Impact Snapshot
September 2023
In this month’s Impact Snapshot, read about EHF Fellows in action creating environmental, social and economic impact, plus recent recognitions and awards they’ve received.
Fellows in action 🎬
Congratulations to Joanne McEachen, Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and Eric Dahlstrom, who were announced winners of two of the seven award categories at the Kea World Class New Zealand Awards.
Kea World Class award winner Joanne is an educator extraordinaire, and as the CEO/Founder of The Learner First has created opportunities for learners, educators, and communities to learn who they are, how they fit into the world, and how they can contribute their gifts to humanity. Her award is in recognition of her world-leading work across the education sector and changing the shape of children’s futures. Watch video
Kea Friends of NZ award winners, Emeline and Eric were among the first international EHF Fellows to bring their entrepreneurial skills to Aotearoa. Since setting up their not-for-profit consultancy, SpaceBase, in Christchurch in 2017, they have worked tirelessly to connect the sector and profile New Zealand’s place as an emerging leader in aerospace technology, discovery and democratisation. Watch video
Jagmeet Lamba, founder of Certa, announced his company had raised a $35 million Series B funding round. The company's focus is on simplifying the complex interconnections between different businesses, effectively serving as a bridge to bring companies together. This substantial funding injection will play a pivotal role in advancing this pursuit.
Certa streamlines end-to-end procurement and has on-boarded and monitored millions of partners in 120 countries.
With expansion plans in the European Union and Asia, this announcement underscores Certa's commitment to facilitating efficient global business collaborations.
Yasmine El Baggari has been on the ground in Morocco providing critical relief and support following the devastating recent earthquake. Her efforts are helping to alleviate immediate suffering but also provides hope and stability in a time of crisis.
As well as teaming up with World Central Kitchen to deliver meals to those in need, and ensuring the safe evacuation of individuals requiring urgent medical attention, Yasmine has just launched the ‘Rebuild Hope’ programme. This initiative seeks to deliver immediate relief, help rebuild shattered lives, and empower communities to strengthen their resilience against future disasters. Donations to the programme can be made here: https://donorbox.org/voyaj
Kat Lintott has played an instrumental role in the establishment of Rewiring Aotearoa, an NGO dedicated to accelerating the energy transition in Aotearoa NZ. In her role overseeing Storytelling & Operations, Kat assumes a critical position in the organisation's mission to electrify millions of fossil fuel machines in Aotearoa NZ by 2030.
Rewiring Aotearoa aims to collaborate with industry, government, and communities, to facilitate data-led climate action and equitable electrification transitions, particularly in indigenous communities, fostering economic savings, reduced emissions, and greater resilience.
Amy Armstrong continues to emphasise the opportunities for Aotearoa NZ to advance climate mitigation, economic development, and biodiversity conservation through strategic initiatives. Her contribution to The Lever Room's ‘Ocean Roadmap for New Zealand’ discussion document, a collaborative effort by various contributors, helps to distil a pathway forward in a complex landscape.
The document aims to guide the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive future, with the hope of sparking cross-sector conversations and catalysing targeted actions for ocean health and wealth.
Mark Bregman is offering an informed perspective on the world of startups, entrepreneurship, and innovation, shedding light on the dynamics between different global tech ecosystems from his experiences in living in both the San Francisco Bay Area and Aotearoa NZ. He has launched a substack to share his thoughts and observations.
Mark’s content delves into the differences between Aotearoa NZ and the US, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship and ambition among founders, providing valuable insights into the global startup ecosystem and why certain regions may excel or lag behind in specific areas.
Florence Van Dyke’s recent selection as one of the 9 Global Women Asia (GWA) Sustainability Fellows recognises her unwavering commitment to sustainability.
With her roles as the co-founder of Chia Sisters, leader of Businesses for Climate Action, and Global Head of Sustainability at NZ Trade and Enterprise, Florence is at the forefront of sustainability initiatives. Her participation in the GWA Fellowship programme will allow her to collaborate with global leaders across various sectors, contributing to solutions for complex global challenges.
Danika Revell, co-founder of The Period Place, is working to promote menstrual justice, advocate for systemic change, and address the issue of accessibility to period products, through a campaign with Countdown supermarkets.
In this Stuff article, Danika sheds light on the financial burden associated with menstruation, contending that this burden is a form of gender inequality. She calls for systemic changes to ensure access to period products in bathrooms and workplaces, as well as comprehensive menstrual health education from a young age. Her position is that by addressing these concerns, there are economic, social, and personal benefits for individuals and society as a whole.
Harmaan Madon and Matthew Jackson’s Alimentary Systems has been invited to present at the UNDP-funded Archipelagic and Island States AIS Forum, Indonesia. The invitation is in recognition for their work in sanitation and organic waste management, addressing critical concerns for island nations.
This opportunity allows Matthew (who is attending on behalf of the team) to connect and share with fellow entrepreneurs and engage with stakeholders and policymakers to advance innovative ocean science and sustainability in Aotearoa NZ and beyond.
Congratulations to Sasha Lockley (Money Sweetspot) and Mark Sorensen (The Sustainable Care Company - Cleanery) for being nominated as finalists in the 2023 New Zealand Sustainable Business Awards.
The Sustainable Business Awards recognise businesses, local government, social enterprises and individuals for success in sustainability.
*Images have been provided by Fellows or sourced from the Internet. EHF does not claim to own the images.