Meet the Team

Chief of Staff - Investments

Watch more comedy.

Christie Jenkins

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” ~Theodore Roosevelt

Clare Birch

James Palmer

Naivety is powerful when applied to the right problem.

Mason Yates

I’m most excited about things I haven’t seen before

Max Meyer

Lover of Aussie slang, tennis, Coldplay and pasta.

Michael Tolo

Principal

Nick Crocker

I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.

Nicole Marino

Niki Scevak

"The more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to succeed"

Phoebe Harrop

Companies are just people. The best companies grow from the best people.

Principal

Rick Baker

Passionate about Aussie and Kiwi startups.

Robyn Denholm

I believe bold ambitions enable a better world

Operating Partner

Samantha Wong

Silk Kadala

Tom Humphrey

"A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world"

Principal

Investment

Building Blackbird

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Becca Kennedy

Executive Assistant (Nick Crocker and Sam Wong) & Auckland Office Manager

"It's nice to be nice"

Clark Carter

If a robot can do it, get a robot to do it.

Head of Productivity

Jasmin Jenkins

Head of Investor Relations

1 of 5,000 to participate in Spencer Tunick’s “human base” at the Sydney Opera House

Joel Connolly

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Underdogs and outsiders are the best kind of people

Justin Angsuwat

I’ve been bitten by lions, bumped by a gorilla, but never stung by a bee

Chief People Officer

Sophie Steverson

EA to Rick Baker and Niki Scevak + Leadership Operations

Sophie Taylor

Chief of Staff

Temara Chapman

Vibe Manager and Leadership Operations

“I’m just living and laughing and loving”

Building Blackbird

Founder Success

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Danielle Pinkus

Head of Community

Kate Glazebrook

Head of Impact & Operating Principal

It’s the simple (even boring-sounding) characteristics that matter most in a person

Luc Fagerberg

Portfolio Community Manager

When you help someone, you help everyone

Meg Williams

Will make a playlist for any situation

Giants Lead

Melia Rayner

Being interested is more important than being interesting

Communications Manager

Nell Hardie

People Lead

Zac Hardman

Product Operations Specialist

No code, no worries

Founder Success

Operations

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Alex Apoifis

Partner, Chief Operating Officer

Alissa Lucas

Everything happens for no reason

Legal Operations Analyst

Angela Wang

Paralegal

Anthoney Duong

I spend way too much time on Netflix/Stan/Binge/Prime

Legal Counsel

Catt Vongpraseuth

Business Operations Analyst

Cindy Lam

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky” -Michael Scott

Legal Counsel

Dan Danilov

Operations Manager

Josh Golde

Financial Accountant

Life's a garden, dig it

Justine Nangle

If I didn't become a lawyer I would have loved to work in musical theatre

General Counsel

Lucia Salim

Financial Accountant

I’m just me

Nina Miller

Compliance & Risk Manager

I think in 24 hour time

Sam Broadley

What’s the worst that can happen!

Fund Accountant

Sammy Althaus

Business Operations Analyst

When there is a will, there is a way

Sean Weston

Business Operations Analyst

I am a long suffering Aston Villa fan and spent a month in Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

Sue Zann Wong

Fund Accountant

Operations

Startmate

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Ben Simai

Operations Associate

Brady Flockart

Investments & First Believers, Startmate

Bronte McHenry

Outreach and Events Associate, Startmate

Cameron Ensor

Student Fellowship Associate

I had a pet cow, Milko, growing up

Euwyn Goh

Accelerator Associate, Startmate

“So where are we going for lunch today?” - Me, every day at 1pm

Ewa Lobaza

Customer Relationship Lead

Julia West

Program Leader

Kelly Spoerk

Leave the jersey in a better place

Program Leader

Maisy Bennett

Special Projects

Matt Kolomyjec

Fund Operations Associate

Keep pushing until you prove the system wrong.

Michael Batko

CEO

Hello, Hello!

Phoebe Pincus

Chief of Staff

ALWAYS SWIM

Renee Bibby

Operations Associate

Ryan Walker