Our people

Alastair Rhodes

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.

David Woods

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

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

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

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

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”.

Katie Beith

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

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

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.