Our Team

Brenda Pearson

President

Brenda has worked at Global Development Group Australia and in the “not for profit” sector since 2003 and currently holds the position of COO. Prior to this, she was Office Manager at Cargill Oilseeds Australia as well as consulting to various small businesses in an accounting capacity.

Her business focus, industry knowledge and team approach has contributed to significant growth at Global Development Group, now reaching over 30 million dollars in donations p.a.

Brenda has had the opportunity to visit many projects and presented at various conferences in Singapore, India, Cambodia and Thailand.

While Brenda is not working she is normally found at the beach reading a good book.

Melody Amato

Treasurer

Melody has been a dedicated volunteer with GDG USA since its inception in 2006, managing taxes, reconciliations, and donation transfers. She also assisted in an audit during a GDG project visit to Mexico. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University, Melody worked for Indiana University for 18 years in Cash Management, the Treasurer’s Office, and the Comptroller’s Office, focusing on financial reporting and analysis. Since 2020, she has served as a Principal Accountant at Catalent Biopharma, specializing in revenue reporting and financial analysis.

A US Military Veteran, Melody served in the Coast Guard during Operation Desert Storm (1989–1995), with postings in California, Alaska, and Maryland. Currently, she is GDG USA’s Operations Manager and Treasurer on the Board of Directors. In her free time, she enjoys family time, especially with her grandchildren, as well as reading, staying updated on current events, and traveling.

Rebecca Pearce

Board Member

Rebecca Pearce graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Management. She has worked as an Office Manager and Bookkeeper and is currently employed at Specialized Physical Therapy as an Office Manager. Rebecca also owns her own small business. Rebecca enjoys being a part of the ministry at her church and serving on the Board of Directors of Global Development Group USA. She lives with her husband and two small children in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Sandra Vander Griend

Board Member

Sandy VanderGriend attended Kuyper College before moving to Nigeria, West Africa for a period of time. She was a home-maker and home-schooled her children through high school. She has held positions in retail, and as a receptionist. Sandy’s experience of having lived in an impoverished nation has given her an expertise in varied areas when dealing with our projects. This makes Sandy a highly regarded Director of the GDG USA Board.

John Pearce

Board Member

John Pearce has a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Southeastern University. He has been employed at credit unions in Florida and Tennessee for 10 years and is currently a branch manager at Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union. With John’s expertise, he serves as a valued advisor in numerous areas.

Jessica Corrie

Board Member

Jessica Corrie has been on staff with Global Development Group for over 10 years as an Administration Manager. During this time Jess has had the opportunity to monitor projects in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, this gives her a fantastic understanding of the requirements and needs our partners face daily.

Jess graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Commerce and followed this up with a Masters of Business (Accounting) from the Queensland University of Technology.

Jess speaks 4 languages which has certainly come in useful during her time with GDG. Jess’s experience both within GDG and abroad make her a valued member of the GDG USA board.

Howard Vander Griend

Board Member

Howard is the Project Coordinator for a company who owns several properties in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. His daily work involves communication between the various contractors who are doing on-site projects and the owners and resolving issues that may arise during the projects. Along with his wife, Sandy, Howard lived in Nigeria for a period of time implementing and delivering programs. In addition, he is very involved with his local church and in his spare time he enjoys taking care of his small flock of chickens, playing his soprano saxophone and the piano, doing projects for his wife, and enjoying visits from his children and grandchildren.

David Pearson

Director; Chairperson

Founding Director and board member of GDG Australia since 2002. David has significant Senior Management experience in the corporate arena with a background in risk assessment, compliance, and leading large operational teams. David actively participates in project monitoring audits and has undertaken regular trips each year as Chair for Global Development Group.

Emily Parsons

Director

Emily co-managers her own coffee roasting and hospitality business. She founded a charity that existed to include local communities and businesses to support development projects in Africa. In the past 6 years this has been specialised in WASH, specifically pioneering a rain harvesting water tank model in Uganda.

Stuart Manners

Director

Stuart was born in England and gained an MA(Hons) and teaching qualification at Oxford University. He married his wife Sarah in 1970 and taught in England for 5 years before coming to New Zealand in early 1975. He taught in Auckland for nearly 20 years at King’s College before moving to the recently established Bethlehem College in 1993.

He was an Associate Principal at that College for many years before moving into a part time role from the beginning of 2015. Stuart and Sarah have three grown up children Nicola, Simon and Clare. They became involved in aid and development work through their eldest daughter Nicola, who worked for a non-profit for six years helping to run a babies homes in Uganda