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Meet our team
Who we are
We’re super connectors. We’re business advisors. We provide the advice, connection and individual mentoring to produce results, no matter where you are in your growth journey. We support you to build the extraordinary from the ordinary. Why? Because we believe, anything is possible.
Angela Smith
Co-Working Coordinator
Angela is passionate about creating an outstanding and supportive environment for our community of Soda co-workers.
Anna Devcich
Community Coordinator
Anna oversees Soda's programmes and Seed Grants and brings a strong administrative background, supporting new entrepreneurs and business minds.
Erin Wansbrough
CEO
Erin’s business experience and knowledge of commercialisation stem from a career in business innovation and entrepreneurship.
Niamh Given
Consultant
Niamh brings strong business and organisational skills to facilitate Soda's range of programmes for start-up and entrepreneurial enterprises.
Kate Wightman
Start-Up Consultant
Kate provides support for Soda's Start-Up programme participants, ensuring attendees receive the guidance they need to succeed.
Building the extraordinary
Thanks to a group of ambitious and courageous people just like yourself, Soda Inc. opened in 2009, based on the belief that sound advice and sustained support can effect transformation. With rigour, structure and process, we work to ensure our people and businesses flourish.
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Meet our board
The team at Soda remains instrumental in growing and strengthening businesses throughout New Zealand. That team includes the Soda board, made up of individuals for whom providing rigourous support, structure and processes to businesses and entrepreneurs is part of their DNA.
Andrew West
Chair
Andrew West holds Board positions in a comprehensive list of businesses and has extensive experience in the scientific and high-tech sector.
Kim Hill
Director
Kim is a top-level business strategist, coach and consultant with a gift for empowerment. She has a particular passion to see Māori succeed.
David Christensen
Director
David is the Chief Executive of Wintec, with proven strengths of economic and strategic thinking. He represents shareholders’ interests on the Soda board.
Rob Heebrink
Director
Rob brings a unique combination of engineering and international business qualifications to Soda from his Research and Development role at Gallagher.
John Wilkinson
Director
John has extensive banking knowledge and nearly 40 years’ experience in the banking and business sectors. He is Commercial Manager for ASB, Waikato region.
Business Growth Ecosystem
At Soda Inc., our business growth ecosystem connects entrepreneurs and business owners with advisors and programmes to achieve growth potential. This ecosystem includes some of the best business minds in the Waikato and beyond, business minds who invest their time to share knowledge and encourage New Zealand's up and coming business success.
Find out morerigour
structure
process
Introducing Team Soda
Team Soda is our committee tasked with applying their specialised business knowledge and experience towards businesses wanting to enter a SODA programme. We like to think of them as our friendly and approachable 'Dragons Den'. Team SODA are also there to support and guide our founders in their programme while they work to grow and develop their business.
Aubrey Te Kanawa
Community Coordinator
Aubrey brings experience in finance, banking, HR and business development and leads New Zealand's first indigenous-themed business accelerator.
Dan Moore
Partner, Norris Ward McKinnon
Dan specialises in Commercial Law and his breadth of experience covers corporate governance, education law, ICT and information handling.
Doug Wilson
Partner, Deloitte Private
Doug specialises in accounting and tax compliance in manufacturing, sport, hospitality, and the construction industries.
Geoff Day
Director, Safety and Apparel
Geoff specialises in implementing marketing and sales strategies for companies throughout New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
Lucy Bird
Business Manager, ASB
Lucy is a business manager at ASB and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs as they embark on the world of start-ups and business success.
Nathan Ruffell
Strategy & Commercial, Dairy Goat Co-operative
Nathan’s expertise includes marketing, sales and strategy where he has extensive knowledge of primary industry.
Richard Wells
Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Richard is a commercial lawyer specialising in technology, media and telecommunications law, intellectual property and commercial contracting.
Simon Graafhuis
Chief Financial Officer, Gallagher
Simon has a strong background in finance, systems implementations and organisational change for large New Zealand companies and offshore subsidiaries.
Steve Gow
Director, Deloittes
Steve has a proven record of assisting businesses to optimise their performance, increase market share and improve profitability.
Shona Foster
Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Shona is a commercial lawyer with particular expertise in intellectual property. She regularly advises clients on a wide variety of intellectual property matters.
Vanessa Williams
GM, Hamilton Central Business Association
Vanessa works with local businesses every day, giving her deep understanding of various industries and the commitment it takes to achieve success.