GDG - Key Persons

Albert Lai

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Administration Team

Allan Benson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
AllanBensonfirstjoinedtheBoardin2005andreturnedin2013.Allanhasvastexperiencewithinengineeringsectionsofcomplexconstruction,miningandmanufacturingcompanies,specialisinginOccupationalHealthandSafetyandHumanRelations.HehasbeenassociatedwiththenotforprofitsectorinAustraliaformanyyears.

Betty Armstrong

Job Titles:
  • Administration Officer
  • Director

Bianca Tuicakau

Job Titles:
  • Director

Brenda Pearson

Job Titles:
  • Administration Officer
  • Administrator
  • Director
BrendahasworkedatGlobalDevelopmentGroupAustraliaandinthe"notforprofit"sectorsince2003andcurrentlyholdsthepositionofCOO.Priortothis,shewasOfficeManageratCargillOilseedsAustraliaaswellasconsultingtovarioussmallbusinessesinanaccountingcapacity. Herbusinessfocus,industryknowledgeandteamapproachhascontributedtosignificantgrowthatGlobalDevelopmentGroup,nowreachingover30milliondollarsindonationsp.a. BrendahashadtheopportunitytovisitmanyprojectsandpresentedatvariousconferencesinSingapore,India,CambodiaandThailand. WhileBrendaisnotworkingsheisnormallyfoundatthebeachreadingagoodbook.

Colin Armstrong - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Treasurer
ColinArmstrongholdsaBachelor'sDegreeinEducation.HetaughtMathandScienceinprivateschool,butspentmostofhiscareerinthechemical/pharmaceuticalproductionindustry.HehasworkedforfacilitiesinAustraliaandtheUSAasQCChemist,ProductionSpecialist,andSupervisor/Manager.Colinretiredin2002.HehasservedontheBoardofGDGUSAsinceitsinceptionandworksasavolunteerintheofficeforGDGUSA,servingasTreasurer.

David Pearson

Job Titles:
  • Director

David Robertson

Job Titles:
  • Director
DavidRobertsonwasborninSriLankaandcurrentlyrunshisownITbusiness.HehasbeenalongtimememberofGDG.Hehasalsopartneredwithmanynotforprofitorganisationsandseestheneedtonotonlyreachouttohiscommunitythroughhisbusiness,butalsotoreachouttotheglobalcommunityinthewiderscopeofhumanitarianaid.

Emily Parsons

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
Emilyco-managersherowncoffeeroastingandhospitalitybusiness.ShefoundedacharitythatexistedtoincludelocalcommunitiesandbusinessestosupportdevelopmentprojectsinAfrica.Inthepast6yearsthishasbeenspecialisedinWASH,specificallypioneeringarainharvestingwatertankmodelinUganda.

Geoff Winston Armstrong - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Director
  • Executive Director
BoardMembersince2002,GeoffisanexperiencedDirectorandqualifiedConsultant.Geoffhasoverthirtyyearsconsultingexperiencewithincorporate,notforprofitandChristianministrysectors,advisingonorganisationalstructure,strategicdirectionandcorporategovernance.SincebeingafounderofGlobalDevelopmentGroupinlate2002,Geoff'sstrongemphasisonfinancialgrowth,accountabilityandcontinuousimprovementhasseentheorganisationgreatlyexpand.

Greg Cadman

Job Titles:
  • Compliance Manager
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
  • Compliance Specialist
Aformeraccountant,Gregisacompliancespecialist.Hehasseenfirst-handwhatimpactwell-planned,well-resourcedandwell-implementedprojectscanachieveforlocalcommunities.HehastravelledextensivelyinSEAsia,India,EastAfricaandTimorLeste:alwaysbravelysamplingthelocalcuisine(includingspiders&assortedbugs)!CurrentlybasedinBrisbane,Australia,GregtravelsbacktohisadoptedheartlandofAotearoawheneverhecan…tosearchforhobbitsandallthingsLOTR.

Jayden Pearson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Administration Officer / Accounts

Jessica Corrie

Job Titles:
  • Director
JessicaCorriehasbeenonstaffwithGlobalDevelopmentGroupforover10yearsasaSeniorAccountsOfficer.DuringthistimeJesshashadtheopportunitytomonitorprojectsinChina,HongKong,Indonesia,LaosandVietnam,thisgivesherafantasticunderstandingoftherequirementsandneedsourpartnersfacedaily. JessgraduatedfromtheUniversityofQueenslandwithaBachelorofCommerceandfollowedthisupwithaMastersofBusiness(Accounting)fromtheQueenslandUniversityofTechnology.

Joel Pearson

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Project Officer, South East Asia

Johanna Longfield

Job Titles:
  • Administration Officer
  • Director

John Pearce

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
JohnPearcehasaBachelorofArtsinManagementfromSoutheasternUniversity.HehasbeenemployedatcreditunionsinFloridaandTennesseefor10yearsandiscurrentlyabranchmanageratTennesseeValleyFederalCreditUnion.WithJohn'sexpertise,heservesasavaluedadvisorinnumerousareas.

Jordan Brayley

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Compliance Officer / Senior Project Officer, Indian Subcontinent

Josh Edwards

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Senior Project Officer

Kelley Chisolm

Job Titles:
  • Director

Kerry Edwards

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
Kerryisaschoolteacherwithover25years'experiencespecialisinginadditionalsupportneedsinmainstreamhighschool.Kerrylikesachallengeandenjoysplayingpiano,reading,bakinganddiscoveringbeautifulplaces.

Lauren Palma

Job Titles:
  • Director

Lisa Low

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Administration Team
  • Administration Officer / Credit

Meena Benjamin

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Project Officer, Cambodia

Michael Strachan

Job Titles:
  • Secretary
MichaelgraduatedwithaBAHonsinMarketingfromStirlingUniversityandhasaDiplomainOnlineMarketing.HehaspreviouslyworkedinMarketing&AccountManagerrolesandnowrunsSimplicityMarketingastheManagingDirector. Michaelhasover12years'experienceinmarketingandhasbeenleadingSimplicityMarketingfor8yearsnow.Providinginspiration,motivation,andguidancetotheSimplicityMarketingteam,MichaelhastakenaleadershipandskillsdevelopmentapproachtobuildingtheteamandcompanycultureatSimplicity Whenhe'snotworkingMichaelenjoysspendingtimewithhisfamily,allthingsfootball&eatinganythinghecangethishandson.

Nicola Ssekajja

Job Titles:
  • Administration Assistant

Peta Merugumala

Job Titles:
  • Director

Rebecca Pearce

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
RebeccaPearcegraduatedfromtheUniversityofSouthFloridawithaBachelor'sdegreeinManagement.ShehasworkedasanOfficeManagerandBookkeeperandiscurrentlyemployedatSpecializedPhysicalTherapyasanOfficeManager.Rebeccaalsoownsherownsmallbusiness.RebeccaenjoysbeingapartoftheministryatherchurchandservingontheBoardofDirectorsofGlobalDevelopmentGroupUSA.SheliveswithherhusbandandtwosmallchildreninChattanooga,Tennessee.

Ronald Edwards - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer

Samantha Crestani

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Project Department Manager

Samantha Olivier

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Administration Officer / Reception

Sandra Vander

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
SandyVanderGriendattendedKuyperCollegebeforemovingtoNigeria,WestAfricaforaperiodoftime.Shewasahome-makerandhome-schooledherchildrenthroughhighschool.Shehasheldpositionsinretail,andasareceptionist.Sandy'sexperienceofhavinglivedinanimpoverishednationhasgivenheranexpertiseinvariedareaswhendealingwithourprojects.ThismakesSandyahighlyregardedDirectoroftheGDGUSABoard.

Stuart Manners

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Member of the Board
StuartwasborninEnglandandgainedanMA(Hons)andteachingqualificationatOxfordUniversity.HemarriedhiswifeSarahin1970andtaughtinEnglandfor5yearsbeforecomingtoNewZealandinearly1975.HetaughtinAucklandfornearly20yearsatKing'sCollegebeforemovingtotherecentlyestablishedBethlehemCollegein1993. HewasanAssociatePrincipalatthatCollegeformanyyearsbeforemovingintoaparttimerolefromthebeginningof2015.StuartandSarahhavethreegrownupchildrenNicola,SimonandClare.TheybecameinvolvedinaidanddevelopmentworkthroughtheireldestdaughterNicola,whoworkedforanon-profitforsixyearshelpingtorunababieshomesinUganda