ChildFund strengthens industry position with the appointment of business leader Mark Collins as CEO
Thursday 27 January 2022
ChildFund New Zealand takes a step closer to being one of Aotearoa’s most impactful and innovative charities with the appointment of finance and business executive Mark Collins as its new CEO.
Mark has over 20-years in finance and business ranging from leading large multi-national organisations to initiating small start-ups, including a personal charitable enterprise, and most recently he was CEO of Mike Pero Group for six years.
“It is a very exciting time to take the helm at ChildFund New Zealand. There is an amazing opportunity to build on the work that has already been done by the ChildFund team and to move forward in addressing the many challenges facing the international development and charity sector,” Collins says.
“Not least the impact of COVID-19 and now Omicron on the work in the field, but also driving forward funding initiatives to ensure we can keep delivering impact to the children and communities we serve.”
The announcement follows recent strategic moves by ChildFund, including the diversification of income streams, the appointment of industry leaders to the Board to bring in diverse experience and insights across multiple sectors, and moving to a smaller working area that is closer to other dynamic businesses. A focus has also been placed on strengthening partnerships, including with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and onboarding new partnerships including with AA Smartfuel, The Good Registry, Supergenerous and Chooza.
For Mark, stepping into the international development sector is an opportunity not only to utilize his skills and experience to deliver impact, but an opportunity to grow personally.
“Many years in the finance sector including starting a business that helps people gift their tax rebate back to charities has opened my eyes to the hugely valuable work being done by charities. I have the commercial and leadership skills and I look forward to helping ChildFund optimise its funding and new innovations to lead to even more impact for the children we serve,” Mark says.
“I can think of no higher calling than making an impact to the lives of children to help them achieve their potential.”
ChildFund Board Chair, Simon Whyte, says Mark’s astute business and leadership experience, knowledge and insights—particularly across the New Zealand financial services —will help to drive ChildFund’s strategy forward in inspiring community transformation and sustainability worldwide.
About ChildFund New Zealand
ChildFund globally has been helping children for over 80 years. ChildFund New Zealand was established in 1990 and for over 30 years has been helping children and youth to thrive in communities impacted by poverty. ChildFund’s unique Road Map of community goals approach enables communities to drive their own development and define what true sustainability looks like. Currently, more than 13,000 Kiwis support children and youth through ChildFund New Zealand, funding dedicated programmes in Kenya, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Zambia.
ChildFund New Zealand is a member of ChildFund Alliance, a global network of 12 child-focused development organisations focused on ending violence and exploitation against children and promoting a world in which all children enjoy their rights and achieve their full potential. Please visit www.childfund.org.nz for more information
About Mark Collins
Mark Collins over 20 years of experience in the finance and business sector includes being CEO of Mike Pero Group, Liberty Financial Pty Ltd and NZ Home Loans, along with senior leadership positions at Sovereign.
“As a parent I truly understand the privilege but also the responsibility that comes with having children. I recognise that they have a unique opportunity to change the world in ways that those of us now, as fully grown adults do not. They have the ability to teach us about the world we have created and help us to see things with a fresh perspective. With ChildFund I have found an opportunity to help those children who, through no fault of their own, are born into poverty and deprivation. For me, this is a true privilege and I am extremely lucky to have that chance. Making an impact is what gets me out of bed in the morning.”
Away from work Mark is in the outdoors as much as possible including snowboarding, surfing and running. He and his wife also run a kayak business in Puhoi.
