which will explore, demonstrate and evaluate new ways the philanthropic sector can support emerging artists.  

A passionate advocate for the development of the arts in Auckland and Northland, Catherine has a particular interest in seeing young people participate in and experience the arts.  She has had extensive involvement with children’s and youth theatre, and is on the Board of the National Youth Theatre Company.

Corrina Gestro-Best

Corrina left a corporate background of 20 years in 1995 and solo cycled around the South Island where the South Island’s West Coast captured her.  With an unexpected job offer suddenly on the table, she relocated to Hokitika, subsequently married and has 2 children, a lifestyle block with endless maintenance and is currently the Manager of WestREAP (Rural  Education Activities Programme), a not for profit organisation based in Hokitika  but covers a rural distance of over 300 kms. 

WestREAP is one of 13 REAPs that exist to provide education support to rural communities through multiple streams including early childhood, working with schools and adult and community education.  They have been in existence for over 30 years and are affiliated to their national body, REAP Aotearoa NZ (REAPANZ).  REAPs also operate with a community development focus and work alongside community groups to help strengthen their role and have successfully formed and maintained many collaborative relationships. 

Corrina is also a part time Director of their family business and is a keen recreational cyclist and tramper and is often found exploring the beautiful South Island outdoors with family and friends.

Jennifer Gill

Jennifer Gill is currently the CEO of the ASB Community Trust based in Auckland. She has had a 25 year career in philanthropy and served her apprenticeship with Sir Roy McKenzie who in 1985 appointed her as the Executive Officer of the Roy McKenzie Foundation. She was subsequently appointed as a Trustee and Chair of the J R McKenzie Trust.  Jennifer is also currently a Trustee of two small but innovative family trusts which focus on reducing disadvantage in New Zealand.

Twenty years ago the McKenzie philanthropies were instrumental in the establishment of both the Funding Information Service and Philanthropy New Zealand. Jennifer is currently in her second term as a member of the Board of Philanthropy New Zealand, and in 2009 completed a five year term as Chair. Jennifer was a founding Trustee and also served as Chair of the Wellington Regional Community Foundation.

From 1994 to 2004 Jennifer was the CEO of Fulbright New Zealand and served on the Board of the Ian Axford fellowships

Jennifer has spoken and written widely on the role of philanthropy. She is the co-author of a chapter “Innovation in Philanthropy Downunder” in Global Philanthropy, published by the Mercator Fund, Network of European Foundations in April 2010. She has been a Board member of the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium since 2007.

Belinda Gorman

Belinda Gorman spans the corporate and NGO sectors. Belinda has worked for UNICEF New Zealand for 5 years, overseeing funding for development and humanitarian activities (in the areas of water and sanitation, and HIV and AIDS prevention & care) in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Timor Leste and Lao PDR. As Microsoft New Zealand’s Community Affairs Manager, Belinda facilitates national partnerships and programs that help improve digital inclusion, through technology access and training in underserved communities throughout New Zealand.

Belinda worked for a number of years in Vietnam and Mongolia for The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) an international NGO dedicated to serving children in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, educational opportunities, shelter and protection from risk of sexual and economic exploitation.

Returning to New Zealand, Belinda completed her Master of Development Studies at Victoria University, Wellington in 2005.

Trevor Gray

Trevor Gray has been manager of the Tindall Foundation since 2002 after a varied career in teaching, farming, training, consulting and community development in the fields of agriculture, education, community enterprise and competency-based learning.  His work has ranged from Auckland to Kaitaia and from MAF (Ministry of Agriculture) to REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme).  He is dedicated to assisting individuals, communities and organisations to maximise their potential through development of their own assets, systems and processes to achieve their desired outcomes and self-sufficiency.

Trevor is a keen enthusiast in the fields of fishing, diving, surfing, gardening, farming and family interests.

David Hanna

David is a fourth generation Pakeha... a partner in a civil union, a father of 4 children, a Director of a Social Change/ Service Organisation (Wesley Community Action), a Chairperson of the local school, a cub leader, a member of the Inspiring Communities Network and a part time sports coach.  He has worked as a national NGO youth director, a policy manager in Central Government, a consultant on youth development, a trainer in policy analysis and now a director.

Key themes across his activities are bicultural/Treaty of Waitangi perspectives, systems/holistic action/thinking, positive child and youth development and grounding what we do in an authentic spirituality.

Danica Hampton

As a director within BNZ’s Currency Overlay Solution Group, Danica is responsible for developing and marketing currency overlay services across New Zealand and Australia. Assessing what’s going on in currency markets and what it all means for New Zealand investors is familiar territory for Danica, having spent four years as BNZ’s currency strategist.  She has also worked at both the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Her research background helps add specialist insight on managing currency risk in the context of portfolio management.

Danica holds a Master of Business in Economics and a Bachelor in Commerce in Economics.

John Harrington

John was formerly the Director of the National Youth Workers Network Aotearoa (2006 - 2009) which he pioneered. The Network is the umbrella organisation for Youth Work in Aotearoa. John has recently started working again for the Canterbury Youth Workers Collective where he is the Communications Coordinator.

John has been involved in developing the new National Bachelor of Youth Work the national Youth Work Code of Ethics and the development of a new national peek body for the Youth Development sector in Aotearoa called Ara Taiohi which he is currently on the interim Board. He has served on School Board of Trustees and is currently on a philanthropic Board and has been on others the past.

John has been on the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust for 5 years and is on the South Island funding advisory group of the J R Mckenzie Trust.

Chloe Harwood

Chloe Harwood is the Research and Policy Manager with ASB Community Trust, she is responsible for policy development, research and evaluation.  Chloe is particularly interested in new models of grantmaking and looking at ways that funders can add value to their funding programmes.  Alongside Philanthropy New Zealand and the Lottery Grants Board Chloe has helped develop the Evaluation and Research Network.  This network encourages evidence/knowledge informed grantmaking and supports the practice of reflective learning.

Chloe was born in England and grew up in Christchurch before returning to England where she worked for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), where she awarded funding to innovative and pioneering learning projects.

Christian Hawkesby

Christian has responsibility for Harbour’s fixed income business.   Prior to joining Harbour, Christian spent 9 years at the Bank of England, where he held a number of senior positions, including Head of Market Intelligence, Chief Manager of the Sterling Markets Division, and Private Secretary to the Deputy Governor.  While in the Bank of England’s dealing room, Christian was responsible for analysis and research, relationships with London and Edinburgh asset managers, designing and launching the special Sterling Corporate Bond Scheme, and advising on the Bank’s purchase of £200bn UK government bonds for quantitative easing.  Christian began his career as an economist at the RBNZ.

Helen Heath

I’m a writer and new media maven, book marketer and copywriting whiz. By day I promote award-winning books for a top New Zealand publishing house and teach people how to use social media to promote their business. By night I hang out on Twitter and blog about writing, poetry and creativity. I've been blogging on and off since 1999, my current blog is www.helenheath.com.

Nick Holmes

Born in Australia, Nick spent his childhood immersed in the natural world. His curiosity for all things living led him to study Marine Biology and Zoology at the University of Queensland, and in 2008 he moved to New Zealand to continue tertiary study, embarking on a Masters of Natural History Filmmaking.

It was during his Masters that Nick developed a strong understanding of what he now refers to as Peak Everything, and the urgent need for communities to transition to low carbon, responsible living.

The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation supported Nick in 2010 to work alongside youth to develop future-relevant life skills in response to the challenges posed by climate, energy and associated economic change. Today you’ll find him with his hands in the soil, growing a social enterprise project that fosters artisan skill development in youth, thought to be the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Christina Howard

Christina has been Child and Family Advisor at the Todd Foundation since April 2010. After starting her  career in the community as a co-ordinator for the Invercargill Volunteer Centre and working for three years as a Child, Youth and Family social worker, she returned  to university to gain a PhD in psychology.  Her other recent roles have been in government, including evaluating the effectiveness of Department of Internal Affairs funding schemes and undertaking research and evaluation on Ministry of Social Development initiatives like Family Start and SKIP.  She has a particular interest in working with organisations to find simple ways to explore how they are making a difference – and what changes they need to make to do their work even more effectively.

Chris Jansen

Chris Jansen is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury in area of educational leadership and secondary teacher education.  He has an extensive range of leadership and consulting experience both in New Zealand and overseas, is a member of the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust – Youth Advisory Group.   Chris is the chairperson of the Board of Te Ora Hou Otautahi, a Maori youth and community development agency where he also worked as a youth worker in the past.  He has also had roles as Head of Physical Education at Mangere College in Auckland, as a counsellor with the Department of Child, Youth and Families "AIKI" programme working with adolescent offenders and their families, and in substance abuse treatment programmes in Atlanta, Georgia and Hong Kong.

Russell Joyce

Russell is in charge of all publicity for the ASB Community Trust, including the website, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, media liaison and public events. Previously he was a senior sub-editor on the Salisbury Journal, in England, and a sub-editor and technology writer at the Waikato Times, in Hamilton. Russell has always been interested in the internet’s potential to link, inform and empower people and he has been leading the Trust’s exploration of social media’s potential to connect with the community. 

Amanda Judd

Committed to regenerating our communities and planet socially, environmentally, and personally (for happiness & fulfillment) through creating role models and creative responses, and inspiring others to do the same; Amanda is presently exploring the concept of ReGeneration, as she feels our world of decline is no longer necessary or intelligent.

Amanda is involved in many regenerative initiatives; LOVEnotes is a company she started in 2008, to explore regenerative business & what it would look like at all levels.  Trustee of the ReGeneration Trust allows Amanda to continue exploring the concept itself, as well as commit more intention to supporting young people to find the beauty in participating too - regardless of their passions, skills, areas of interest and studies. Appointed to Director of the North Shore YouthworX Trust in 2008 sees Amanda working closely with Youthfund; whom the trust umbrella's.

Amanda understands the incredible potential young people have to be the designers of a better world; the importance of purposeful work for our youth; respecting their desires to participate in regenerating, for their positive development as human beings; and observing their incredible networks, technological skills, solutions focused thinking, sponge like minds of knowledge, and hunger for a fair and just world. She endeavors to intergenerationally connect people through purpose and the shared vision of a positive world for all, while taking the time to be the change herself and contributing to regenerating our place called home.

Rongo Kirkwood

Rongo is of Waikato/Maniapoto descent and draws strength from her whānau. She has worked extensively in the community, in particular in the marae, health, education, and community development sectors. In her current role as Pouhere Pūtea (Donation Advisor) with Trust Waikato, she focuses on advancing the holistic well being of all whānau, hapū and iwi. Rongo provides a range of services including specialist funding advice, and is a trained sustainable funding facilitator. Being well connected in the community enables Rongo to broker effective relationships and support iwi with their aspirations.

A fan of life-long learning, Rongo has just completed a Bachelor of Applied Social Science in Te Reo and Iwi Development.  Undertaking tertiary study has enabled Rongo to strengthen her knowledge and skill base, all the while complementing her role as Pouhere Pūtea. Currently residing in Hamilton with her partner Harry, Rongo says people are her passion. This reflects not only in her work, but also in her community service and at home on the marae.

Kristen Kohere-Soutar

Kristen has served on the ASB trust since 2004 and in that time has held various roles on the Board including Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee and Co-Chair of the Maori and Pacific Education Initiative.  Kristen started her career in the corporate sector both as a solicitor on Treaty claims for Rudd Watts and Stone (now Minter Ellison) and as a consultant for large accounting and management advisory firm KPMG working in the area of Maori and iwi organisational development.  She has successfully ran her own consultancy, Piata Ltd, for the last 10 years providing professional advice and leadership to the Maori health and tertiary education sectors, local government, Maori providers, Iwi authorities and private sector companies in New Zealand.  Kristen is of Ngati Porou, Rongowhakaata and Ngai Tahu decent.  She is also well known in kapa haka / Maori performing arts as a performer, judge and tutor.  Kristen was educated at Queen Victoria School in Parnell and Auckland University. Kristen is married to Barry Soutar and they have five children between them.

Ambalika Kutty

Born in Fiji, Ambalika Kutty has worked throughout the public and private sectors in Fiji and Australia.

In the past 10 years Ambalika has taught in the field of Management, Information Systems, Marketing Management, Social Leadership, Human Resources Management and Quality Management.  She was instrumental in establishing the Social Leadership Training Institute in Fiji which provides training in the area of Social Leadership, NGO Management and Capacity Building of Individuals and CSO Organisations. She is presently working for the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.

She holds a number of academic qualifications, has written a number of papers and spoken to many organisations  about effective decision making; Role of Women in Conflict Management and Development, Corporate Philanthropic Leadership and Civil Society Challenges in Leadership and Governance.

Her passion for community development has stirred an in interest in corporate social responsibility, corporate philanthropy and also designing programmes and forums that ensure establishment of more corporate philanthropy organisations in Fiji.

Marcel Lauzière

Marcel Lauzière is the President and CEO of Imagine Canada, a national umbrella for charities and nonprofits in Canada. He has worked in the charitable and non-profit sector as well as in government in Canada and New Zealand.

Prior to this appointment to Imagine Canada, he served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development in the New Zealand Government. He has also served as President of the Canadian Council on Social Development, as Special Advisor to the President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and as Founding Executive Director of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Throughout his career, Marcel has been a volunteer and has served on numerous boards and advisory committees in Canada and internationally including: the Statistics Canada Advisory Committee on Social Conditions; the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations; the Canadian Center for Philanthropy; the International Council on Social Welfare; and the New Zealand Advisory Council on Official Statistics. He currently sits on the Editorial Board of The Philanthropist and on the Accounting Standards Oversight Council (AcSOC).

Marcel has a Masters degree in Canadian Social History from the University of Ottawa.  www.imaginecanada.ca

Gavin Lonergan

Gavin is an investment director of Direct Capital, New Zealand’s leading investor in the private company market. Gavin has been with the firm for 13 years and is a former chairman of the New Zealand Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. 

Since its establishment in 1994 Direct Capital has raised more than $800m and invested in more than 60 private companies to fund growth, acquisition and succession initiatives. Its current portfolio comprises 14 companies which in aggregate generate $900 million in annual revenues and employ more than 3100 staff.  The firm’s Direct Capital I&II funds achieved IRR returns of 32% and its Direct Capital III fund has achieved a 35% IRR since its 2005 inception.  In 2009 the firm raised $325m for its Direct Capital IV fund. 

Current and past investments include: NZ King Salmon, Rodd & Gunn, Shears & Mac, Stratex Group, Max Fashions, Express Logistics, Ryman Healthcare, Nobilo Wines, Fishpond, Airwork, EFTPOS NZ, Tasman Building Products, and EziBuy.

Peter Lynn

John McCarthy

John McCarthy is the General Manager of LIFEWISE in Auckland with responsibility for a range of social and community services. He has over 25 years experience as a Social Worker and manager in a wide variety of fields. In his various roles John has been involved with a number of research projects - in particular in child sexual abuse, homelessness, youth offending and community development, and has an appreciation of the particular challenges and opportunities that stem from research in the social services area. 

Kate McKegg

Kate is one of New Zealand’s leading evaluation practitioners.  She has extensive experience supporting government and non-government groups, organisations and agencies build evaluative frameworks and systems that support innovation, development and improved outcomes for New Zealanders.   Her work interests are underpinned by a strong personal commitment to making a difference, and making a contribution to the bettterment of all New Zealanders.  As part of this commitment, she became a founding member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (anzea), serving as a board member from 2006-2010, and Convenor from 2008-2010.

She is also one of the foremost thinkers internationally about evaluative thinking, practice and evaluation use in support of improved community and organisational outcomes. She has written about this subject, conducted training on evaluation and evaluative thinking, including the use of systems approaches, and made many presentations at evaluation conferences in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the United States. The book she co-edited entitled Evaluating Policy and Practice – A New Zealand Reader ( 2003, Pearson Educational Press, Auckland) is, and remains to this day, the authoritative text on evaluation for New Zealand.   She is the Director of The Knowledge Institute,Ltd  and a member of The Kinnect Group.

Barbara MacLennan

Barbara currently lives and works in the Bay of Plenty, including as a strategic broker and regional convenor for Inspiring Communities. Originally from Invercargill and Dunedin, Barbara has also lived and worked in Wellington, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Her involvement in community led development started with youth politics and led to roles in the non government sector at a national level early on. Since then, community led development has been a constant focus, through work in development and management roles in both local and central government,  the community sector, adult teaching and consultancy roles, and through unpaid work and advisory roles at both local and national levels.

Karyn McLeod

Karyn McLeod is the Grants Manager for the ASB Community Trust, a philanthropic trust that funds in the Auckland and Northland region www.asbcommunitytrust.org.nz.   Karyn is also a board member of the North Shore Women’s Centre and Massive Theatre Co.

She has been working in the philanthropic funding arena for thirteen years and became involved in this industry after working for two not-for-profit organisations in Christchurch, and from there moved to the Canterbury Community Trust.

The variety of roles that Karyn has held within this sector, gives her an in-depth understanding of the diverse aspects for funding not for profit organisations.

Maree Maddock

For Maree Maddock, her work at pattillo is a natural progression from the community participation work she has been involved in for more than two decades.   Maree is pattillo’s Possibility Leader and consultant and came to the role with a clear understanding and excitement about the company’s approach – she was initially a client.  pattillo was brought in to design and facilitate participatory processes for a complex workforce development initiative Maree was managing in a national workforce development role.  Maree has a dynamic track record of building teams and delivery of innovative practices and projects.

Maree has extensive experience in the mental health sector. She is experienced in engagement processes, in obtaining information from participants through mixed approaches such as interviews, focus groups and workshops.  Maree has undertaken a range of action research projects.  Most recently, she has been using real-time evaluation techniques and performance stories which focus on the participation of stakeholders both in evaluating projects and in the design of frameworks that best suit their circumstances. 

She holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Not for Profit Management.

Nick Maier

Nick is a specialist in real estate development and investment.  He returned to New Zealand in 2004 after studying in the US, and recently graduated Beta Gamma Sigma from the MBA at the University of Auckland with research focusing on perpetual investment entities including the community and iwi trusts.  He is a keen cyclist and intends to make time to ride across Australia some time in the next 3 years.

Suzie Marsden

Suzie Marsden has been with Westpac for five years.  She started as Head of Consumer Finance before moving to head Brand and Marketing.  Suzie lead the organisation through a brand refresh in 2006, winning an EFFIE in 2007 for Advertiser of the Year.  In March 2008 Suzie moved to a newly created role in New Zealand as Head of Sustainability.  Suzie’s goal is for Westpac to be a leader in Sustainability for New Zealand, having developed a four year sustainability plan with 10 challenging goals to achieve by 2012.

Suzie is a strong believer that ‘doing good’ is good for business.  Delighting your customers, caring for your staff, engaging your community and being a steward of the environment are all essential ingredients for long term profitability.  Prior to joining Westpac, Suzie was General Manager Marketing for Fisher & Paykel Finance and was the first female executive in the Fisher & Paykel Appliance Group. She has held marketing roles in different industries both in New Zealand and the UK. 

Suzie is a Trustee of the newly formed Auckland Communities Foundation and a Board Member for Keep New Zealand Beautiful.  Suzie has a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University.

Matthew Mimms

Matthew Mimms is the Managing Director and Founder of the Investment Store, a specialist provider of marketing and distribution services to boutique and specialist fund managers. Matthew has 23 years experience in the investment management and financial services industry both in New Zealand and the UK. Prior to establishing the Investment Store, he was Head of Retail Sales and Service at BT Funds Management. He has held a number of senior distribution positions and was the Chair of the Auckland branch of the IFA (then the Financial Planners and Insurance Advisers Association) from 2000 to 2002. He has a business degree from Sheffield University in England and a Diploma in Business Studies (personal financial planning) from Massey University. Since its establishment in 2006, The Investment Store has been closely aligned to ethical, environmental and socially responsible investing, as distributor to leading Australia ethical investor, Hunter Hall, and through a strong association with recent NZ responsible investment industry events.

Sally Mountfort

Sally Mountfort is the Executive of the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust.  Sally’s career in philanthropy began in 2004 and she brings to the position 25 years experience working as a Registered Legal Executive, during which time in her capacity as Chairman of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives she successfully steered the organisation through a major professionalisation and re-branding and believes the skills learnt in that experience have benefited the work she does for the Trust.

Much of Sally’s work involves brokering sector discussions on issues impacting on successful outcomes for young people and is always seeking ways to gain leverage of the Trust’s funds through collaborative funding arrangements with other philanthropic organisations, Government and local Government sector and the corporate sector. 

Pat Nathan

My employment history depicts that I have worked for Maori organisations throughout my career.  I take pride in the work that I do and especially in my current role with the Hauraki Maori Trust Board.

The overarching principles of my work are to strengthen the capacity of whanau who are involved with their Marae, to build and nurture relationships with all stakeholders from Government, Private, and Non Government Organisations.  I am a highly motivated person, with a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience gained through my previous places of work and life experiences.

Anne-Maree O’Connor

Anne-Maree O’Connor is the Head of Responsible Investment for the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation (Guardians) and plays a key role in the development and implementation of the Guardians Responsible Investment (RI) and Corporate Governance policies. She moved back to New Zealand after 20 years in Europe.  

Prior to joining the Fund, Anne-Maree was the Managing Director of CoreRatings, a leading European rating agency for analysis of corporate responsibility and governance risks. She also worked directly with the corporate sector on these issues at Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Anne-Maree held various positions in the field of Responsible Investment including 10 years in the investment management industry as Associate Director, RI at Morley Fund Management and Head of RI Research at Henderson Global Investors.

She holds an MSc from the University College of Wales (UK), a BSc from Massey University (NZ) and the Investment Management Certificate (UK).

Louise O’Halloran

Carmen Payne

Ko Matairangi te maunga
Ko Raukawa te moana
Nō tawāhi oku mātuatanga
Arā, no Ingarangi toku papa ko Ira Edward Lines
No Whīti toku mama ko Jessie Violet Cavander
Nō reira e tū ana au i a rāua, he tamaiti
Ko Carmen Payne ahau

I have a background in social work and have been the Research and Practice Development Coordinator at Barnardos for three years. My primary interest lies in participatory research approaches that grow reflective practice and enable practitioners, families and whānau to determine methods and define outcomes that are meaningful to them.  Currently I am working at Great Start with Karen and some local mums to gather their stories about the difference Great Start is making to children and families in the Taita community.

Shalini Pillai

Shalini is a Grants Advisor at the ASB Community Trust. She has responsibility for the refugee and migrant, health, and youth health and development funding areas. She joined the Trust after working at the International Office at The University of Auckland. Shalini has also been a development worker in Vietnam and India and underwent development work training at the Institute for International Cooperation and Development, in Michigan, USA. Shalini is drawn to grassroots community work with an interest in renewable energy, rural development and gender issues. Born in Malaysia, she has lived in New Zealand since 1989.

John Prendergast

John has been CEO of the Community Trust of Southland since 1998. A graduate of the University of Otago, John is a chartered accountant by profession and worked in public practice in New Zealand and the United Kingdom for several years. He also held senior management roles with PowerNet, TrustBank Southland and Tranz Rail prior to joining the Trust.

John is Chair of Philanthropy New Zealand and a board member of the Catholic Board of Management, Verdon College and St Theresa’s School. He resides in Invercargill with his wife Donna and their three daughters

Kevin Prime

Kevin Prime is of Ngatihine, Ngati Whatua, Tainui and Welsh descent. He is married to Margaret with 13 children and 11 grandchildren. He is a beef farmer, forester, beekeeper, conservationist, and works 75% as an Environment Commissioner with the Environment Court.  Prior to his appointment to the Court he spent most of his time on various Companies, Trusts, Community organisations in areas pertaining to philanthropy, health, conservation, justice, Maori development, education, environment, forestry, farming and sport.

His hobbies are family, sport, golf, bee keeping, learning new things, and his favourite holiday spot is at home on the farm in Motatau.

Maria Ramsay

Maria Ramsay is the Manager of the TSB Community Trust based in New Plymouth, Taranaki, and has been with the Trust for five years.  Maria’s background is in the Healthcare sector where she trained as a Registered Nurse before progressing into various management roles ranging from front line management, advisory roles and project management in both the Public and Private healthcare sectors.  In 2002 Maria left the Healthcare sector to take up a Local Authority role as Service Delivery Manager at Puke Ariki – an integrated Museum, Library and Visitor Information Centre being developed in New Plymouth.  Her time in the Healthcare sector and Local Government required Maria to interact with and apply to a variety of funding agencies meaning that she now has an understanding of the needs of those on both sides of the funding fence.

Bernard Reid

Bernard has provided advice to many large New Zealand superannuation schemes, trusts and life insurance companies on all aspects of investment strategy, asset/liability modelling, manager selection and monitoring, and performance analysis.

Bernard was a member of the Government-appointed Workplace Savings Working Group whose report led to the development of KiwiSaver.

Prior to joining Melville Jessup Weaver, Bernard was at Watson Wyatt and then Mercer for 14 years, where he was the national practice leader of retirement consulting for the last 8 years.   He was Head of Watson Wyatt’s Asset Consulting practice for 5 years.

Mary Jane Rivers

It is hugely energising to see communities manage change and develop the capacity for innovation and renewal. That means being good neighbours as well as being able to deal with tough, complex issues and - through including everyone with their diverse and multiple talents - to focus on the future while understanding the past. How do we build these confident communities? How do communities share and learn from each other, accelerate development and reinvent the wheel as little as possible?  These are questions that encouraged Mary-Jane into helping get Inspiring Communities off the ground.  

Arif Saeid

Arif served as a medical doctor in Afghanistan for Medecins Sans Frontieres and has led the Community Services Team and worked with RAS since June, 2001. He identifies health and other special needs at the grassroots level within different refugee communities and initiates response. He supports and supervises the Community Facilitators to carry out health promotion, community development, and resettlement education activities in their own communities. He identifies needs for training and capacity-building and links directly with managers and funding providers in developing new resources. He works with refugee communities in employment, health and other initiatives which improve lives and advance resettlement. He identified that sport is one of the areas to help refugee youth with integration and to overcome the resettlement challenges. In 2006 he started the Refugees In Sport Initiative and helped youths from refugee background to enrol with mainstream sport clubs specially soccer. Up to now he has helped youth to enrol in soccer, cricket, Tennis and martial art clubs.

Patrick Snedden

Patrick Snedden began his professional life in publishing after graduating from Auckland University in accounting, economics and anthropology. He has been self-employed since 1984 and until early 2008 acted as a business adviser for Health Care Aotearoa, a primary care network of Maori, Pacific Island and community groups within the not-for-profit health sector. Since 1982 he has worked as an economic adviser to the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board and he is part of their Treaty negotiation team.

In 2008 he was appointed Chief Crown Negotiator in the Ngati Kahu and Muriwhenua treaty claims for the Far North region. This claim reached Agreement in Principle in January 2010 after 23 years of process.

For many years he has been a corporate director and was a founding director of Mai FM, this country’s first Maori commercial radio station.  He currently chairs the Housing New Zealand Corporation; the Tamaki Transformation Board; the Auckland District Health Board along with the Quality Improvement Committee responsible for quality and safety in the health system. He is also a director on Watercare Services.

In 2006 his book, Pakeha and the Treaty, Why it’s our Treaty too won first prize in the first author, non-fiction section at the Montana Book Awards.

Grant Spencer

Grant Spencer is Deputy Governor and Head of Financial Stability for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).  Previous positions held by Mr Spencer at the RBNZ include Assistant Governor and Head of Economics Department (2004 to 2007) and Chief Manager of the Financial Markets Department.  Between 1995 and 2004 Mr Spencer worked for the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) in various roles: Head of Strategy and Business Development (NZ); Executive Manager for Group Strategy; and New Zealand Treasurer for ANZ Investment Bank.  He also worked at the International Monetary Fund between 1990 and 1993, including a period as Alternate Executive Director.  Mr Spencer has spent time as a Non-Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research and a Council member and Vice President of the New Zealand Association of Economists.  Mr Spencer holds a BA(Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington and an MSc from the London School of Economics.

Michael Stanley

Michael is Vodafone New Zealands’ current Director of Human Resources and the Chair of the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation and Vodafone Fiji Foundation. In his ‘day job’ he is charged with evolving Vodafone’s values based culture and aligning brand from the inside out to deliver sustained business performance.  He brings with him extensive experience in senior management roles across a broad range of industries.  His most recent role before moving to his current role on October 2007 was General Manager in Human Resources with Vodafone Australia.

Michael grew up in Brisbane and went to the University of Queensland, where he qualified in Social Work and worked for 12 years as a social worker in Australia, the UK and NZ. He specialised in child protection and also worked with isolated aboriginal communities. Michael then transitioned into Human Resources and the rest is history.

Michael is hugely passionate about the work of the Vodafone Foundation’s around the world, he says, ‘In my view, the single best thing about Vodafone is the commitment and contribution it makes to the community. The most prominent way Vodafone contributes is through the Foundation, and for me, it is an honour to be part of that’.

Peter Stowers

Peter is Samoan and migrated to New Zealand in 1997.  He is a Grants Advisor for the ASB Community Trust and works in the Trusts Community Wellbeing Sector. Peter is also in charge of the development of the ASB Community Trust’s Pacific Strategy and this year had extensive involvement in the Trusts Pacific Community Engagement Process.

Peter joined the Trust in July 2008 after two and half years with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Local Government & Community Branch, where he was employed as a Community Development and Funding Advisor for the Pacific Provider Development Fund for Auckland and Northland.  Peter has considerable experience in working with Pacific communities and he was also part of the development and delivery of the Pacific Cultural Awareness Training package, an internal training package for all DIA’s community advisors. Prior to his role at DIA, Peter was a Tax Information Officer for Inland Revenue for five and half years and was involved in the Industries Partnership Project.

Gael Surgenor

Gael is Acting General Manager Operations for Family and Community Services at the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.  She leads major campaigns to positively change parent’s behaviour (SKIP) and address family violence (It’s Not OK). She works to combine the approaches of community development, social innovation, social marketing and partnerships to achieve results for New Zealand families and communities.

Marama Takao

Marama has iwi links to; Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tama, Ngai Tahu, Ngai Tūhoe and Ngāi Te Rangi. She is the Māori Development Advisor/Kaitohutohu for J R McKenzie Trust and has worked in the area of community development and funding for the past 25 years.

Louise Walsh

Louise Walsh is Director of Artsupport Australia, an initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts that was launched by the Prime Minister in August 2003 to grow cultural philanthropy in Australia. www.australiacouncil.gov.au/philanthropy

Originally a lawyer at Allens Arthur Robinson in Sydney, Louise went on a non-legal secondment to the Sydney Olympic Bid as Community Relations Manager in late 1992 becoming the first member of SOCOG's successful Marketing and Sponsorship team in 1994. From early 1998, Louise was Director, Look of the City for the City of Sydney, with the General Manager of the City of Sydney, Greg Maddock and Wendy McCarthy AO. This followed with an appointment with the Sydney Symphony in 1999 as  Director of Development (or Fundraising). She is founding director of Artsupport Australia, which has facilitated over $45m for arts and culture to date.

Angela Williams

Angela Williams most important role in life is being the eldest grand-daughter, daughter, sister, wife, mother of 4 and aunty, then as a Senior Residential Trainer for Child, Youth and Family.  She has worked in diverse roles Youth Worker in Aranui, Pacific Island Sexual Health Peer Educator, Alternative Education Tutor, Youth Justice Social Worker and Youth Justice Co-ordinator.

Angela believes in Youth Work and its place as a profession and will continue to advocate for this and is very proud to be one of the first along side many amazing youth workers that gained a Youth Work diploma in 2010.

Angela continues to serve on several community boards, alternative education, youth work and community strengthening.  She has been a Youth Work Advisor for the Wayne Francis Trust for 5 years.

Gayle Williams

Gayle  is the executive director of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Foundation supports social and economic justice work in the Southeastern United States, with a focus on helping people and places build assets and move out of poverty. Before coming to the Babcock Foundation in 1993, Gayle was a program director for education at the Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis, Indiana. At Lilly, her work focused on educational equity and youth development. Prior to joining the Lilly Endowment in 1987, she worked at the Center for Early Adolescence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), the School of Social Work at UNC-CH, Wake Technical College in Raleigh, and the Methodist Home for Children in Raleigh. A native North Carolinian, Gayle grew up on a farm in Eastern NC.

She currently serves on the board of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and is Board Chair at the Center for Courage and Renewal.  www.mrbf.org

Rick Zwaan

Rick Zwaan is "passionate about how young people can be a positive presence in the world." Having been to international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen and Cancun, "and hearing and seeing the effects of climate change on young people I've once again been motivated to tell these stories and help facilitate positive change here in our beautiful country."  Inspired by Enviroschool Youth Jam's he initiated several environmental projects at Northcote College, including outdoor adventures and fundraising trailwalkers. Now fresh out of high school, Rick is currently part of a 15 week ReGeneration roadtrip around the country engaging with other young people and national co convening nation wide Inspiring Stories Trust workshops making films of local community changemakers. He does it all in his own time and doesn't see it as volunteering, "its just what needs to happen so I just do it."