Kelvin is a seasoned professional in the charity and philanthropic sectors, bringing decades of experience across fundraising, advocacy, and programme leadership. He has built a distinguished career managing impactful projects at an executive level, with expertise spanning charity management, campaigning, marketing, lobbying, and stakeholder engagement.
Kelvin’s consultancy and project management work have supported initiatives in the charity, corporate social investment, foundation, and philanthropy sectors, both in the UK and internationally. His ability to lead high-performing fundraising teams in multicultural and diverse settings has contributed to the success of numerous national and global campaigns.
He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at Horsham Matters, a local charity dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing hardship and poverty. His previous roles include Director of Development & Partnerships at The Resource Alliance. In addition to his role with the SA-UK Trusts, Kelvin volunteers as a trustee for the UK Fund for Charities and a listening volunteer for Switchboard, reflecting his strong commitment to social justice, inclusion, and sustainable development.
Kate Cooney has over 15 years’ experience in investment banking in London across Operations and Change and currently heads up Business Governance and Controls for the European branches of Australia New Zealand Banking Group.
Kate grew up in Cape Town where, through her aunt and uncle, who were both involved with non-profits, she spent many years doing voluntary charitable work. Now living in London, she feels passionately about giving back and has taken an active role in a Cape Town based non-profit, Crew for Cause (www.crewforacause.co.za), which creates scholarships for promising high school leaners in South Africa from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Carolyn Cripps, OBE, is an experienced trainer and consultant in home safety and accident prevention, working with government initiatives on major community projects both in the UK and overseas, particularly in South Africa.
She has over twenty-five years’ experience training both professionals as well as families at grass roots level,both writing and developing the training resources and programmes.
Carolyn ran her own charity for 17 years, supporting burned children and running capital projects abroad. She is a trustee of Age UK Lambeth, bringing her expertise in home injury prevention. She chaired the European Burn Association (EBA) Burn Prevention Committee and developed close ties with the Red Cross Children’s Memorial Hospital in Cape Town through the Phoenix Burn Project, where she sits on the Advisory Board.
In 2019, Carolyn and her husband Michael, formed their own Foundation – Action for Burns & Children (ABC), working mainly in South Africa, and which gives support both to the rehabilitation of burned children and the promotion of burns prevention within the local township schools.
Bazil Solomon is a UK & South African educator, author & technology professional with over 25 years’ IT experience. He is Director of IT Analysis & Training Ltd, Chair of the South African Association, Emeritus Chair of DA South Africa in the UK, a UK local government councillor and Trustee of the SA-UK Trust Network.
His work spans working with others accross art, culture, science, AI & technology, including engagement across Parliament & the House of Lords, with a focus on UK & South African collaboration and ethical leadership.
John is an experienced international diplomat and strategic leader with over 30 years of experience forging partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector. His career has spanned climate diplomacy, science and innovation, human rights advocacy, and international development, with a strong focus on building inclusive, sustainable solutions to complex global challenges.
As the UK’s former Head of Climate Change and Energy in South Africa, he led in-country the work to deliver the landmark $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a pioneering initiative which links low carbon transition, climate finance and development goals. He has driven transformational programmes in science and innovation partnership and climate policy.
Most of John’s career has been spent in Africa, with tours to Kenya, Botswana and twice to South Africa, or working on Africa when he headed the southern Africa policy team in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
Throughout his career, John has worked with civil society to drive positive change and championed cross-sector collaboration, social justice, and long-term impact, making him a committed and values-driven contributor to the charitable sector.
Luc Janssens is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) and director of Mercantile Accounting, a London-based firm helping startups and SMEs scale with financial clarity by providing financial and accounting services, equity raising support, and custom financial software. Working closely within the start-up ecosystem in both the UK and South Africa, he has built a strong network of investors, professional partners and business owners.
Charity work has been core to Luc’s journey, where he was a member of Rotary, Vice-Chair of The President’s Award Youth Committee for the Western Cape, and achieved the Gold Award himself, later launching a charity fun-run where he led corporate sponsorship and fundraising. He now sits on the Exco of the South African Chamber of Commerce, leading the Young Professionals Committee, and serves as Treasurer of GAGA UK, a charity supporting education projects in Southern Africa and Tanzania.
