Our people
Board
Our board members are leaders across the philanthropic, private and public sectors. Our leadership is committed to removing obstacles and developing opportunities to grow impact investment in Aotearoa New Zealand. These leaders represent both the demand and supply sides and market builders in the impact investment sector.
Chair
Alastair Rhodes
BayTrust
Alastair joined the NAB in 2020 as the representative from Philanthropy NZ. He was appointed CEO of BayTrust in 2015 and since his appointment has driven BayTrust to be one of the leaders in impact and sustainable investments in NZ. He has a passion for impact investing, both from its ability to help drive a more inclusive and sustainable society and also how impact investments can compliment and further diversify an investment portfolio.
GSG Liaison
David Woods
Independent
David is an experienced general manager and Board director with a strong track record in change management and organisational re-engineering in both operational and strategic areas of business across a wide variety of cultures and geographies.
David held an executive role as MD of a large social finance/impact investing organisation, supporting financial inclusion, agriculture and renewable energy in the developing world with a capital base of EUR 1.2bn.
David has extensive governance experience in financial and non-financial Boards; he is a Director of Whai Rawa Fund Ltd, a trustee of The Gift Trust, and Chairman of the Impact Enterprise Fund, in addition to sitting on three overseas microfinance company boards for the Aga Khan Foundation as an independent director. He is used to operating effectively across international networks and within both large and small working environments, and seeks to contribute to delivering successful outcomes for New Zealand businesses both in NZ and overseas.
Justine Sefton
Independent
Justine Sefton is a climate change and sustainability specialist, and former UNFCCC negotiator, with more than 20 years’ experience across public and private sectors internationally.
Throughout her career, Justine has operated at the cutting edge of the shift to a zero-carbon, sustainable economy, and re-directing capital for that purpose.
Justine formerly led KPMG New Zealand’s sustainable finance practice and recently worked with the Treasury on funding and financing the net-zero transition.
Justine has worked for the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, AMP Financial Services (NZ) and Australian industry pension fund, Cbus, on climate change and broader responsible investment policy development, implementation and reporting and product design.
Justine was a key contributor to The Aotearoa Circle’s Sustainable Finance Forum Roadmap.
Jamie Newth
Soul Capital/University of Auckland
Dr Jamie Newth is the founder and CEO of Soul Capital which manages two impact funds, and leads various ecosystem building activities.
Jamie is also a Senior Lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland Business School where his research focuses on social innovation, impact investing, and Māori enterprise.
He also sits on NZGIF’s Director Panel, a number of start-up venture boards, the Board of Ember Wellbeing Trust, a large community mental health provider, and chairs its ventures arm, Ember Innovations.
Jo Kelly
Toitū Tahua: the Centre for Sustainable Finance
Jo and her two kids, Sam and Jimmy, are of Ngati Tuwharetoa descent.
Jo has delivered cross-continent sustainability initiatives and collaborations between some of the world’s best known businesses.
She is CEO of Toitū Tahua: the Centre for Sustainable Finance and a strategic advisor to B Lab Australia & Aotearoa NZ. In 2011 Jo managed establishment of The B Team, co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz.
On returning home to Aotearoa NZ Jo spent four years with Deloitte New Zealand. She led development of the Deloitte Impact Accelerator, a programme that connects impact-led businesses to pro-bono professional services.
She helped establish Harbour Cancer Centre, where she is now an advisor, and co-founded The Connective.
Jodi Hayward
Te Pai Roa Tika o Te Taitokerau
Jodi is of Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa descent.
As the CEO of Te Pai Roa Tika o te Taitokerau, Jodi leads a large scale, Māori owned and led impact investment kaupapa.
Prior to this role she was Senior Regional Advisor to the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), for the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) and Te Puni Kokiri (TPK). In these roles Jodi enabled deployment of $300m through the PGF Tai Tokerau communities implementing long term social and economic development initiatives.
Jodi led the Taitokerau regional labour market strategy and work programme for the region for the Ministry of Social Development, working closely with politicians, senior central and local government officials, to develop youth employment and social policy.
Other notable projects include He Poutama Taitamariki, GROW Kaikohe and KODE Jodi’s early career focused on stakeholder and community engagement.
A local business owner and a governor of a number of commercial and community developments Jodi affiliates strongly to Te Taitokerau and is committed to leading “for her place”.
Deputy Chair
Katie Beith
Forsyth Barr
Katie joined Forsyth Barr in November 2021 as the Head of ESG. Katie is responsible for incorporating ESG (environment, social and governance) principles into Forsyth Barr’s firm-wide operations and investment strategy including assisting advisers with specific client needs.
Katie was previously with the New Zealand Super Fund as a Senior Investment Strategist for Responsible Investment. In that role she was a key contributor to driving the Fund’s Climate Change Investment Strategy and designing its revamped Sustainable Finance Strategy. Katie also led the Fund’s engagement programme and was influential in creating momentum behind the Fund’s increase in impact investment activity.
Before joining NZ Super Fund, Katie worked internationally with Newton Investment Management, the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment and as an independent ESG consultant.
Katie also currently serves on the External Reporting Board’s Stakeholder Advisory Panel (XRAP).
Nicola Nation
Ākina
Having been with Ākina since 2018, Nicola started as Tumu Whakarae (CEO) in October 2021 and is proud to lead a talented and passionate Ākina team on a journey to create positive change in people’s lives and for our planet.
Nicola is passionate about combining business models and positive impact to deliver social and environmental change. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington.
Nicola has over 15 years of experience in public and private sector consulting, including roles at MBIE, Kiwibank and Deloitte. She has held senior procurement roles in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally; most recently at ACC and the World Bank.
Dean Hegarty
Responsible Investment Association Australasia
Dean collaborates closely with global and local asset managers, super funds, Kiwisaver providers, financial advisors, and wealth platforms to align capital with sustainable outcomes.
Dean is the Co-CEO of RIAA - an organisation that has 200+ investment organisation members who jointly manage over $5 trillion - where he works to elevate sustainability issues as core investment risks and opportunities, and shift capital to support a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous world. Prior to joining RIAA, he spent over five years at the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) as their General Manager, reporting to CEO and member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Team
Manager
Tan Huynh
Tan oversees the activities of the Impact Investing Network as enabled by the National Advisory Board.
Tan has successfully raised investments for impact enterprises, most recently at crowdfunding platform PledgeMe. His varied background has taken him across startups, corporate and government in diverse sectors such as investment, technology, creative, economic development and education.
Tan's expertise is in growing the capability and scale of enterprises and sectors through strategic investment and economic development initiatives. He has delivered major projects across New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK and Vietnam.
Sector and Projects Advisor
Joseph Duke Euphrat
Duke's passion for sustainability stems from his connection with nature through surfing, hiking, and fly fishing and connection with local communities through volunteering efforts.
Today, Duke is proud to be working as a Senior Sustainable Investment Advisor for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Previously, Duke worked for New Zealand Superannuation Fund advising and designing sustainable investing strategies while writing a thesis in collaboration with Impact Enterprise Fund for the University of Otago, where he received his Masters of Sustainable Business, to understand New Zealand’s sustainable impact measurement and management landscape. Before moving to New Zealand, Duke worked for Bank of America, Merrill Lynch where he was a Financial Advisor educating ESG considerations into advising practices.
Duke also provides contractual advisory work for clients in supporting sustainable measurement, management, reporting, and governance efforts.
Community Advisor
Raphael Rauner
Raphael is currently in his fifth year of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland.
In the past, Raphael has worked with the New Zealand Parliament, where he assisted a Member of Parliament with policy and research matters, and the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, where he was a research assistant - focusing on consulting for renewable energy projects and market integration. There, he was exposed to the careful balancing act between financial returns and impact.
Outside of study and work, Raphael is involved with the university’s Public Policy Club and is assisting a child poverty organisation with an ongoing research project - as well as learning his fourth language, te reo Māori (although that remains a work in progress).
Community Advisor
Pearl Philavong
Pearl brings a strong foundation in the startup and innovation space to her role as Community Advisor at Impact Investing Network. Previously, Pearl supported founders and ran accelerator and incubator programmes for startups at Young Enterprise Trust and Creative HQ. Currently, she also serves as Community Manager for Angel HQ, gaining valuable insights into the angel investing world.
Pearl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, majoring in Management and International Business from Victoria University of Wellington. Currently, she’s travelling across Europe, working remotely as she explores new places, meets new people, and samples local cuisines — all while keeping an eye out for the perfect place to call home.
She has a passion for enabling and empowering youth, and through her work has loved the fresh perspectives that young people bring to the table. Their ideas are often rooted in building a better future, a quality Pearl is excited to see reflected in the impact investing sector.
Accountant
Safe Wongsunopparat
Safe joined Social Investment Business, the UK's leading social impact investor tackling inequality for a more resilient and diverse social economy as a financial controller. Previously he worked with a global accounting firm in New Zealand with almost 10 years’ experience in private, public and charity sectors.
Safe has always been passionate about social impact. As a chartered accountant (CAANZ), his career combines extensive finance experience with expertise in impact measurement and management frameworks and impact investment.
Safe wants to build a more sustainable and fair economy. He strongly believes that creating a strong impact investing community globally is a considerable step towards that direction. Safe volunteers in various organisations advocating for impact investment and transparency including the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) to improve their financial systems and support their programme delivery.