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Our Team
Directors
![David Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/David.jpg)
David Pearson
Assoc Dip Bus Mgmt, CALU, AAII, MAICD
Chairman
Founding Director and board member 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.
![Geoff Armstrong](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/Geoff.jpg)
Geoff Armstrong
BSc, MBA, AFAMI, CMC, MAICD, MASQ
Board Member
Board Member since 2002, Geoff is an experienced Director and qualified Consultant. Geoff has over thirty years consulting experience within corporate, not for profit and Christian ministry sectors, advising on organisational structure, strategic direction and corporate governance. Since being a founder of Global Development Group in late 2002, Geoff’s strong emphasis on financial growth, accountability and continuous improvement has seen the organisation greatly expand.
![Samantha Crestani](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/Sam.jpg)
Samantha Crestani
BBus
Project Department
Board Member
Samantha has been a valued member of the Global Development Group team for more than ten years. She has traveled extensively monitoring projects in India, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Africa. Currently overseeing two global regions, Samantha also manages all operations of the projects department.
![Allan Benson](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/Allan.jpg)
Allan Benson
JP
Board Member
Allan Benson first joined the Board in 2005 and returned in 2013. Allan has vast experience within engineering sections of complex construction, mining and manufacturing companies, specialising in Occupational Health and Safety and Human Relations. He has been associated with the not for profit sector in Australia for many years.
![David Robertson](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/David R.jpg)
David Robertson
BCompSc, MCP, CNE
Board Member
David Robertson was born in Sri Lanka and currently runs his own IT business. He has been a long time member of GDG. He has also partnered with many not for profit organisations and sees the need to not only reach out to his community through his business, but also to reach out to the global community in the wider scope of humanitarian aid.
Staff
Management Team
![David Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/David.jpg)
David Pearson
Assoc Dip Bus Mgmt, CALU, AAII, MAICD
Chief Executive Officer
![Brenda Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Brenda.jpg)
Brenda Pearson
AssocDipBus
Chief Operating Officer
![Samantha Crestani](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Sam.jpg)
Samantha Crestani
BBus
Project Department
Manager
![Greg Cadman](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Greg.jpg)
Greg Cadman
BCom, BTh
Compliance Manager
![Jessica Corrie](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Jess.jpg)
Jessica Corrie
BCom, MBus
Administration Manager
Officer, Accounts
Administration Team
![Lisa Low](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Lisa.png)
Lisa Low
Administration Officer
Credit Cards
![Albert Lai](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Albert.jpg)
Albert Lai
BSc, MBus
Administration Officer
Accounts
![Jayden Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Jayden.jpg)
Jayden Pearson
Lead Administration Officer
Accounts
![Samantha Olivier](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Sam O.jpg)
Samantha Olivier
Administration Officer
Reception
![Johanna Longfield](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Jo.jpg)
Johanna Longfield
Administration Officer
Receipting
![Geoff Armstrong](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Geoff.jpg)
Geoff Armstrong
BSc, MBA, AFAMI, CMC, MAICD, MASQ
Administration Officer
![Betty Armstrong](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Betty.jpg)
Betty Armstrong
Administration Officer
Volunteer
Project Team
![Peta Merugumala](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Peta.png)
Peta Merugumala
BAIntAidDev
Senior Project Officer
![Josh Edwards](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Josh.jpg)
Josh Edwards
BBus (Hons), JP (qual)
Senior Project Officer, Africa
![Jordan Brayley](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Jordan.jpg)
Jordan Brayley
BBus
Compliance Officer
Senior Project Officer, Indian Subcontinent
![Kelley Chisolm](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Kelley.jpg)
Kelley Chisolm
BPE, DipEd/BEd (Hons), GCArts, MCommDev/IntDev
Strategic Partnerships Manager
![Meena Benjamin](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Meena.jpg)
Meena Benjamin
Project Officer, Cambodia
![Lauren Palma](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Lauren.jpg)
Lauren Palma
BSc, BA. IntDev
Project Officer, East Asia
![Bianca Tuicakau](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Bianca.jpg)
Bianca Tuicakau
BIntl Stu
Senior Project Officer, Pacific
![Joel Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Joel.jpg)
Joel Pearson
BBus
Senior Project Officer, South East Asia
Representatives
![MV Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/MV Thomas.jpg)
MV Thomas
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Leena Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/Leena.jpg)
Leena Thomas
BSc, BTh
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Tessema Bekele](/img/Staff/REPS/Tessema.jpg)
Tessema Bekele
DBA, Ph.D.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Ethiopia
![Daniel Watts](/img/Staff/REPS/Daniel.jpg)
Daniel Watts
BA (Int Studies), MAAPD
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Australia
![Makara Kin](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Makara.jpg)
Makara Kin
BA Eng., B. IT, MBA
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - USA
![Carey Westwood](/img/Staff/REPS/Carey.jpg)
Carey Westwood
BCom, MDT
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Kenya
![Chris Aiton](/img/Staff/REPS/Chris.jpg)
Chris Aiton
BA(Th)
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based – Philippines
Directors
![Brenda Pearson](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Brenda.png)
Brenda Pearson
Assoc Dip Bus
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.
![Colin Armstrong](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Colin.png)
Colin Armstrong
BSc, MBA
Treasurer
Manager
Colin Armstrong holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He taught Math and Science in private school, but spent most of his career in the chemical/pharmaceutical production industry. He has worked for facilities in Australia and the USA as QC Chemist, Production Specialist, and Supervisor/Manager. Colin retired in 2002. He has served on the Board of GDG USA since its inception and works as a volunteer in the office for GDG USA, serving as Treasurer.
![Rebecca Pearce](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Rebecca.png)
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](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Sandra.png)
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](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/John.png)
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](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Jess.png)
Jessica Corrie
BCom, MBus
Board Member
Jessica Corrie has been on staff with Global Development Group for over 10 years as a Senior Accounts Officer. 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.
Malaysia 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](/img/Staff/USA BOARD/Howard.jpg)
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.
Representatives
![MV Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/MV Thomas.jpg)
MV Thomas
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Leena Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/Leena.jpg)
Leena Thomas
BSc, BTh
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Tessema Bekele](/img/Staff/REPS/Tessema.jpg)
Tessema Bekele
DBA, Ph.D.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Ethiopia
![Daniel Watts](/img/Staff/REPS/Daniel.jpg)
Daniel Watts
BA (Int Studies), MAAPD
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Australia
![Makara Kin](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Makara.jpg)
Makara Kin
BA Eng., B. IT, MBA
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - USA
![Carey Westwood](/img/Staff/REPS/Carey.jpg)
Carey Westwood
BCom, MDT
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Kenya
![Chris Aiton](/img/Staff/REPS/Chris.jpg)
Chris Aiton
BA(Th)
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based – Philippines
Directors
![Greg Cadman](/img/Staff/NZ BOARD/Greg.jpg)
Greg Cadman
BCom, BTh
Board Member; Chairperson
A former accountant, Greg is a compliance specialist. He has seen first-hand what impact well-planned, well-resourced and well-implemented projects can achieve for local communities. He has travelled extensively in SE Asia, India, East Africa and Timor Leste: always bravely sampling the local cuisine (including spiders & assorted bugs)! Currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Greg travels back to his adopted heartland of Aotearoa whenever he can… to search for hobbits and all things LOTR.
![Emily Parsons](/img/Staff/NZ BOARD/Emily.png)
Emily Parsons
Board Member
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](/img/Staff/NZ BOARD/Stuart.png)
Stuart Manners
MA (HONS)
Board Member
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
Staff
![Geoff Armstrong](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/Geoff.jpg)
Geoff Armstrong
BSc, MBA, AFAMI, CMC, MAICD, MASQ
Administration Officer
![Brenda Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Brenda.jpg)
Brenda Pearson
AssocDipBus
Chief Operating Officer
![Samantha Crestani](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/Sam.jpg)
Samantha Crestani
BBus
Project Department
Manager
![Greg Cadman](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Greg.jpg)
Greg Cadman
BCom, BTh
Compliance Manager
![Jayden Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Jayden.jpg)
Jayden Pearson
Lead Administration Officer
Accounts
![Nicola Ssekajja](/img/Staff/NZ STAFF/Nicola Ssekajja.png)
Nicola Ssekajja
Administration Assistant
Representatives
![MV Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/MV Thomas.jpg)
MV Thomas
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Leena Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/Leena.jpg)
Leena Thomas
BSc, BTh
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - India
![Tessema Bekele](/img/Staff/REPS/Tessema.jpg)
Tessema Bekele
DBA, Ph.D.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Ethiopia
![Daniel Watts](/img/Staff/REPS/Daniel.jpg)
Daniel Watts
BA (Int Studies), MAAPD
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Australia
![Makara Kin](/img/Staff/AUS STAFF/Makara.jpg)
Makara Kin
BA Eng., B. IT, MBA
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - USA
![Carey Westwood](/img/Staff/REPS/Carey.jpg)
Carey Westwood
BCom, MDT
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Kenya
![Chris Aiton](/img/Staff/REPS/Chris.jpg)
Chris Aiton
BA(Th)
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based – Philippines
Board of Trustees
![David Pearson](/img/Staff/AUS BOARD/David.jpg)
David Pearson
Assoc Dip Bus Mgmt, CALU, AAII, MAICD
Chairman
Founding Director and board member since 2002, David was elected chair in 2002. David is a Senior Management Specialist with a background in risk assessment within the insurance industry. He has many years of experience in corporate governance and compliance issues. David actively participates in project monitoring audits and has undertaken regular trips each year as Chair for Global Development Group SCIO.
![Michael Strachan](/img/Staff/UK STAFF/michael.jpg)
Michael Strachan
Secretary
Michael graduated with a BA Hons in Marketing from Stirling University and has a Diploma in Online Marketing. He has previously worked in Marketing & Account Manager roles and now runs Simplicity Marketing as the Managing Director.Michael has over 12 years’ experience in marketing and has been leading Simplicity Marketing for 8 years now. Providing inspiration, motivation, and guidance to the Simplicity Marketing team, Michael has taken a leadership and skills development approach to building the team and company culture at Simplicity
When he’s not working Michael enjoys spending time with his family, all things football & eating anything he can get his hands on.
![Ronald Edwards](/img/Staff/placeholder_male.png)
Ronald Edwards
Treasurer
![Kerry Edwards](/img/Staff/placeholder_female.png)
Kerry Edwards
Board Member
Kerry is a school teacher with over 25 years’ experience specialising in additional support needs in mainstream high school. Kerry likes a challenge and enjoys playing piano, reading, baking and discovering beautiful places.
Representatives
![MV Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/MV Thomas.jpg)
MV Thomas
Based - India
![Leena Thomas](/img/Staff/REPS/Leena.jpg)
Leena Thomas
BSc, BTh
Based - India
![Tessema Bekele](/img/Staff/REPS/Tessema.jpg)
Tessema Bekele
DBA, Ph.D.
Based - Ethiopia
![Daniel Watts](/img/Staff/REPS/Daniel.jpg)
Daniel Watts
BA (Int Studies), MAAPD
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Australia
![Chris Aiton](/img/Staff/REPS/Chris.jpg)
Chris Aiton
BA(Th)
Monitoring and Evaluation
Based - Philippines