Meet the team
Susan Basterfield
BOARD MEMBER - CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Susan Basterfield is a catalyst and convener who believes that awareness and discernment can unblock drains and move mountains. From 35-plus years in business—spanning global multinationals (Telstra, IBM, BP), startups and schools—arose experiences that drive her work as a systems transformation partner. This work includes standing shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders and organisations (NGO’s, Government, Tech, Social Services) on their transformational journeys, often over many years.
Susan is an educator, coach, facilitator and collective entrepreneur. and proud co-author of Lead Together: The bold, brave, intentional path to scaling your business and Better Work Together: How the power of community can transform your business.
She has served on governance and advisory boards of organisations in the UK, India, South Korea, France and New Zealand.
Lani Evans (MNZM)
BOARD MEMBER - CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lani Evans is an experienced for-purpose founder, leader and director focused on equity, philanthropy and impact-led innovation. As well as co-leading Generous Ventures, Lani is the co-founder of Fundsorter, an AI tool making finding and applying for grants easier for community organisations, and The Share Collective, a non-profit holding shares and distributing dividends for good. Previous roles include heading up Te Rourou, One Aotearoa Foundation, leading the Aotearoa Foundation on behalf of the Robertson Family, and a stint as founding CEO of Thankyou Payroll.
Lani is a past recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship, an Edmund Hillary Fellow, an honorary member of Philanthropy New Zealand and was part of the inaugural cohort of the Equitable Futures Fellowship at the East West Center. In 2019 she was awarded a New Year’s Honour for services to social enterprise.
Adele Cubitt Cohen
BOARD CHAIR
Adele Cubitt Cohen is an experienced change strategist and solutions creator, motivated by making good things happen. She cut her teeth as a lawyer, working in public law litigation, human rights investigations and humanitarian protection in NZ, London, South Pacific and Australia for the NZ and British governments, the United Nations, and International NGOs.
Since returning to NZ, she has worked as a strategist, problem solver, community builder and leader for the not-for-profit, private, philanthropic and private sectors on initiatives that will benefit people and ensure solutions become a reality.
Her day job is as the Breast Cancer Foundation’s Advocacy and Impact Strategist where she works collectively to champion, unlock and support what needs to happen for better breast cancer outcomes.
Thankyou Payroll is a leading PAYE intermediary and payroll software provider, driven by a team of passionate payroll experts.
Over their 14 year history, Thankyou Payroll has remained committed to making good things happen in communities all across Aotearoa New Zealand. From their original fee model that offered free payroll services to businesses, to their current fee model that has provided free payroll services to over 1,000 charities. From the promotion of payroll giving, that has seen over half a million dollars donated to charities across the country, to the establishment of the Thankyou Charitable Trust in 2013.
Transitioning to Steward Ownership is the start of another exciting chapter in the story of Thankyou Payroll. This transformation provides further opportunities to realise a world where business exists in service of people and the planet.
The team at Thankyou Payroll are proud to work in partnership with Generous Ventures and look forward to supporting their initiatives to deliver positive outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.
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