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 leads Jasmine’s investment strategy and diligence process, guiding the team to identify and support the next generation of great social entrepreneurs. She collaborates with a global network of funders, sharing our learnings and approaches. Originally from Barcelona, Nina worked at investment banks in New York before making Waiheke Island her home.

Jack Kelsey, 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, specializing in financial due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. He relocated from the UK and holds a BSc from Loughborough University.

Hilary Schwartz, Investment Manager

Hilary champions social ventures, providing expertise in growth strategy and operations. Her passion lies in optimizing internal processes and leading Jasmine's institutional knowledge. Previously, she worked at Bain & Company before establishing her consulting firm to assist businesses in innovation and scaling. A native of the US, Hilary holds a BA from Haverford College and an MBA from Indiana University.

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.

Sharon Bryant, Trustee

Sharon is an experienced early-stage impact investor/director passionate about working with entrepreneurial teams to start, grow, and scale their ventures. She is also an active philanthropist with a primary focus on improving the quality of life of those who are unnecessarily blind or vision impaired.

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.