South Pacific Business Development

Greg is a serial social entrepreneur and founded the SPBD Microfinance Network in 2000, launching its first entity in Samoa and further expanding to Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  Greg also founded MicroDreams, a microfinance acceleration fund, and Transformative Ventures LLC, a microfinance advisory company.  He served as a director on several microfinance-industry boards including: International Association of Microfinance Investors (IAMFI), Microfinance Pasifika, the United Nation’s International Year of Microcredit and Planet Finance.  He also serves as a Board member for Plebys, a “Base of the Pyramid” investment fund, and Water Health International, an affordable clean water solution.  Greg was named “Person of the Year” for 2008 in Samoa for his microfinance leadership in that country.  In 2010, he was awarded a Global Social Innovators Award for his work with MicroDreams and SPBD.

Greg also promotes hi-tech entrepreneurship and was a founding director of the Ice Angels, Australasia’s largest angel investor group.  He currently serves as Chairman of three New Zealand software firms: Biomatters Ltd, Calcium Solutions Ltd and English-To-Go Ltd.  Prior to these ventures, Greg recorded significant achievement with Ford Motor Company, Mazda Motor Company and Coopers and Lybrand in product development, manufacturing, marketing and financial management positions. He led teams in the U.S., Japan and Europe, and while with Mazda was honored to be the youngest-everBuchou (Division General Manager) of any major Japanese corporation.

Greg has a MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, an MS in Accounting from NYU Stern, and a BA with Honors in Economics from Colgate University. Greg is also a CPA.