The team at ADC
ADC is run by an Operations Team of passionate volunteers, with governance and strategic oversight from the Board.
Andrew Colgan
Co-founder
Andrew’s passion for ADC stems from a belief that access to affordable credit can transform lives and empower communities. He co-founded ADC in 2007 and has visited the project partners on a number of occasions. He is a Senior Associate at litigation firm McElroys and holds a Master of Laws with First Class Honours and conjoint degrees in law and economics from the University of Auckland. Andrew is also a member of the ADC Board.
Co-founder
Andrew’s passion for ADC stems from a belief that access to affordable credit can transform lives and empower communities. He co-founded ADC in 2007 and has visited the project partners on a number of occasions. He is a Senior Associate at litigation firm McElroys and holds a Master of Laws with First Class Honours and conjoint degrees in law and economics from the University of Auckland. Andrew is also a member of the ADC Board.
Geoff Cooper
Co-founder
Geoff’s passion for enabling grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship through microfinance was a driving force in founding ADC. He has led several trips to ADC’s partner organisations in Myanmar and Malawi, and has had a strong influence on the development of microfinance policy. Geoff is currently based in the United States, where he is a Financial Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, having previously been the Chief Economist at Auckland Council.
Co-founder
Geoff’s passion for enabling grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship through microfinance was a driving force in founding ADC. He has led several trips to ADC’s partner organisations in Myanmar and Malawi, and has had a strong influence on the development of microfinance policy. Geoff is currently based in the United States, where he is a Financial Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, having previously been the Chief Economist at Auckland Council.
Board Members
Sarah Colgan
Chairperson
Sarah is a Health Psychologist with the Counties Manukau DHB, having previously worked as an employment lawyer for a number of years. She has been involved in ADC since its beginning, and currently chairs the Board. She believes strongly in microfinance as a tool for empowerment of women and their families
Chairperson
Sarah is a Health Psychologist with the Counties Manukau DHB, having previously worked as an employment lawyer for a number of years. She has been involved in ADC since its beginning, and currently chairs the Board. She believes strongly in microfinance as a tool for empowerment of women and their families
Nick Hammond
Board Member and Finance Manager
Nick is a founder and the COO of Spring Sheep Milk Co, a start-up business successfully building a high value sheep milking industry in New Zealand. Creating opportunities for entrepreneurs is one of the reasons Nick is so passionate about ADC
Board Member and Finance Manager
Nick is a founder and the COO of Spring Sheep Milk Co, a start-up business successfully building a high value sheep milking industry in New Zealand. Creating opportunities for entrepreneurs is one of the reasons Nick is so passionate about ADC
Nadine Hill
Board Member
Nadine is an Investment Manager with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, having previously worked for 20 years in business and corporate banking in New Zealand and the UK. Nadine has a young daughter and believes strongly in the importance of poverty alleviation for protecting vulnerable children
Board Member
Nadine is an Investment Manager with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, having previously worked for 20 years in business and corporate banking in New Zealand and the UK. Nadine has a young daughter and believes strongly in the importance of poverty alleviation for protecting vulnerable children
Kate Tindall Lum
Board Member
Kate has over 10 years' experience in grant making in both New Zealand and the UK, and is the Special Projects Manager for The Tindall Foundation. She has a passion for providing people with the resources to support themselves and their whanau, and brings valuable knowledge of grant making and fundraising to ADC.
Board Member
Kate has over 10 years' experience in grant making in both New Zealand and the UK, and is the Special Projects Manager for The Tindall Foundation. She has a passion for providing people with the resources to support themselves and their whanau, and brings valuable knowledge of grant making and fundraising to ADC.
Jeremy Kenealy
Board Member
JK works for Palantir Technologies, an international data software company. He spent more than 5 years as ADC’s Project Director, a role that took him multiple times to Myanmar and Malawi. He is constantly inspired by the empowering impact microfinance has on entrepreneurs in these communities
Board Member
JK works for Palantir Technologies, an international data software company. He spent more than 5 years as ADC’s Project Director, a role that took him multiple times to Myanmar and Malawi. He is constantly inspired by the empowering impact microfinance has on entrepreneurs in these communities
Ellen Read
Board Member
Ellen joined the ADC Board in 2017, and is drawn both to the sustainability of microfinance and the fact that ADC’s partner projects work primarily with women. Ellen is the National Business Editor for Fairfax New Zealand. A career journalist, she is not afraid to ask the tough questions.
Board Member
Ellen joined the ADC Board in 2017, and is drawn both to the sustainability of microfinance and the fact that ADC’s partner projects work primarily with women. Ellen is the National Business Editor for Fairfax New Zealand. A career journalist, she is not afraid to ask the tough questions.
Kerry Stotter
Mentor to the Board
Kerry is mentor to the Board, and appointed by it, as well as member and supporter of ADC. Kerry brings significant governance experience from the not for profit, local government, crown and commercial sectors.
Mentor to the Board
Kerry is mentor to the Board, and appointed by it, as well as member and supporter of ADC. Kerry brings significant governance experience from the not for profit, local government, crown and commercial sectors.
Shamubeel Eaqub
Advisor to the Board
Shamubeel is one of New Zealand’s leading economic commentators and also a published author, columnist and sought-after speaker. He was previously a member of the ADC Board from 2014-2017. Shamubeel believes in ADC as vehicle for enabling grassroots economic development that works.
Advisor to the Board
Shamubeel is one of New Zealand’s leading economic commentators and also a published author, columnist and sought-after speaker. He was previously a member of the ADC Board from 2014-2017. Shamubeel believes in ADC as vehicle for enabling grassroots economic development that works.
Operations Team
Ben Jefferson
Administrator
Ben joined ADC in 2017 in an administration-based role with a focus on keeping ADC’s systems organised, efficient and functional. Ben recently returned to New Zealand after six years living in the UK. He has previously worked in public policy and journalism but is currently studying law at Auckland University.
Administrator
Ben joined ADC in 2017 in an administration-based role with a focus on keeping ADC’s systems organised, efficient and functional. Ben recently returned to New Zealand after six years living in the UK. He has previously worked in public policy and journalism but is currently studying law at Auckland University.
James Powell
James joined ADC in mid-2015. He is driven by efficiency, resourcefulness and getting the most from what's at hand, so he particularly loves microfinance and the way it extends the concept of giving someone a fishing rod, not a fish. James is an aeronautical engineer, leading a team working on specialist equipment and helicopter upgrades.
James joined ADC in mid-2015. He is driven by efficiency, resourcefulness and getting the most from what's at hand, so he particularly loves microfinance and the way it extends the concept of giving someone a fishing rod, not a fish. James is an aeronautical engineer, leading a team working on specialist equipment and helicopter upgrades.
Janet Schofield
Janet joined ADC in 2015, and is enthused by the direct links ADC has with its partners in Myanmar and Malawi, allowing members in New Zealand to offer targeted, effective support directly to entrepreneurs. She is currently in the education sector, planning for growth across Auckland schools.
Janet joined ADC in 2015, and is enthused by the direct links ADC has with its partners in Myanmar and Malawi, allowing members in New Zealand to offer targeted, effective support directly to entrepreneurs. She is currently in the education sector, planning for growth across Auckland schools.
Fiona Millar
Fiona believes that even small opportunities at the grassroots level have the ability to empower communities in breaking the cycle of poverty. She brings experience in fundraising and community activation campaigns to ADC. She holds a degree in Development Studies and a PG.Cert in Poverty Reduction from SOAS, and is the Community Manager at the New Zealand Innovation Council
Fiona believes that even small opportunities at the grassroots level have the ability to empower communities in breaking the cycle of poverty. She brings experience in fundraising and community activation campaigns to ADC. She holds a degree in Development Studies and a PG.Cert in Poverty Reduction from SOAS, and is the Community Manager at the New Zealand Innovation Council
Laura Ansell
Laura joined ADC in 2015. She is inspired by the dedication and entrepreneurial drive of the ADC operations team and motivated by the concept of empowering people to help themselves out of poverty through business prowess. Laura works for the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a logistics officer. She holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a post-graduate Master of Engineering Management from the University of Canterbury.
Laura joined ADC in 2015. She is inspired by the dedication and entrepreneurial drive of the ADC operations team and motivated by the concept of empowering people to help themselves out of poverty through business prowess. Laura works for the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a logistics officer. She holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a post-graduate Master of Engineering Management from the University of Canterbury.
