Meet the Good Return Board: Getting to know Helene Ang.

Good Return’s Board strategically leads and governs Good Return’s team and programs across the Asia-Pacific, bringing together expertise and professional experience from global and diverse sectors. Today, we take the opportunity to get to know one of our fantastic Non-Executive Directors, Helene Ang. 

Currently Sydney-based, Helene is a strategic and commercial marketer with over 20 years experience working across a broad spectrum of industries in Asia and Australia. Helen runs FUZZY.WORKS, a boutique marketing agency based out of Hong Kong, and is the Founder & Creative Director of Kben & Hol, a lifestyle brand that promotes artisanal textiles and handcrafted goods produced by women artisans in her native country of Cambodia. 

Can you please tell us a bit about where you are from/your cultural background?

I was born in Battambang, Cambodia and my family and I are survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide. We fled Cambodia as refugees and I spent most of my younger years growing up in Sydney, Australia. I spent the last 14 years working and living in Hong Kong and returned to Sydney, Australia in 2021.

Can you tell us about your previous roles/employment?

I've worked in various marketing, branding and partnership roles for over 20 years across a broad spectrum of industries in Asia and Australia. In 2015 I left my corporate career in marketing to develop my own lifestyle brand, KBEN & HOL that creates and promotes artisanal textiles and handcrafted goods produced by artisans in Cambodia and across Asia. I was inspired to launch KBEN & HOL to help revive the highly skilled art of traditional weaving in Cambodia and bring the technique and artistry of this community from remote villages to the world.

In 2019, I saw a gap in the talent market in Hong Kong and decided to launch my own boutique consultancy, FUZZY.WORKS that provides flexible resourcing to businesses and organisations in the areas of sales, branding, marketing and strategic partnerships.

Why did you join Good Return?

In both my personal and professional life I have always been very community-oriented. I was inspired to join Good Return because of the incredible work and successes the organisation has had in enabling local partners to provide responsible finance and education, improving the lives of those in disadvantaged communities. I respect their localised approach in creating customised financial programs designed to respond to the needs of the communities in which they already work. As an entrepreneur myself and having worked in Cambodia, I have witnessed the way small businesses can help communities and economies thrive if they are properly supported through financial inclusion. I was inspired to further support this cause by joining the Good Return organisation and to see other potential entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves, their families and also their communities.  

Can you tell us a bit about your Non-Executive Director Role at Good Return?

As a Non-Executive Director at Good Return, I have the opportunity to contribute my business insights and perspectives towards the decision making and governance of the organisation. I see my role as helping to inform Good Return's strategic priorities and business planning through my cultural and socio-economic understanding of Cambodia and previous experience of working there. I am also involved in the marketing and fundraising sub-committee and offer my technical marketing and branding expertise to advise the Good Return team on where they should focus their efforts and resourcing in this area. I really enjoy my time as a board member at Good Return. It's such a rewarding and meaningful way to give back to the community.

What project/work as a Non-Executive Director at Good Return are you most proud of so far?

I'm immensely proud of all the financial education and programs that have been delivered by the Good Return team with the support of its partners and local institutions. Our program’s efforts span ten countries across the region from Nepal to Fiji. Given the effects of the global pandemic it is impressive to see how the Good Return team are continuously innovating and looking at new ways to deliver positive impact and scale. I think the work the team has done in the Impact Investment Fund is incredibly inspiring. The Impact Fund was launched in late 2020 to address the critical funding gap faced by small to medium sized enterprises. The innovative fund provides loan guarantees to incentivise responsible local banking and financial partners to issue capital and training to underserved small to medium sized enterprises with a focus on women in low-income and rural communities. The fund has had a major impact with 62 enterprises in Cambodia and Indonesia having access to $778,4850 in credit facilities. It's so rewarding to hear the powerful stories from local entrepreneurs and how the vital capital injection has had a significant positive change on their business, their families and their community. 

In your spare time (if any!) what do you like to do?

To relax in our family, we like to break a sweat! My husband, my two daughters and I often play tennis together or go on walks and hikes. Being around nature helps me to unwind!