Jonathan Ng

Qualifications

BA, BS, University of Kansas 2003
JD, University of Notre Dame 2007
Admitted to the Bar of New York State in the United States 2008

Contact

M: +64 27 200 7306
E: jonathan.ng@hobec.co.nz

Jonathan is Holland Beckett’s Social Impact Lead, his role is to reenvision what social impact can look like for a law firm.

Prior to joining Holland Beckett, Jonathan was a senior lawyer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) where he served in both Washington, D.C. and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At USAID, he covered Power Africa (President Obama’s signature initiative to increase electricity access and generation in sub-Saharan Africa), the Private Sector Engagement Hub, and served as the Acting Managing Director of USAID’s Innovation Division. Before USAID, Jonathan was the Global Legal Director of Ashoka, an international NGO known for starting the modern social entrepreneurship movement.

Jonathan was an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law from 2015-2023, where he created and taught the law school’s first course on social enterprise, impact investing, and the law. He began his career as an associate at a large international law firm in New York.

Jonathan was born and raised in the United States and recently moved to New Zealand. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and exploring all that New Zealand has to offer.

Jonathan Ng's Expertise

Corporate & Finance

Jonathan Ng's News & Resources

Impact Investing in New Zealand

Last month Priority One, the Western Bay of Plenty region\'s economic development organisation, hosted the inaugural Tauranga Moana Investment Summit. This event brought together local leadership in business and education, local and central government, and iwi partners to explore opportunities to unlock the regions potential. Hobec\'s Jonathan Ng joined the \'Investing for Impact\' panel alongside moderator Alastair Rhodes of Bay Trust and fellow panelists Sam Newbury (Quayside), Ngaria Rolleston (Te Awanui), Nick Pacey (Purpose Capital), and Finn Mundy (ACG Tauranga). Reflecting on the event, and in particular the Investing for Impact panel disussion, Jonathon had some inspiring takeaways: Having worked in impact investing and blended finance internationally for many years, one thing that struck him is that New Zealand - and particularly regions like the Bay of Plenty - has something genuinely distinctive to offer that many places around the world are still trying to build. First, there is already an embedded mindset here that social and environmental outcomes should sit alongside commercial goals. In many cases, that thinking is not even labelled as “impact investing” because it is already reflected culturally, practically, and increasingly legally, including through Māori concepts such as kaitiakitanga (Guardianship rooted in stewardship, sustainability, and intergenerational responsibility). In other parts of the world, people have been trying to embed impact like corporate social responsibility or CSR into systems from the outside. Second, the accessibility of decision-makers in our region is a real asset. You can realistically sit down for a coffee with most CEOs, founders, iwi leaders, investors, or local institutions. That matters more than people sometimes realise. It means trust, alignment, and momentum can develop quickly and organically. And when the right people come together at the right time, it can unlock genuinely outsized outcomes. New Zealand may not always compete globally on sheer deal size or scale. But what it lacks here in terms of size, it more than makes up for where it truly counts: a genuine commitment to integrating impact into core business and investment decisions, not just treating it as a branding strategy. If you\'re interested in learning more about impact investing, social enterprise, and the opportunities emerging here in the Bay of Plenty, now is the time to lean in. The foundations are already in place - strong relationships, shared values, and a clear appetite for doing business differently. Whether you\'re an investor, business leader or policymaker, or a charity, not-for-profit or community organisation, there’s a role to play in shaping a future where financial returns and meaningful impact go hand in hand. Please don\'t hestitate to reach out to Jonathan and start the conversation | Jonathan Ng