Our Changemakers Hall of Fame

Following his father’s diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (“MND”), Richard Kyson, an Account Manager in our UK office, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of MND and raise funds for medical research into a cure.

Throughout this challenging period, Richard also continued his full-time role at Apex Group to provide for his family.

Richard initially wrote a blog and later a self-published book in which he recounted his father’s battle against the illness and his own personal journey. It is a frank and unflinching account of what they were both going through during dark and difficult times. Sales of the book have contributed further towards Richard’s fundraising goals.

Since sadly losing his father to MND, Richard has continued to promote the work being done by the Motor Neurone Disease Association to help others going through a similar experience.

We are proud to have Changemakers like Richard in our global team, he inspires us to be brave, bold, and have a positive impact on the world around us even in the toughest of times.

Nikki Drew has had an impressive journey with us, moving through a number of roles to reach where she is now, leading the Wealth Administration team as Head of Operations in New Zealand. 

She was nominated for her dedication to client satisfaction and her commitment to always go the extra mile to deliver the highest standards of excellence. 

Nikki is praised for having provided secure and stable leadership for her team during a time of acquisition, ensuring she supported the integration and a smooth transition for those around her. 

Beyond the workplace, Nikki goes above and beyond for her colleagues. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Nikki sent ‘care packages’ of sweets to team members to give them a smile, let them know they weren’t on their own, and keep them motivated. She also delivered equipment to team members at home (while respecting social distancing guidelines) to make sure everyone had what they needed to get their jobs done with the minimum of difficulty. 

It’s fair to say our New Zealand team wouldn’t be the same without Nikki’s outstanding contributions to the company culture and client satisfaction. 

Morné Van Der Waltsleben, Associate Corporate Counsel in South Africa, was nominated for his work on improving inclusion for current and future Apex Group team members. As the LGBTQIA+ RISE sponsor, Morné is reviewing multiple policies across the Group to ensure they are inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Enhancing inclusion not only creates a more effective and dynamic workplace, it also helps us to attract the most talented employees and enable them to go further faster. 

Morné continues this commitment in the local community by volunteering at a not-for-profit championing LGBTQIA+ issues. 

Congratulations to Morné on this achievement and-his exceptional efforts and dedication to enhance our business and the lives of the people within it.  

Stephanie Petersen, a Senior Financial Accountant in South Africa, started Hope Project at Greenlands Primary School, her former primary school in Bishop Lavis, and has made an indelible impact on the lives of its young learners. 

She understands what it’s like to grow up in a disadvantaged community and, through Hope Project, she inspires the youth by showing them what they can achieve. 

Hope Project is committed to transforming the children into stronger learners, enhancing their skills, and giving them a springboard to their future.  

The program delivers motivational talks on relevant and important topics for young people at a critical time in their lives. Each talk focuses on a specific life skill, designed to equip the children with the tools to grow as individuals and become the leaders of tomorrow. 

 Apex South Africa have also partnered with Stephanie to create a truly unforgettable year-end event for these learners.  

We are delighted to have the opportunity to support this extraordinary Changemaker. 

Although he is at the very beginning of his career, Gert-Jan van de Poll has already made a big impact. He independently developed the carbon footprint tool for our ESG Advantage platform, which enables businesses to calculate their scope 1, 2, 3 carbon emissions in line with the
Greenhouse Gas (‘’GHG’’) Protocol (a global standard for carbon accounting and reporting). This tool helps businesses understand their carbon footprint, facilitating meaningful progress toward the United Nations Paris Agreement goals.

The Carbon Footprint Tool is just one of many initiatives Gert-Jan has brought to the business. His brave and bold ideas, coupled with his dedication to quality and making a positive impact, make him a true Changemaker and a great fit for our culture and focus at Apex Group.

As Global Head of Integrations, change is a way of life for Marcia Coatham. In her day-to-day role, she oversees some of the most wide-ranging changes across the whole of our business.  

Marcia’s nomination to the Changemakers Hall of Fame is due to her ‘above-and-beyond' approach to providing both oversight (and where required) hands-on delivery of these integrations. She is a solutions-focused and collaborative leader, persevering in overcoming any obstacle and adept at gaining support from key stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered professionally, sensitively and effectively. 

Her dedication to her role has created a robust, well respected and seamless integrations process, which enables us to welcome new teams into the Apex Group and integrate those businesses with care and attention.  

Chetan Agarwal, Global Head of Middle Office Operations in Pune, India, was nominated for his outstanding contribution to individuals with disabilities.  

Chetan spearheads a disability employment program which has made a positive impact on the representation of individuals with disabilities in the Pune office and we are now exploring ways to replicate its success across other offices.  

This brave and bold initiative is designed to drive long-lasting positive change for individuals with disabilities and for our wider workforce. 

Chetan has fully embraced our mission to enhance inclusivity throughout our business and to influence similar change throughout the financial services industry. 

Ika Tavalea is a Technical Lead working on data platforms and technology in New Zealand. Outside of his role at Apex Group, Ika is highly active in supporting the local community. 

He donates to the Cancer Society of New Zealand to help support their pioneering work. Ika also donates to the Starship Foundation, helping to ensure that all children in Aotearoa, New Zealand have access to world-class healthcare. Donations go towards research, technology, equipment, and impact initiatives. 

Alongside these groups working to improve healthcare and patient outcomes, Ika also supports St. Johns, a charity providing ambulance services, first aid training, and community services to the public. He also supports the Methodist Church and is active in their executive committees. 

As if that wasn’t enough, he also supports an initiative for people from his former home island of Niuafo’ou in Tonga for those living on the island as well as many who, like Ika himself, have chosen to move to New Zealand. 

Kristle Bautista is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner in our Canada office, but also a professor and a published author.  

As a published author of the best-selling book, The Pivotal Moment, Kristle sought to highlight the need for hope and redemption by telling the true story of a man who inspired millions around the world. From a viral video highlighting the transformation of abandoned lots after Hurricane Katrina, the man behind the mission was David Young, a Chief of Police who turned in his police badge and dedicated his life to building urban farms and a life-changing ministry to save the teens in jail.   

 Armed with the belief that global change is possible one person at a time, Kristle also serves as a Board of Director for Toronto International Film Festival (Reel Asian), showcasing films and works by Asian artists in Canada, USA and all of the world. Serving also as Juror for ‘So You think You can Pitch” film festival competition, Kristle dedicates her time in helping to draw awareness and attention to unsung voices and the healing power of storytelling.   

Kenya Smith, Brand Designer in our Jersey office, is a great example of a Changemaker. Having only joined Apex Group in June 2023, Kenya’s brave and bold ideas made an immediate and significant impact on the way our Brand function operates.

Kenya saw better ways of doing things and was unafraid to bring these to the table, introducing new methods of creating video and brand designs, transforming efficiencies, and boosting the Brand team’s reputation within the wider business.

Dileep Chinnappa, Head of Talent Acquisition for India & Mauritius, has been instrumental in developing a strong community spirit in the Apex Group Bangalore office, fostering a culture of inclusivity and openness and driving forward local CSR initiatives. He is actively involved in our EED&I programs and is a strong advocate of nurturing a supportive workplace.

Dileep has proven himself to be a positive disruptor throughout his career. He continually goes above and beyond to seek out new ways to support his teams and has implemented numerous innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and drive positive change.

Shamella Ryklief, a Service Delivery Manager in South Africa, and was nominated for her commitment to helping others and living our values daily. 

As local Apex Group Impact Champion, Shamella brings dedication and passion to her role, particularly in our support of Langa Education Assistance Program (‘’LEAP’’) Science and Maths schools. LEAP provides free education to students from underprivileged communities, focusing on Maths, Science and English as core subjects. LEAP’s objective is to transform communities through education, as well as giving children the opportunity to become leaders of the future. 

Shamella single-handedly delivered care packages to the local LEAP school students, collected books for them, and continually contributes to improving our partnership with LEAP and the wider society through her selfless commitment. 

Shamella is also involved in the ‘Great Girls Cape Town’ initiative; this inspiring non-profit is led by a diverse group of women in Cape Town, and is dedicated to supporting disadvantaged girls. 

Mahak Agarwal, Fund Accountant in our Pune office, is deeply committed to philanthropic initiatives and spearheaded the setup of a donations page to help families and children hit by the earthquakes which devastated areas of Turkey and Syria in February 2023. 

These donations support the work of UNICEF in the affected regions and will help to change the lives of the survivors not just today, but also in the future. 

We’re proud of Mahak’s commitment to helping those in need and to live the values of a Changemaker by helping to create a better future. 

Toni de Kooker, Technical Operations Specialist in Guernsey, is quite simply a force for change.  

As the chairwoman of the Guernsey Disability Alliance, Toni is one of the youngest chairpersons in the UK. The Alliance led the charge for anti-discrimination legislation in Guernsey in October 2022, collaborating with over 60 local charities to champion equality and inclusion for those impacted by disability, racial discrimination, and LGBTQ+ rights. 

Toni's dedication to making a difference extends to her involvement with the MS Society, where she serves on the board, her volunteer work with the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (‘’GSPCA’’) and her advisory contributions to various charities in education, special needs (especially autism), and animal rights. 

Working with colleagues from various regions, Toni is actively exploring ways to enhance our outreach efforts in Guernsey and to make practical improvements in office accessibility. 

We a admire all that Toni does to drive positive change!  

Samiuddin Owais, a Manager from Hyderabad, India, plays a valuable role in helping others to supercharge their careers! He volunteers for the Career Guidance Council, an NGO providing training and career counselling to 10,000 students and jobseekers in his local community.  

In addition to guidance on career planning and progression, weekly programs encompass a huge range of vital business skills. The main focus of this free, inclusive program is to help people into a job as soon as possible after they graduate.  

Brigitta Balogh, a Corporate Officer in Hungary, has been instrumental in raising awareness of numerous important Diversity and Inclusion (“DEI”) and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives (“CSR”). In particular, her work to gain wider recognition for Romani people was a key factor in her nomination. Brigitta ensured that our EED&I Council celebrated June as Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month in the United Kingdom, alongside continually raising awareness of major religious holidays and observances, both in Hungary and around the world. 

As a mental health first aider, Brigitta has also helped colleagues to combat the effects of stress. Through a series of training sessions and surveys, she not only helped employees to understand and deal with stress, but also developed suggestions to advise senior staff on how to promote positive mental health in the workplace. 

This award highlights Brigitta’s unceasing commitment to people, diversity, and inclusion. She is truly committed to making a positive change by ensuring no-one is left out, unseen, or unheard. These values are at the core of our company culture and are embodied in Brigitta’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of key DEI and CSR issues. 

Selven Sunnassee, Regional Head of PE Operations in Mauritius, joins our Changemakers Hall of Fame for his dedicated leadership.

Selven’s team has grown over tenfold in five years and has an excellent staff retention rate of 75%. This is despite numerous acquisitions during his tenure, which can naturally create an uncertain environment where strong, steady leadership is essential.

As a leader, Selven is confident, calm, collaborative, and committed to improving operational efficiency. He regularly develops and implements new processes and takes every opportunity to ensure clients, resources, and employees are aligned across the business to create a well-balanced working environment for team members and the optimum levels of performance for clients.

This nomination also acknowledges Selven’s dedication to our ESG commitments, actively supporting sustainability projects, and encouraging his team members to do the same.

He embodies many of the values of a Changemaker and many of the values of Apex Group itself. Dedicated and committed to continually improving our business and the working environment, Selven never gives up on initiatives he commits to.