Impact Snapshot
November 2024
In this Impact Snapshot, read about EHF Fellows in action creating economic, environmental and social impact, plus recent recognitions and awards they’ve received during November 2024.
Fellows in action 🎬
Amarit Charoenphan has been elected as President of the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce (NZTCC).
In this new leadership role, Amarit will play a key part in strengthening ties between New Zealand and Thailand, nurturing greater collaboration between the two economies. His experience in innovation, investment, and startups positions him to bridge the entrepreneurial ecosystems of both regions, creating opportunities for businesses, partnerships, and cross-border growth.
Doug Steiner has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Cawthron Institute, where his strategic insight and experience will play a key role in advancing the institute’s mission to drive sustainable innovation for New Zealand’s ecosystems.
Cawthron focuses on research and solutions for the sustainability of marine and freshwater environments. Doug’s involvement will strengthen Cawthron’s ability to deliver impactful, science-based initiatives that tackle environmental challenges and promote the long-term health of New Zealand’s natural resources.
Rebecca Mills, founder of The Lever Room, was interviewed on RNZ’s Morning Report, where she discussed the vital role oceans play in combating climate change by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide.
She highlighted how New Zealand’s vast marine space offers significant potential for ocean-based renewable energy and low-carbon food solutions, urging a shift in the narrative around the country's role in global climate action.
The Lever Room was also nominated as a finalist in the 2024 Sustainable Business Awards and has been included in the inaugural Next 95 list, recognising leaders who are advancing scalable sustainable business solutions in New Zealand.
David Inderias and Miguel ‘Mikko’ Perez have joined forces, through their respective companies, FSCO and Ayannah, to form JUST Finance, a joint venture that is set to transform global financial systems.
JUST Finance aims to revolutionise cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions by leveraging distributed ledger technology, smart contracts, and AI, with a focus on stablecoins like USDC. The platform, launched in partnership with a consortium of leading banks in the Philippines, seeks to create a more inclusive financial system by enabling secure and efficient currency swaps.
This initiative has the potential to greatly benefit underserved populations, including freelancers, SMEs, and migrant workers, by reducing transaction costs and improving access to financial services. David and Mikko's shared vision to democratise financial access in emerging markets can help to advance financial inclusion and shape a more open and efficient global financial ecosystem.
Shay Wright and David Booth were both speakers at the recent Sunrise event, a startup festival hosted by Blackbird.
Shay delivered a talk on the spirituality of business and the importance of integrating tikanga principles, providing a perspective that balances the typical growth-driven focus of many entrepreneurs and investors, advocating for a more holistic and values-driven approach to business.
David shared his expertise on ‘Hacking Education: How technology is changing the way we teach and learn’. His insights into the transformative role of technology in education and learning in the digital age highlighted the potential for technology to drive more accessible and effective educational practices.
Meanwhile, Sasha Lockley took to the stage in the Startup Pitch segment, where she won the competition, for her work with Money Sweetspot. The win recognises the significant impact her business is making in the financial sector, providing valuable tools and solutions to making financial literacy and accessibility more achievable.
Dan Khan, co-founder of the recently launched Helmet, hosted the event ‘The Year That Was: Candid Conversations for Startup Founders’, offering a safe, supportive space for founders to reflect on their journeys and discuss the mental health challenges they face without the pressure of maintaining a public facade.
Helmet is a new platform designed to strengthen the networks supporting startup founders, focusing on providing those around founders with the tools, knowledge and personalised advice. By encouraging candid conversations, Helmet aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health in entrepreneurship and help founders navigate the emotional demands of building a business.
This initiative is crucial for addressing the mental health needs of founders in New Zealand, where the pressures of startup life can be isolating. By focusing on the supporters, Helmet creates a ripple effect of care, contributing to a more sustainable and supportive startup environment.
Find out more about Helmet here
In addition, Dan also shared his personal founder story and mental health tips for the holidays, offering valuable insights for the entrepreneurial community. On 17 December, Helmet is hosting an in-person Community Check-in event in Auckland, encouraging meaningful connections and mutual support within the startup community. Find out more about the event here.
Sid Sthalekar's venture, Neighbourhoods, has been nominated as a finalist in two categories at the Web3NZ and BlockchainNZ Awards 2024: Startup of the Year and Innovative Solution of the Year.
This recognition highlights the innovative impact of Neighbourhoods in the Web3 and blockchain sectors and acknowledges its potential to drive transformation in the industry.
These nominations also reflect the growing influence of Sid’s work in New Zealand’s tech ecosystem, reinforcing his role in the development of cutting-edge solutions.
Kaye Maree Dunn attended the Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) Network Summit in Toronto, where she engaged with energy leaders and innovators focused on advancing clean energy solutions and creating a just energy transition that benefits indigenous communities globally.
The ICE Summit provides a platform for indigenous leaders, energy practitioners, technology innovators, and government representatives to collaborate on strategies that increase indigenous participation in the energy transition.
Kaye Maree’s involvement at this event demonstrates her dedication to nurturing impactful partnerships for community-driven change, ensuring that indigenous voices play a central role in shaping the future of clean energy.
Dr Ann Smith has been appointed Chair of the Validation Council for Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Services, a subsidiary of the Science Based Targets initiative.
SBTi Services is responsible for validating the science-based climate targets set by corporations, financial institutions, and SMEs worldwide, ensuring alignment with global climate goals.
Previously, as CEO of Toitū Envirocare, Ann drove the adoption of Science Based Targets and CDP reporting among New Zealand companies, earning multiple certifications and accreditations for the organisation. Her appointment as Chair of the Validation Council for Science Based Targets initiative reflects her extensive expertise in sustainability and her commitment to advancing credible climate action.
Rachel Sanson has joined the Board of Trustees at Te Tauihu Community Development Agency, an organisation dedicated to strengthening and connecting the for-purpose sector in the Te Tauihu region. The agency facilitates collective action, advocates for community groups, and works to implement the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy, which focuses on long-term wellbeing and sustainability for the region's communities.
With over 1,400 for-purpose groups operating across Te Tauihu, Rachel’s leadership on the board will help enhance collaboration, resource-sharing, and strategic impact. Her role will contribute to enabling these organisations to work more effectively together, creating a stronger foundation for collective efforts that benefit the region’s wellbeing and future.
Steven Moe’s Seeds Podcast featured a panel discussion about ‘Purpose-led business for a new economy’, with Rachel Brown (Sustainable Business Network), Manu Caddie (Hikurangi Enterprises), Kira Day (B Labs) and Kath Dewar (Good Sense).
In the episode, the panel explored topics discussed at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa NZ conference, including the future of purpose-led business, the role of nature in shaping economic systems, philanthropy, hybrid business structures, ESG considerations for directors, and sustainable strategies for high-growth startups. They also highlighted innovative initiatives such as the new Community Housing Funding Agency.
By providing a platform to amplify topics like these, Steven is helping to spark conversations about reshaping business and economic models to prioritise wellbeing, sustainability, and social impact, inspiring listeners to consider how they can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.
Dylan Field, co-founder of Figma, spoke at Slush, a leading global event dedicated to supporting startup founders.
Slush, based in Helsinki, connects a curated community of startups, investors, and tech journalists to provide actionable advice and insights.
Dylan shared his journey in building Figma from an MVP to the world’s most popular UI design tool, offering valuable lessons on persistence, collaboration, and creating products that resonate with users. His advice and insights help fellow entrepreneurs to build impactful companies and drive innovation globally.
Photo by Petri Anttila
Ellen Pao, former interim CEO of Reddit and co-founder of Project Include, was part of a spotlight by She Loves Data for her groundbreaking work in advocating for gender equity and workplace culture reform.
Ellen's legal case in 2012 brought attention to issues of gender discrimination in Silicon Valley, challenging the industry's culture and sparking a wider conversation about equity, diversity, and inclusion in tech. It was a pivotal moment in highlighting the barriers women face in tech and has had a lasting impact.
Through Project Include, Ellen continues to advocate for building more inclusive and supportive environments in the tech industry, influencing the sector's approach to equity.
Image source: Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images
Sara Sutton attended the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) Annual Summit in Singapore, marking her 10th year in this community.
The summit brings together a diverse group of leaders from around the world, all committed to creating a positive impact and advancing a more inclusive and sustainable global future.
Reflecting on her experience of being part of the YGL community, Sara emphasised how valuable it is to connect with like-minded individuals who are working on innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, engaging in deep conversations, exchanging ideas with leading experts, and receiving genuine offers of support from fellow participants.
Jeff Wetzler was a guest speaker at Afrissance’s discussion on ‘Growth through Collective Intelligence: How Leaders Can Harness Synergy Through Others for Lasting Impact and Innovation.’
Through his insights, Jeff is offering inspiration for leaders to embrace collective intelligence, demonstrating how collaboration and diverse perspectives can drive innovation and create lasting impact in their organisations.
Hayes Raffle, Product Design Director on Google's Learning and Education team, celebrated the nomination of LearnLM - a family of models fine-tuned for learning - as a finalist for the prestigious Anthem Awards, which honour tech initiatives driving positive social impact.
Hayes also recently spoke at Stanford HAI, where he shared insights into the development of Learn About, a project designed to enhance educational tools and experiences.
*Images have been provided by Fellows or sourced from the Internet. EHF does not claim to own the images.