Joli Wescombe
Chairwoman
Joli has been on the Management Committee and board of Hamlin Fistula NZ since 2015 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 and women's empowerment in developing nations. She has a PgDip of International Development with Distinction and is currently pursuing her PhD, researching empowering Ethiopian midwives as agents of change in rural communities.
Jayne Rattray
Fundraising Manager
Jayne joined Hamlin Fistula NZ as Fundraising Manager in April 2024 as the organisation’s only full-time staff member. She has a strong background in fundraising, marketing, and event management. Passionate about storytelling and donor engagement, Jayne combines strategic fundraising with creative marketing to support Hamlin’s life-changing work. Jayne also looks after the day-to-day administration of the organisation.
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. Now working for the IRD, Michael has worked as a solicitor 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.
Dr Lauren Finley Ng
Lauren joined the board of Hamlin New Zealand in 2025 after moving from Addis Ababa to the Bay of Plenty. She is an obstetrician gynecologist with a heart for women living with obstetric injuries. She spent a year volunteering at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital and learning from the exceptional medical team there. She has a passion for medical education in impoverished nations and promoting awareness of challenges surrounding women's health.
Kate Russell
Kate joined the Board in 2026. Kate Russell ONZM, FFIA has a thirty year history in the NGO sector and has led several high profile NZ Charities, spending time on the Boards of several others. A career Fundraiser and Community Development expert, Kate has spent time on several government advisory boards and as a business mentor through Business Mentors NZ.
Recognised in the 2016 New Year’s Honours with an ONZM for services to governance and health, Kate is also a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of NZ and Australia.
