Heidi Coetzee

Executive Director

An experienced leader with strong business, management and accounting skills gained through a career in both corporate and not-for-profit organisations. Heidi’s business interests include developing partnerships that will positively influence strategic direction and performance, enabling the achievement of organisational objectives.

Chris Rae

Business Development and Programme Manager

Chris has a strong background in international development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. Most recently, he led the development of VSA’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030. He has also worked at MFAT, Stats NZ, and UNICEF Aotearoa, where he helped launch global initiatives like the "Workout for Water" fundraiser and a multi-million-dollar WASH project in Ethiopia.

Originally from Anfield, Liverpool, Chris whakapapas to Scotland and still carries a proud Scouse accent. He lives in Petone with his partner Tanya and his daughters Frankie and Zoe. A Beatles fanatic, he considers living by Te Awa Kairangi an absolute privilege. He recently completed a Master of International Relations, honing his expertise in global politics and referendums in ethno-nationalist states.

Chris is passionate about building strong relationships and driving positive change in the international development sector.

Sam London

Standards and Humanitarian Manager 

Sam brings a wealth of practical experience, having both lived in, and worked across various roles, in small island developing states. He’s worked with low-carbon shipping services, sailing essential cargo to some of the remotest and underserved regions of the Central Pacific, affording him key insights into the practical realities and challenges of crucial 'last mile' humanitarian and development service delivery.

During a three-year tenure in Fiji, his dedication to sustainable development and a recognition of the crucial role traditional knowledge plays in achieving this, motivated him to construct a traditional Fijian voyaging canoe. During this period, he also collaborated with medical charities as a relief skipper delivering primary health services to remote and isolated communities.

Recently, Sam combined his practical expertise with formal education, earning a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics, and an interdisciplinary Master’s of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Victoria University of Wellington. His master's thesis focused on modeling behavioral responses to energy-efficient technologies and how these can have adverse effects on meeting climate targets.

Amie Chan

Communications and Administration Advisor

Originally from Cambodia, Amie has built her career in various communications roles and industries, including a non-profit organisation, banking institutions, an advertising and event management company and media institutions and an oil & gas company

Amie's academic background mirrors her global professional footprint. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Communications from Massey University in New Zealand, a Diploma of Public Relations from LBUS in Romania, and a Bachelor's Degree in Media Management from RUPP in Cambodia. Beyond formal education, she has enhanced her skill set through various management training programs conducted in Singapore and Vietnam. This diverse educational foundation equips her with a holistic perspective that complements her practical experience in the field of communications.

Lucy Owen

Events, Engagement and Administration Coordinator

Lucy is currently enrolled at Te Herenga Waka and is aiming to complete her Bachelors degree in International Relations, Development Studies and Management at the end of this year. Lucy will be assisting with event planning, administration and training, including the CID Conference 2023. 

Her studies have allowed her to apply theoretical ideas to relevant global, domestic and international issues. She is passionate about ensuring that everyone is equipped with the rights tools to act appropriately on a range of issues, in order to promote effective and long-term change. Lucy is committed to tackling a range of issues in Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to make a positive difference.

TJ Grant

Board Chair

International Partnerships Director, World Vision New Zealand

TJ Grant is a nonprofit executive dedicated to empowering people and fostering positive change, with nearly 20 years of experience in humanitarian and international development work. Currently serving as the Associate National Director at World Vision New Zealand, TJ drives cross-functional initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment and impactful outcomes in the field. With a master’s degree in international development studies, TJ's tenure at World Vision spans over 17 years, encompassing diverse roles globally.

Passionate about making a positive global impact, TJ brings a unique blend of strategic vision, powerful communication, and leadership to his work. In addition to his role at World Vision, TJ is deeply engaged in the New Zealand sector, serving on the CID Board since 2019 and currently holding the position of Deputy Chair. Residing in Maraetai, Auckland with his wife, two teenage boys, and their golden retriever Harvey, TJ extends his commitment beyond his day job to volunteer as a basketball coach at both the college and competitive representative levels.

Michelle Sharp

Treasurer

CEO, UNICEF Aotearoa

In December 2020, Michelle was appointed CEO of UNICEF Aotearoa New Zealand. UNICEF drives change for children and young people every day, across the globe. They work in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. And never give up.

Prior to this appointment, she was drawn to the role of Chief Executive Officer at Kilmarnock Enterprises; a pioneering social enterprise providing education, employment and opportunities for people with learning disabilities. For over 11 years, her passion for the non-profit sector enabled me to use commercial excellence as a tool to demonstrate the value of people with intellectual disabilities to customers and the community.

Elizabeth Fitton-Higgins

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand

Dr. Elizabeth Fitton-Higgins is the International Programmes Director for Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. She has over 20 years’ experience working across the public sector, NGOs and consulting. Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is implementing a 5 year Negotiated Partnerships programme, funded by MFAT, working across Fiji, Samoa and Tonga on improving access to resilient housing and shelter. Prior to her Habitat role, Elizabeth was a Director of the Mangrove Collective, a humanitarian and development consultancy focusing on the Asia Pacific region. 

Sahara Anae

ADRA New Zealand

Sahara is an International Programme Manager at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) of New Zealand, where she has worked 8 years.

For almost 20 years of Sahara’s career, she had worked as a Water Engineer in the regional water sectors of Samoa (Operations Engineer, Samoa Water Authority), Auckland New Zealand (Planning Engineer, Watercare), and in Melbourne, Australia (Senior Engineer, City West Water). She continues to utilise her water engineer skills and her greatest achievement in her work; (she has lost count); is having been instrumental in supplying more than 2 million people with safe drinking water, and access to sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Sahara’s love and passion is elevating indigenous knowledge and practices as solutions to sustainable development and being an advocate in this space 

Tim Sutton

UnionAID

Tim Sutton is the Executive Director of UnionAID, a small but growing Development Agency that empowers workers to organise and advocate for their rights.

Before joining UnionAID just over 18 months ago, Tim worked as a development professional for UNICEF for more than 25 years. He was based first in Bangladesh, then Iraq, Bhutan, the Pacific multi country office in Fiji, and then as deputy head of UNICEF in China. Then until 2021, he was the head of UNICEF in Sri Lanka.

Kate Russell ONZM, FFINZ

Executive Director, Hagar New Zealand

Kate Russell has a 30 year history of work in the New Zealand NGO sector, having held executive positions in a number of charitable organisations. Kate led Cystic Fibrosis NZ for 11 years, the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and NZ Brain Research Institute for five years and worked within the local government sector as a Community Partnerships Manager.

Awarded an ONZM in 2016 for services to governance and health, Kate has mentored a number of organisations to upskill toward best governance practice, manage change and transformation and create robust strategic and fundraising plans. She has held Chair and Board Trustee positions in several NGOs and has been with Business Mentors NZ for eight years, specialising in advice for the NGO sector.

Having sat on a number of government advisory committees, including Chairing the Pharmac Consumer Advisory Board and advising the Charities Commission during the changeover to the DIA, alongside managing various government contracts over her 30-year career, Kate has a good working knowledge of government and political processes.

Schannel van Dijken

Conservation International

Guided by curiosity and heritage, Schannel is a National Geographic Explorer, and a marine biologist working with Conservation International’s (CI) Asia-Pacific Program as Marine and Heritage Director. He has worked in 15+ countries across diverse environmental initiatives from Antarctica to Europe, Asia and Oceania. He has demonstrated leadership, sustainability, and environmental management experience honed in working at the intersection of traditional knowledge, science, education, tech, and environmental policy.

Trusted technical practitioner, Schannel is a passionate Pacific advocate, Polynesian voyager (double-hulled traditional voyaging canoe), divemaster, and field scientist. He has spent significant time on the open ocean exploring nature across many Islands between Aotearoa New Zealand, to Hawaii to Mexico, Cocos & Galapagos Islands.