Meet the team

Sam Morgan, Founder and Chair

Sam began his career at Deloitte Consulting and is best known for founding the online auction website Trade Me which became New Zealand’s biggest Internet business when it sold in 2006.  Sam spends his time investing in businesses (mainly software) as well as social enterprises. Sam failed to achieve any tertiary qualification but, nowadays, is okay with that.

Nina Gené, CEO

Nina oversees Jasmine’s investment strategy, guiding the team in identifying and supporting the next generation of outstanding social entrepreneurs. A strong advocate for providing unrestricted, long-term funding, she works closely with a tight-knit network of social investors to exchange insights and promote trust-based practices. Originally from Barcelona, Nina began her career in investment banking in New York before settling on Waiheke Island.

Jack Kelsey, Senior Investment Manager

Jack works closely with entrepreneurs, delving into the economics of impact and the transition of the philanthropic subsidy over time. He helps investees enhance their financial sophistication as they prepare to scale. Jack joined Jasmine from PwC, where he specialized in financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. He relocated from the UK and holds a BSc from Loughborough University.

Duncan Cunninghame, Investment Manager

Duncan brings a blend of business development and engineering expertise to the team, with a focus on identifying and supporting promising social ventures. Previously, he led the commercialization efforts in the UK and EU for a high-growth company specializing in medical technology. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Auckland and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.

Pilar Pastor-Chapman, Investment Manager

Pilar champions social ventures, offering expertise in growth strategy and operations. With over a decade of international development experience, she has worked with the World Bank Group in the US, Abaarso School in Somalia, Moringa School in Kenya, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Education. Born in Madrid, Pilar holds an MBA from University College London.

Ann Vansverry, Family Office Manager

Ann keeps the engine running across the Jasmine Group, working diligently behind the scenes to ensure smooth operations. She collaborates with external stakeholders and fulfills vital shared responsibilities for the Capital and Social teams. Ann handles grant execution, takes ownership of the design process, and provides invaluable people support.

Alex Aston-Baran, Senior Administrator

Alex owns two critical functions in our practice: managing the due diligence process and sharing our analysis. She works with our partners to ensure effective collaboration and distributes our findings to a growing network of funders. Alex has a background in business support, and her role gives her exposure to the broader Jasmine Group.

Richard Abbott, Trustee

Richard was Chair of Trade Me at its sale and has been part of the Jasmine family since the start. He is a private investor and philanthropist supporting initiatives that track and maximize the humanitarian impact of every dollar spent.

Ruby Morgan, Trustee

Ruby brings a wealth of experience from New Zealand's tech startup ecosystem. Once an analyst, she now builds and funds tech ventures and is known as a dynamic and optimistic leader. Her journey equips her with unique insights on entrepreneurship and scaling for impact.