Our Team

Lissa brings expertise in business strategy, operations, and community development. She is focused on ensuring not-for-profits are impactful and financially sustainable. At Home Foundation, she’s driven by the scale of the housing challenge and passionate about finding innovative solutions that create long-term change—supporting whānau to thrive through safe, affordable housing.

David leads impactful, mission-driven projects for the group, focusing on fostering personal growth and building sustainable communities. He develops strategic initiatives to address housing challenges, empower partner organisations, and drive innovative solutions, ensuring everyone has access to secure, healthy homes.

He is passionate about creating environments where individuals and organisations can reach their full potential. Working alongside others to encourage growth and build strong relationships is what inspires him most, as it enables communities to thrive.

Outside of work, David stays active, connects with those he cares about, and contributes positively through personal coaching, creative pursuits, and spending time in nature.

Anna specialises in supporting communities in the group’s builds and developments, while ensuring smooth operations across the organisation. Working closely with the CEO, she leads community engagement, organises events, and connects tenants with local networks and resources.

She is driven by the chance to become part of these communities—building relationships, making meaningful connections, and creating spaces where people truly thrive. Anna feels proud to contribute alongside such passionate colleagues.

Outside of work, Anna is a proud mum to Frankie, a hilarious, sassy toddler. She loves making memories with her husband, going on adventures, attending concerts, and occasionally cutting shapes while DJing solo.

Ramonette is a qualified Chartered Professional Accountant in the Philippines and Australia/New Zealand, bringing over 18 years of experience across pharmaceuticals, travel, and construction. Her financial expertise and strategic insight support Home Construction’s long-term success.

She ensures financial compliance, guides strategic planning, and leads finance functions, while mentoring others and promoting a values-driven approach to financial stewardship.

Ramonette values leading with purpose, ensuring finances align with the organisation’s mission. She’s proud to have maintained the company’s financial resilience, enabling Home Construction to advance its mission and deliver lasting impact.

Welson specialises in financial reporting, management accounting, budgeting, and process improvement, with strong expertise in IFRS, US GAAP, and systems such as SAP, Hyperion, and Excel. At the Home Foundation Group, he supports the finance team with accurate reporting, budgeting, and analysis to strengthen decision-making and maximise impact.

He values the opportunity to apply his expertise in a purpose-driven organisation, where his work directly contributes to affordable housing and positive social outcomes. Career highlights include developing a financial dashboard at Natura & Co., leading consolidations at General Motors, and gaining valuable experience in New Zealand practices at Garra International.

Outside of work, Welson prioritises family time and enjoys travelling, exploring new cultures, and staying active in community life—interests shaped by his upbringing in São Paulo and his international experiences.

Maddie leads brand and communications across all Home Foundation entities, developing strategies, managing digital channels, and ensuring messaging remains clear, consistent, and mission-aligned.

She feels fortunate to work with a team driven to make a real difference—taking on big challenges with boldness, compassion, and purpose. Being part of that mahi is both inspiring and energising for her.

Outside of work, Maddie focuses on slowing down and connecting with what matters most. She enjoys family time, ocean swims, dancing with friends, community choir, photography, gardening, house projects, and adventures with her rescue greyhound.

Cassidy supports the team by crafting impactful copy and managing digital content, thriving on turning ideas into engaging narratives and refining messages for clarity and impact.

What she values most is knowing her work makes a lasting difference. Editing a comprehensive handbook for residents moving into a new development in Ōpōtiki, for example, helped ensure people felt confident and welcomed in their new community. Contributing to experiences like these is what makes her role deeply rewarding.

Outside of work, Cassidy finds balance by prioritising health and wellbeing—whether through a challenging workout, a peaceful walk outdoors, or baking treats to share with friends and family.

Dr Jaimie Monk is the Research Lead at Home Foundation and a Fellow at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. She brings expertise in public policy, inequality, and child and family wellbeing, with a strong focus on how housing shapes people’s lives.

At Home Foundation, she leads projects including the development of a theory of change, a Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework, and research into the barriers that prevent people from moving along the housing continuum. Her work ensures insights translate into stronger communities and better housing solutions.

Alongside this, Jaimie’s academic research explores how income, household dynamics, and public housing influence children’s development and family outcomes. She is passionate about connecting rigorous research with practical action to inform policy change and create lasting social benefit.

Joella furthers Home Foundation’s research agenda as a skilled Research Assistant, collaborating with Research Lead Dr Jaimie Monk and contributing to our body of housing sector research. With a background in history and social policy, Joella plays a critical part in advancing the Foundation’s social impact work by helping to shape our theory of change and advocating for a just housing system.

Her primary responsibilities include conducting literature reviews—on matters such as the place of mixed-tenure developments in Aotearoa, considerations for cultivating community in neighbourhoods, and the barriers and opportunities along the housing continuum. With strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to human flourishing, Joella helps bridge the gap between academic research and real-world change—strengthening our capacity to deliver housing solutions that make a meaningful difference.

Outside of work, Joella enjoys spending time with family and friends: playing board games, hiking, or teasing out the world’s problems over good food.

Israel Cooper is the Group Founder of Home Foundation and serves as a Trustee and Director across its entities. With a background spanning finance, construction, and social enterprise, he has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s structure to deliver affordable, high-quality homes while driving wider system change.

Israel is passionate about human flourishing and believes housing is more than bricks and mortar—it is the foundation for wellbeing, opportunity, and community. His leadership ensures every commercial decision also advances the Group’s social mission, keeping people and communities at the centre of its work.

Before founding Home Foundation, Israel co-founded Home Construction, delivering more than 2,000 homes across Aotearoa. He began his career at PwC and has since combined commercial expertise with a deep commitment to social impact, guiding strategy that balances commercial strength with lasting housing solutions.

Jessica Cooper is Co-Founder of the Home Foundation Group and serves as a Trustee of Home Foundation. With a background in early childhood education, she has always been passionate about supporting people to grow and flourish.

For more than 14 years, Jessica has worked alongside her husband Israel to build and expand the Group, ensuring every step of its development is grounded in a clear social mission. She plays a central role in shaping the Group’s culture through her focus on people care—providing mentoring, wellbeing support, and wrap-around guidance to staff.

Her ability to nurture individuals and teams has been vital to the organisation’s success, helping people feel valued and supported while pursuing the vision of creating affordable homes and thriving communities across Aotearoa.

Rob Reid brings over 30 years of leadership in the charitable sector alongside a background in mechanical engineering and commercial development. After starting his career in engineering, he transitioned to the not-for-profit sector in 1994, where he honed his expertise in finance, strategy, and large-scale project delivery.

Drawing on both his engineering and strategic skills, Rob has supported many not-for-profits to deliver multi-million-dollar construction projects that advance their mission and expand their impact. His unique ability to bridge technical and governance expertise has made him a highly valued leader in community focused development across Aotearoa.

As a Trustee of Home Foundation, Rob’s combination of construction insight and financial acumen has been pivotal to the organisation’s rapid growth — including the achievement of a $37 million asset base within just three years. His ongoing commitment helps ensure the Group remains both commercially strong and socially impactful.

Mark Larson is a founding Trustee of Home Foundation Charitable Trust and has previously served as an Advisor to Home Construction. With more than 45 years of experience in education and organisational leadership, Mark has served in teaching, principal, and governance roles across both state and state-integrated schools.

Most recently, Mark was t he Chief Executive of the Association of Integrated Schools New Zealand, providing strategic leadership to over 70 schools nationwide. His career has been dedicated to improving outcomes for students and whānau, and he brings a deep understanding of how challenges in housing, education, and poverty are interconnected and shape the wellbeing of New Zealand society.

This insight drives Mark’s ongoing commitment to service. Alongside his role with Home Foundation, he serves on a number of education and youth development boards. His governance and leadership have been instrumental in helping Home Foundation expand its impact and ensure that more families can access affordable, healthy homes.

Alice Camaivuna is an experienced Senior Solicitor specialising in administrative and employment law. She has advised government departments, school boards, and charitable entities on a wide range of matters, including Resource Management Act issues, pay equity, legislative drafting, and High Court litigation.

Alice and her husband Pate are raising their three young boys in rural Manawatu, where they enjoy the balance of family life and community connection.

Alice joined the Board of Home Foundation in October 2023, bringing her legal expertise and governance experience to support the organisation’s mission of delivering affordable housing and flourishing communities. Her strong background in law and policy provides valuable insight into the regulatory and compliance frameworks that shape the housing sector.

John McDougall brings extensive experience in property development and asset management to his role as a Trustee of Home Foundation. Based in the Bay of Plenty, John leads Trimac Asset Management, where he has developed a reputation for guiding projects that balance strong financial performance with long-term community benefit.

Alongside his professional expertise, John has a deep commitment to strengthening communities through service and philanthropy. He is the founder of the Bay of Plenty Basketball Foundation and serves as a trustee of both the Hepara Charitable Trust and the Venn Foundation.

A values-led leader, John is motivated by the belief that well-designed development has the power to transform neighbourhoods and lives. He and his wife Megan are raising their two young children, Gillian and Orson, in Tauranga, where their whānau is actively involved in local community life and faith at St. Luke’s Tauranga.