Our Team
Our team has global experience in the biotech, healthcare and medical devices industry. We have a highly desired blend of skills in early stage company development, intellectual property commercialisation, global expansion, science, finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Matthew McMahon
Chief Investment Manager
Matthew has twenty years’ experience with high growth industries in New Zealand as advisor, investor, operator and entrepreneur. Highly skilled operator and analyst. Foundation team at NZ’s first venture capital fund, No 8 Ventures. At BioDiscovery NZ Ltd raised $20m US venture finance over 3 years.

Michael Innes
Investment Analyst
Michael joined Cure Kids Ventures as an Investment Analyst with early career experience in commercialisation and life-sciences consulting. He wrote his master’s thesis on measuring the social impact of venture capital investments, a topic closely related to his work at CKV. Michael holds a Master of Bioscience Enterprise and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland.
Our Board

Maxine Simmons
Executive Director
Maxine is the Executive Director of Cure Kids Ventures (CKV) and was the founding Chief Executive of CKV. Maxine is an experienced entrepreneur, company leader and director, having been actively involved in start-up and expansion stage private company development in New Zealand for more than 30 years.

Franceska Banga
Chair of the Board
Franceska is a recognised CEO, Chair and Director who has held board roles on many prominent New Zealand organisations. She brings extensive governance experience, spanning finance, technology and health sectors.

Howard Moore
Director
Howard has been a Board Member at Cure Kids Ventures since 2008. Howard’s breadth of experience spans multiple industries including venture capital, agritech, foodtech, and biotech. His career is hallmarked by fund raising, technology commercialisation, early stage company development and sales and marketing.

Frances Benge
Director
Frances is CEO of Cure Kids. She has been a Director at Cure Kids Ventures since 2017. Frances has experience in fund raising, portfolio management, business planning, and sales & marketing from over 30 years within the pharmaceutical and fund raising industry. Frances is also highly passionate about the health and well-being of communities, which is an aptitude she garnered from working within Cure Kids and from being a former nurse.

Matthew Payton
Matthew has spent more than 20 years in the global medical device industry. Over that time he has held a variety of roles in research and development, commercialisation and general management, including eight years in the senior leadership team at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.