New Board and Executive appointments for The Selwyn Foundation

The Selwyn Foundation announces a range of top-flight appointments to its Board and Executive Leadership Team, as it prepares to excel in its new Social Impact Mission in support of disadvantaged seniors.

With three new Board Members, two newly created positions at Board Committee-level and a new Chief of Social Impact role as part of the Executive, the Foundation now looks forward to significantly expanding its charitable outreach and social impact investment work on behalf of older people who are vulnerable or in need.

Working with the recently appointed Chief Executive Denise Cosgrove who brings a strong history of working in the social investment and impact area, the new-look team will work to leverage gains from the sale of six of Selwyn’s retirement villages earlier this year, in order to achieve real improvements in the lives of vulnerable seniors living in the general community. A new strategic plan will be developed over the next six months, with the focus on delivering practical assistance to the increasing numbers of seniors who are facing extreme difficulties in the areas of loneliness and social isolation, financial hardship, access to affordable housing, and spiritually.

Commenting on the appointments, Selwyn Board Chair Hon David Cunliffe said: ‘We warmly welcome all our new appointees to the Selwyn family. With our strengthened capabilities at governance and operational level, new impetus and greater resources at our disposal, Selwyn will be able to deliver on its Charitable Mission on a scale never before deemed possible.

‘It’s a momentous time in the Foundation’s 68 years of charitable outreach, and we look forward to the incredible opportunity we now have to drive change for good in how we support and enhance the wellbeing of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand in the years to come.’

The new appointees to the Selwyn Board are:

The Right Reverend Te Kītohi Pikaahu ONZM, Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau and faith leader to Mihingare (Māori Anglicans) in Northland and Auckland.
Bishop Kito has served as a priest within Te Tai Tokerau for more than three decades and as a bishop for over twenty years. His vast knowledge and experience of Te Ao Maori will be invaluable, as the Foundation deepens its work amongst tangata whenua across Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau.

Hamish Bell (CMInstD), an experienced independent director and chair with a wide range of governance experience across a range of industries.
Hamish has worked in banking, corporate finance, private equity, investor relations, public relations and stockbroking both at home and overseas. A former Partner at PwC and executive at ANZ National Bank, he continues to serve on the boards of various high-profile and successful organisations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rev Dr Helen Jacobi MNZM, an Anglican priest and the vicar of St Matthew-in-the-City.
Reverend Helen has a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (Chicago) and degrees in theology, languages and social work. The focus of Helen’s work has been supporting practical inner city ministry, the engagement of the church in society and challenging the church to better reflect the society it operates within.

The new external experts on two of the Board Committees are:

Jenny Gill ONZM, former Chair of Philanthropy New Zealand, who joins the Social Impact & Mission Committee.
Jenny has many years’ experience working with leading philanthropic organisations and grant making trusts and was involved in the creation of Philanthropy New Zealand. She is regarded as a champion of effective philanthropy, playing a leading role in the development of the sector.

Dr Jocelyn Peach ONZM, Director of Nursing at Te Whatu Ora – Waitematā, who joins the Clinical Governance Group.
Jocelyn has held a number of senior nursing leadership roles in the Auckland region and holds an Advanced Diploma in Nursing, a Bachelor of Social Sciences, Masters in Business Studies and Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing).

Latest appointee to Selwyn’s new look Executive Leadership team is:

Liz Gibbs, formerly Group Head of Philanthropy at Perpetual Guardian, joins the Foundation in the new role of Chief of Social Impact and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Liz has been a major figure in Aotearoa New Zealand’s philanthropy and fundraising sphere for over twenty years. She has extensive governance experience and currently serves as a Director of Givealittle and Trustee for UNICEF’s Children’s Foundation and the Education Partnership and Innovation Trust.