Joli Wescombe
Chair
Joli has been on the Management Committee of Hamlin Fistula NZ since 2015, serving in communications and fundraising, as Trustee since 2016 and was appointed Chair in November 2021. She provides management and oversight of strategic and operational matters. Joli has a background in midwifery and brings a passion and knowledge of maternal health in developing nations. She has a PgDip of International Development and is currently pursuing her PhD, studying midwives as agents of change in developing maternity settings.
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 20 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 developing world, he has a long-held interest in enabling the incredible work of NGOs and considers it a privilege to support Hamlin Fistula as they provide for some of the most marginalised in the world.
Ken Lord
Ken has been a lawyer since 1977 and partner with Parry Field Lawyers since 1980. Ken brings extensive experience in charitable trusts and asset planning. He is a Notary Public and one of the authors of the LexisNexis Law of Trusts, having written and reviewed the chapter devoted to charity law, as well as chapters in the LexisNexis publication The Law and Practice of Charities in New Zealand. Ken has served, or is still serving, on many boards including YMCA Christchurch, Christian Resource Centre International, CRY For the World Foundation, Hagar New Zealand, Orphans Aid International Trust, Living Springs Trust, Garden City Rotary Charitable Trust, La Vida Youth Trust, and Parry Field Charitable Foundation. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Garden City (President in 2002) as well as a keen musician and road cycling racer, chairing The Papanui Cycling Club Incorporated.
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.
Natasha Ackroyd
Natasha has been employed in the role of Fundraising Manager since February 2022. With a background in the not-for-profit sector, she brings initiative and vision to her role. She has a keen interest in women's health and a passion to support those working to eradicate fistula from Ethiopia and end the plight of the poor.
