Our People
Joe Duncan - Chairman
Joe Duncan is a New Zealand-based investor, company director and entrepreneur with more than 25 years’ leadership across finance, technology, property and agriculture. As CEO and major shareholder of Pioneer Finance he is steering the non-bank lender’s transformation into a fully digital financial-services platform, rolling out Monie, PioneerHub and other embedded-finance solutions that democratise credit for Kiwi households and SMEs.
Joe’s current board and equity interests include JAPAD Ventures, Earth Group, Augmento and Otiwhiti Westoe Farming Group, alongside strategic stakes in local and international companies. Previously he accelerated revenues at Leasing & Finance Ltd and successfully exited a string of ventures—ihug, e-Solutions, The Better Drinks Company, Focus Capital, Alleasing, RentPlus and Equipment Leasing & Finance—via sales to listed corporates or private-equity funds. His career began in capital markets, where he led J.P. Morgan’s Asia-Pacific Interest-Rate Risk Management team in Tokyo.
Passionate about giving back, Joe chairs cann Charitable Trust, a nationwide clinical network supporting people with neuromuscular disorders, and serves as the chair of the Sir Thomas & Lady Duncan Trust. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Management (Economics) from Lincoln University and is an active mentor, championing innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth across Aotearoa’s business landscape.
Geoffrey P Duncan - Trustee
Otiwhiti was a large farm and gifted to fund a polio hospital.
I joined the trust in 1997 when our focus was on the land. I am married to Gill, have three children and farm “Hiwera” near Taihape. Hiwera was farmed by my father Paul Duncan (himself a trustee for over 60 years) and before him my grandfather JHT Duncan (eldest son of Sir Thomas).
I have helped the original Sir Thomas and Lady Duncan Hospital Trust evolve through many stages of land ownership, capital investment portfolios and subsequent gifting strategies. The original deed wording of “to assist and relieve in every possible way”, “neuromuscular diseases”, still provides our direction. All initiatives are a part of the proud legacy of Sir Thomas and Lady Duncan‘s original philanthropic ambitions.
Koo Greenway - Trustee
Koo lives on a lifestyle block in the Manawatu region, overlooking the Ruahine and Tararua ranges. Philanthropy is deeply ingrained in her DNA, as both her parents actively participated in the Sir Thomas & Lady Duncan Trust. Koo is married to a GP and part of a large integrated family medical centre, Kauri Healthcare, where they both work.
Throughout her children’s education, Koo held various governance and leadership roles, including school boards, kindergarten, community, and fundraising committees. She has successfully led and facilitated major fundraising and school events.
Koo’s academic journey began with a degree in Nutrition and Management from Otago University. She pursued postgraduate studies to become a Clinical Dietitian, working in New Zealand and the UK for over two decades. Her expertise has been in improving the health of diverse communities. More recently, Koo has expanded her knowledge to include health coaching, behaviour change, and mental health improvement. She collaborates closely with patients in their family medical practice to help them achieve optimal health outcomes.
Jeannie Warnock - Trustee
Jeannie is a great-grand daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Jeannie Duncan and is a passionate supporter of the work of the Duncan Foundation. She is proud of the family legacy and honoured to lead the foundation into the future.
With her husband, Michael, they spread their time between their rural property in the Wairarapa and their interests in Wellington.
Jeannie practised law since 1982 and led the commercial property teams in two of New Zealand’s larger law firms. Over her career she specialised in rural law, acquisitions and leasing, urban development and public housing and has extensive experience as an adviser to Crown entities and boards, regularly providing strategic advice on large scale and complex projects.
She left the practise of law in 2025 and has since focused on her governance roles which currently span farming, philanthropy (health and supporting children and whanau facing adversity) and aviation.
Angus Duncan - Trustee
I have been privileged to serve as a Trustee of the Duncan Foundation since my appointment in 2023, assuming the long‑standing role previously held by my grandfather, Paul Duncan. This appointment represents both a responsibility and an honour for me, given my family’s close connection to the Foundation across generations.
I live in Havelock North with my wife, Annabel, and our two children, Monty and Clementine. Professionally, I am an Investment Adviser with Craigs Investment Partners, where I work closely with families, trusts, and investment portfolios to help clients achieve long‑term financial outcomes.
My experience in investment advice is directly relevant to my role on the Foundation’s Investment Committee, where I contribute to oversight, strategy, and the prudent stewardship of capital to support the Foundation’s long‑term objectives.
As a great‑great‑grandchild of Sir Thomas and Lady Jeannie Duncan, I feel a deep personal connection to the values on which the Foundation was established. I am proud to continue their legacy and to support the Foundation’s ongoing work for the benefit of current and future generations.
Jacob Small – Board Secretary
Jacob is a Chartered Accountant and a Principal of the Manawatu-based accountancy firm AllanMcNeill. AllanMcNeill has a long-standing relationship with the Duncan Foundation and appreciation for the support the Duncan Foundation provides to individuals and families affected by neuromuscular diseases.
In his role as Secretary, Jacob works closely with the Trustees to support the Trust’s governance, administration, and strategic objectives, helping ensure that funding and resources are directed toward initiatives that make a meaningful difference for individuals and families affected by these conditions.
Drawing on his professional experience in accounting, governance, and advisory services, Jacob brings strong financial stewardship and organisational leadership to the Trust. He is committed to maintaining the highest standards of accountability and transparency, enabling the Trust to maximise its impact within the community.
Simon Robertson - Investment Committee Chair
Simons career experience spans 15 years working for UBS in Hong Kong from the late 1990’s. He moved to Goldman Sachs in NYC in 2013 and was co-head of International Equities. He returned to New Zealand to build a team and manage a large US Defined Benefit Pension Fund for Graeme Harts Rank Groups US assets. More recently he has been working with Wealth Managers on Alternative Asset classes. Simon Sits on the Board of the Starship Foundation (Children’s Hospital). Simon holds a BCom (Econ & ComLaw)