Our team
The Philanthropy New Zealand | Tōpūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa team consists of part and full time staff, our Board, We are advised by our Kaumātua, Youth In Philanthropy Group and our partners and supporters.
Gin Mabey – Head of Events and Member Engagement
Gin is Head of Events and Member Engagement at Philanthropy New Zealand. She has a background in the arts (Theatre and Scriptwriting) and has been with PNZ since early 2023.
Robyn Scott – Acting Chief Executive
Our Board
Seumas Fantham – Chairperson
Seumas (Ngāti Porou/Whakatōhea) is Executive Director at the Todd Foundation.
He has over 20 years’ experience working with young people and community groups and holds a degree in Education and Sociology. He is a current Board member of Philanthropy New Zealand and Te Muka Rau.
Derek is currently the CE at Trust Horizon (Eastern BOP charity with over $200m in assets), holds a Diploma in Financial Management and PhD in Engineering. The Trust recently achieved the milestone of over $50 million in granting since inception and is in the process of applying to Parliament to alter its charitable purpose to increase its impact. Derek brings his professional skills and passion for governance, finance, and funding to complement the Board. He is the deputy presiding member at Trident High School, a member of the Centre for Sustainable Finance’s energy technical advisory group and recently chaired Rotorua’s local Council’s Climate Change Steering committee and sat on the Mayor’s taskforce for water.
Maria Ramsay –CEO, Toi Foundation
With over 18 years’ experience in philanthropy, Maria is the Toi Foundation and Toi Foundation Holdings Ltd Chief Executive.
The Foundation is one of 12 Community Trust’s in Aotearoa and the Foundation’s Purpose is to Build a Thriving Inclusive and Equitable Taranaki.
Maria’s background is in the health sector and she is also a Board Member of Hospice Taranaki Incorporated, Taranaki Mounga Project, and a Community Mentor with a community mentoring scheme run through Venture Taranaki.
Liam Sheridan –Head of foundation services at Foundation North
Liam Sheridan is the Head of Foundation Services at Foundation North, responsible for shared services, IT, legal, property and risk. Liam has worked at the Foundation for eight years. His background is in accountancy, he has qualifications in mathematics and accounting, he is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and he has worked as a management accountant, internal and external auditor and pricing analyst. Liam looks forward to seeing a different perspective of philanthropy from the PNZ Board table and to learning and hopefully sharing his knowledge during his time on the Board.
Whaea Peggy Luke-Ngaheke – Te Āti Awa’s representative.
Mana whenua Te Āti Awa have a seat on the PNZ Board. Whaea Peggy Luke-Ngaheke is Te Āti Awa’s representative.
Peggy is of Te Āti Awa descent and is Manager of the Waiwhetu Marae. She has a long background in education and counselling and is a qualified Alcohol and Drug Counsellor. She served 16 years working for Te Kōhanga Reo Trust Board Head office as Manager of Ikaroa and Manager of Operations.
She provides advisory/cultural services to a number of organisations including DAPPANZ,NZQA, Oranga Tamariki and other government departments. Peggy represents Te Rūnanga on the Board of Te Awa Kairangi Primary Health Organisation and Kahungunu Whānau Services.
Lotima Vaioleti Community & Māori Liaison Advisor – Kaitakawaenga for BayTrust
PNZ is guided by our Kaumātua
Kaumātua
Pekaira Rei
Pekaira Rei (Ngā Ruahine-i-te-rangi, Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Iwi, Ngā Rauru Kiitahi, Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi, Taranaki Whānui-ki-te-Upoko-o-te-Ika and Te Atiawa-ki-te-Waka-a-Maui), is a Reo and History facilitator in the Wellington region for Te Reo o Taranaki, and Out of Office Support Parliamentary Services for Te Tai Hau-ā-Ūru MP, Adrian Rurawhe.
The Philanthropy New Zealand Kaumātua role is one of a cultural safety net, the cornerstone of working towards building and strengthening relationships with Mana Whenua throughout Aotearoa in the philanthropic world.
Pekaira’s interests include martial arts, iwi support work, her children and grandchildren.
The PNZ Board is guided by our Youth Advisory Group
Youth in philanthropy
Philanthropy New Zealand’s Youth in philanthropy (YIP) was established in 2016. It has been created to address ways the philanthropic and grantmaking sector can support, engage and include youth in all levels of decision making.
YAG is a group of under-35s who are influencers in their field of work and have a connection or passion within the philanthropy sector.
We would like to thank the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust who is supporting the work of the Youth Advisory Group
Jackson Lacy, Wellington
Jackson is the Operations Coordinator for The Gift Trust, running and improving the systems that help them make good happen. His professional background is in graphic design, local government, and for-purpose governance. He sees YAG as an important driver of systems change in the philanthropic sector, and is excited to be contributing to its work.
Jackson has a BA in Māori Resource Management from Te Herenga Waka, and is currently pursuing his Master's of Indigenous Studies there. He enjoys cooking, playing guitar and piano, and solving problems. He uri ia nō Te Tauihu o Te-Waka-a-Māui.
Oli Malthus, Wellington
Oli is the Scholarships and Engagement Associate at the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation. In this role he runs the individual funding programme and provides support through his social media, website, and other communications related responsibilities.
After graduating from Massey University with a degree in Communications, Oli spent time in public-facing roles at the New Zealand Business & Parliament Trust, MetService | Te Ratonga Tirorangi, and Te Papa Tongarewa before joining the team at the Borrin Foundation and subsequently becoming a member of YIP.
In his spare time, Oli practices Jiu Jitsu, supports his hometown team the Wellington Phoenix, and spends time with his friends and whānau.
Lotima Vaioleti, Tauranga
Lotima is the Community & Māori Liaison Advisor – Kaitakawaenga for BayTrust. His whakapapa extends to Ngati Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngai Te Rangi, NgāPuhi, and Te Kingitanga o Tonga. In his capacity, he oversees Granting functions, community engagement, drives strategy development and engagement initiatives for Māori and youth, supports research and evaluation efforts, and manages communication-related responsibilities.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Management Studies and a Diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi from the University of Waikato, Lotima joined BayTrust, building on his diverse industry experience, previously working for Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust and the University of Waikato. Currently, he is a member of YAG, Te Kāhui Pūmanwa, Pasifika Funders Network, and serves as an observer on the PNZ board.
He enjoys engaging in lively discussions on various topics, such as philosophies, concepts, and perspectives.