Ann is a chartered accountant and founder and director of StreetSMART Group.

Brought up on a farm in South Otago, Ann graduated from Otago University in 1979 and moved to Auckland in 1980 to work for an international chartered accounting firm. She started her own chartered accounting business in 1987 while profoundly deaf, and had a successful cochlear implant operation in 1996.

Ann is also a co-founder and director of the franchise business Office Champions (www.officechampions.co.nz) which launched in April 2008.

Ann was a regular “Strategic Investing” columnist for NZ Property Investor Magazine from 2005 until 2008. She is also a regular speaker at various expos, seminars and conferences on topics ranging from business, property investment, being successful and overcoming obstacles. Her passion is helping people become financially independent, whether by creating passive income through business or investing.

Various awards that Ann has won include Ralph Bell Prize for Excellence of Performance in a group of subjects (NZ award, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (NZ) Division 1982); Institute Prize in Management of Human Resources (NZ award, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (NZ) Division 1982); Quota (NZ) Deaf Woman of the Year 1985; Most Inspirational Role Model (Highly Commended, Her Business “Businesswoman of the Year 2004”).

Ann is board member and honorary treasurer of the Auckland Property Investors Association, and is also a board member of Northern Cochlear Implant Trust. Ann has been honorary treasurer of Altrusa International (Manukau Area) since 1994.

Ann has two teenage sons and enjoys jogging, reading, snow skiing, movies, and travelling.