ChildFund announces new Board members to support growth and innovation

As the saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, so it can be quite surprising to learn that an 84-year-old charity like ChildFund has changed how they work. Yet, for the 10,000-plus Kiwis who support the organisation, innovation and adaptability are simply part of the ChildFund experience.

Over the past 18 months, the ChildFund team has been on a journey to revolutionise the organisation, with some great results: higher staff engagement, increased annual revenue and more donations directed to ChildFund-supported communities, year-over-year.

Earlier this month, ChildFund welcomed four new Board members, each selected for their social and professional diversity, an important strategy to support the organisation’s success. Francis Davy, Poohan V Nathan, Jay Stead and Michele Teague have joined ChildFund’s Board of Directors at a special time in ChildFund’s history.

“We need to sustain a positive impact in the lives of the children and communities we serve around world,” says Simon Whyte, chair of ChildFund New Zealand’s Board. “To do this, we must stay relevant. The expertise that our new Board members bring will add to the exciting journey that ChildFund is on, to grow stronger, deliver more impact to children and to create a better giving experience for Kiwis.”  

Teague has a background in corporate marketing and advertising, and will provide support to the ChildFund team on new marketing strategies. While Davy, whose experience includes humanitarian aid and international trade and is of Ngati Whakaue/Tuwharetoa descent, will draw upon his experience at New Zealand Trade Enterprise to build upon ChildFund’s corporate engagement strategy and the focus on impact investment opportunities. V Nathan is a chartered accountant and, in addition to his financial acumen, comes with a wealth of knowledge from his work in e-commerce. Meanwhile, Stead brings expertise in the area of technology, which will help to enhance ChildFund’s strong digital framework.  

“It’s an exciting time for our organisation,” explains Whyte. “With strong year-end financial results despite COVID-19 disruptions, lots of new and ongoing development projects happening in our programme communities and a strong global team, ChildFund is well-positioned to play a leading role in the future of philanthropy in New Zealand.”

Learn more about the ChildFund team here.