Joli Wescombe
Chair, Manager
Joli has been on the Management Committee and board of Hamlin Fistula NZ since 2015, serving in communications and fundraising and was appointed Chair in November 2021. She provides management and oversight of strategic and operational matters. With a background in midwifery, Joli brings a passion and knowledge of maternal health in majority nations. She has a PgDip of International Development and is currently pursuing her PhD, studying midwives as agents of change in developing maternity settings.
With her husband Stephen, Joli enjoys their large whanau of five children, grandchildren and extended family on their rural North Canterbury block. For joy, you will find Joli outside in her garden or tramping in the New Zealand's beautiful back country.
Marty van der Burg
Marty joined the Board in 2013. Marty brings a long history of involvement with Hamlin Fistula Hospital since 2006 when he first visited Ethiopia, including visiting the main Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa. Since then, he has been back to Ethiopia over 26 times and has developed a keen knowledge of the culture and country. For several years Marty took teams to Ethiopia to do voluntary building work with Habitat for Humanity, including a joint venture building project with Habitat and Hamlin Fistula at Desta Mender. He is the Owner of a Residential Construction Company in Auckland and brings to the Board practical know how, organisational and people skills.
Stephen Wescombe
Treasurer
Stephen has been a Trustee with Hamlin NZ since 2019. As a Financial Planner, he brings 17 years of experience in the financial sector and is director of Ark Financial Group. Stephen has been involved in local church leadership and Youth With a Mission. Having travelled in over 40 countries, many in the Global South, he has a long-held interest in enabling the incredible work of NGOs and considers it a privilege to support Hamlin Fistula as they work with some of the most marginalised women in the world.
Sam Boyes
Sam joined the Board in 2021. He is an accountant and burns late night hours managing our technical needs and database. Sam has a strong family connection to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, with some from his extended family having lived many years and run a Christian radio program from Addis Ababa.
Michael Belay
Michael joined the board in 2022. As a solicitor at Parry Field Lawyers, Michael works in the impact team assisting businesses, charities and start-ups in various ways to make a positive impact. Growing up in Ethiopia before migrating to Aotearoa, Michael shares a personal connection with Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia and enjoys lending his time to support the great work being carried out by the Trust in a country he calls home.
