Company: 
About
Lisa joined the Spark board in May, 2024. She is an accomplished finance and business development executive with 25 years of global operating experience across the financial services, software and technology industries. Lisa most recently served as Managing Director of M12, Microsoft’s venture fund, which she co-founded. Prior to that, she held various executive roles at Microsoft spanning business development, investor relations, strategy, financial reporting, and accounting.  Through her diverse experience with startups and Fortune 500 companies, Lisa developed expertise in business growth strategies, scaling businesses effectively, managing risks in complex environments, and leading through change. Lisa currently serves as a full-time board director and strategic advisor. Her current governance appointments include Astra Space (where she chairs the compensation committee), Destiny Tech 100 (where she chairs the audit committee), Seattle Bank, and Banqer, a New Zealand-based edtech startup. Lisa’s advisory roles include several early-stage tech startups and ventures funds around the world, including Movac in New Zealand. Lisa is based in Seattle, Washington, and is a certified public accountant and qualifies as a financial expert per the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Personal Details
Title: Ms
Surname: Nelson
M/F: Female
Nationality: New Zealand
Country of Birth: New Zealand
Language: English
Qualification: BBA
Industry:
Qualifications & Experience
Industry Experience +5yrs:
Industry Qualification +5yrs?:
Finance experience +5yrs?:
Finance Qualification +5yrs:
Legal experience +5yrs?:
Delinquent director?:
Other Experiences?:
Collapsed company director?:
Other directorships (state)
(only entities turnover at least $5m p/a)
Working history
Committee/s
| Company | Committee | Role | Appointment Date | Resignation Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spark New Zealand | Board | Member | 01/04/2024 | |
| Spark New Zealand | Audit | Member | 01/04/2024 | |
| Spark New Zealand | Remuneration | Member | 01/04/2024 | |
| Spark New Zealand | Risk & Compliance | Member | 01/04/2024 |
Independence Questions
Any family members working for the company?:
Are you doing business with the company?:
Do you hold shares in the company for more than 0.10%? (directly or by representation):
Is your Director annual fee more than 5% of your total income from all sources?:
Are you more than 10 years as a director?:
Are you an executive chairperson?: