![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/608a1a95d5087f40f9c2e366/bb203a73-5166-4dc0-b0cc-cfad186e43e3/PNZ_BackgroundImage_2500x1500.jpg)
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 Advisory Group and our partners and supporters.
Rahul Watson Govindan – Chief Executive
Rahul comes to PNZ having had a diverse international executive career in the corporate, public sector, community and startup worlds. His expertise lies in corporate strategy, investment, organisational design and performance. He also holds various governance and advisory positions in both commercial and community sectors.
Gin Mabey – Head of Events and Member Engagement
Gin is thrilled to be taking over this role and already loves being part of the amazing and welcoming team.
She moved to Wellington from Tauranga last year to do her Masters in Scriptwriting and sought out a role where she could lend a hand to the people making a difference in communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Emma Wethey – Policy and Research Manager
Emma joined PNZ to build a specialised research and policy function that benefits its members and supports a strong eco-system for giving. She has held a range of public sector research and engagement roles at Stats NZ, Crown Prosecution Service (UK) and the Office of Treaty Settlements. She also worked in research and evaluation in the UK at the Big Lottery Fund. Emma enjoys volunteering with community organisations and journeying with her family and caravan to hidden corners of New Zealand.
Mei Schoenbrunn-Nojima - Communications and Marketing Advisor
Mei is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and International Business at Victoria University where her passion lies in the interconnected nature of the global business environment.
Anika Speedy – Delivery Manager
Anika is an experienced manager with a passion for purpose driven business, Anika was the Manager of Match | Te Puna Taurite until the service shut down in August 2023. Anika is continuing with PNZ on a part time basis to support our team on delivering our strategy.
Prior to joining PNZ Anika was the General Manager of Dignity NZ delivering period equity for the benefit of business, schools and community organisations across Aotearoa. In 2005, Anika opened the first ‘Hot Yoga’ studio in Wellington and is a certified Yoga and Pilates Teacher and Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.
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.
Jeremy Faumuinā
Jeremy is an experienced Navigator/Communicator, Care Planner, Motivational Speaker and Public Relations Consultant throughout New Zealand and Samoa. Much of Jeremy’s work focuses on tamariki, specifically those living in Maori and Pasifika communities in Aotearoa and in Samoa. He is passionate about shaping the culture around him by giving voice to the things he values.
Jeremy honours his own cultural context and brings to life hopes and dreams for those around him. This is evident in the work he is very proud of.
Leonie Matoe
Leonie Matoe is a descendant of Ngā Rauru Kiitahi and Ngā Ruahine and is the Te Ao Māori Lead of the Community Funding Model Programme at the Department of Internal Affairs.
Leonie has a background in Māori Public Health leading the National Māori health agency Toi Tangata, and Iwi Economic Development with her Iwi PSGE Te Kaahui o Rauru. Leonie thrives on creating solutions and working with others.
Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i – Deputy Chairperson
Pulotu Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i is a Samoan/Fijian New Zealander with a passion for social justice. She is the Chief Philanthropic Officer of the Borrin Foundation which funds legal research, scholarship, and education in its strategic focus areas of the criminal justice system and family law.
Pulotu Tupe has worked on a range of trade, economic, and policy issues in the public sector, and worked on development cooperation in the Pacific. She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion, has produced a webseries on unconscious bias, and hosts a chat show highlighting Pasifika success.
Gemma Slack
Gemma Slack is a mother to a 3-year-old and has been part of the Youth Advisory Group at Philanthropy New Zealand for the past 6 years. She started her career working for Momentum Waikato Community Foundation researching global best practise in strategic philanthropy and supporting the foundation to launch the inaugural Waikato Vital Signs.
She’s the founder of Seed Waikato, a charity that makes personal development accessible in community. Gemma is a proud recipient of Hamilton City Councils' 2020 Civic Award and was also recognised by the Council in 2018 with a 30 under 30 Award. Gemma now works as a Breathwork Practitioner, and supports sensitive leaders to scale their impact with trauma-informed leadership coaching.
She brings a passion for trauma-informed leadership and strategy, advocacy and insight from a youth lens, and a heart for systems change to the Philanthropy New Zealand Board.
Whaea Peggy Luke-Ngaheke
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.
Rose Challies
Rose is a trustee of Seed the Change, CEO of the Terra Nova Foundation and a NEXT Foundation Fellow. She has led on social and environmental impact for over 20 years, driving major change initiatives in the UK and Europe. She has also advised philanthropic organisations and for-purpose leaders nationally and internationally on change leadership, strategic philanthropy and impact measurement.
Rose has a deep connection with the earth and is passionate about philanthropy’s role in achieving wise, taiao/earth-grounded change for our future.
Lotima Vaioleti
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.
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 Advisory Group
Philanthropy New Zealand’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG) 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
Lily McFarlane, Youth Advisory Group Coordinator, Wellington
Lily has been enthusiastically involved in volunteering since her time at university, lending her skills in the areas of mental health, international aid & homelessness. She’s passionate about equity and building connections between unlikely groups.
Outside of mahi, she enjoys travelling, writing and spending time with her loved ones. She’s excited to be joining the team and doing what she can to facilitate more effective and impactful philanthropy.
Gemma Slack, Waikato
Gemma is an award-winning leader who for the past five years has worked in young adult communities with social innovation tools. She co-founded Seed Waikato in 2017, a human potential charity focused on making personal development accessible. She's passionate about developing young leaders and offers a range of mentoring and training programmes for people to find sanctuary within and realise their true ambitions.
Gemma is a proud recipient of Hamilton City Councils' 2020 Civic Award, and was also recognised by the Council in 2018 with a 30 under 30 Award. Gemma's always learning something new, and after completing her micro-credential in community-led development, she's undergoing training to gain her certification in trauma recovery coaching.
A systems-thinker who is passionate about self-leadership, Gemma sits on the Board of Philanthropy New Zealand, and is part of their Youth Advisory Group. Gemma was part of the founding team at Momentum Waikato, the region’s community foundation. In the four years she worked for the foundation, she grew a heart for strategic philanthropy, developing services for donors, strategies to grow the fund, and launched Waikato Vital Signs.
Helen Anderson, Wellington
Helen grew up in Whangarei and now lives in Wellington. She has degrees in Film, Psychology, and Criminology, and developed a passion for supporting the community sector while studying. This led her to work for JustSpeak, the Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, Inspiring Stories, and in 2013 Helen co-founded Film for Change Aotearoa, a volunteer collective who believe in filmmaking for a fairer world.
Helen started her philanthropic career working for the J R McKenzie Trust in 2017. Helen is now the Grants Lead and Project Manager for the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation. She contracts to the J R McKenzie Trust and is on the board of the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust. In her spare time Helen pats cats, gardens, Chair's the Governance Board of Film for Change Aotearoa, and volunteers her filmmaking skills with Wellington charities. “I’m stoked to be on the Youth Advisory Group, and not just because it’s flattering to still be counted as a young person. I hope we can foster more tuakana teina learning opportunities in the sector.”
Michaela Latimer, Raglan
Michaela is passionate about enabling people and communities to flourish. Michaela works as the Community Liaison Manager of Genesis Energy, and her work, governance and voluntary involvement is interwoven with roles and projects in community organisations, mostly focussed on the environment and young people.
She is also co-founder of Āhei, a social enterprise helping people uncomplicate their relationship with food and their bodies. Selected for a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2020, Michaela will be travelling (as soon as the borders are reopened!) to the US and UK to explore how positive youth development frameworks may be further adapted and applied in Aotearoa. Originally from Wellington, Michaela now lives in Raglan, so she’s usually on the beach, in the bush or watching the sunset.
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.
Dayna Carter, Wellington
Dayna Carter is contracted at Ara Taiohi as an Event Manager running their youth sector conference called Involve. In her spare time, Dayna is Co-Director of Wellington Boxing Gym that collaborates with local community groups and New Zealand based charities.
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 YAG.
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.