Our Core Team

Passionate individuals make up our core team, all of them deeply immersed in diversity and equity.

They bring their knowledge, experience and insights to the table. We are pleased to spotlight our exceptional team members who make the magic happen.

Senior Leadership

Kazee Clement

Senior Executive Director

Natalie Green

Senior Executive Director of Business Operations

Dawn Whyte

Director of Business and Advancement Strategy

Fiona Shorey

Director of Events and Client Experience

Catherine Hammond

Director of Business Development

Rose Qian

Head of Strategy

Core Team

Priya Jethwa

Head of Sales and Operations and PMO

Elizabeth (Liz) Welbeck

Head of DEI and Talent Programmes

Kieran Channing

Creative and Social Media Associate

Kundi Manungo

Digital Event and Community Management

Jo Thurston

Administrator

Libby Thorman

Strategy, Research and Project Management Intern

Kezia Mbonye

Talent Development and Strategic Research Intern

Leila Lawrence

Talent Development and Research Intern

Aditi Banerjee

Communications Intern

Emily Stanton

Research and Strategy Intern

Alyssandra Sauve

Project Management and Research Intern

David Dellaire

Event Producer

Chair and Executive Founder

Sophie Chandauka

Chair and Executive Founder

The smartest career decision I have made so far is to deeply understand what the labels of my identity mean for my career, devise a plan, and never let anyone tell me what I can and cannot be.

The most difficult lesson I have learned so far in my career is that meritocracy is a myth.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is it’s not about the Benjamins, it’s all about the people.

My favourite quote is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s motto “never complain, never explain”.

My Gogo Eileen Charumbira worked hard as a maid in colonial Rhodesia, enduring unforgivable indignities to ensure my future – she is someone who has inspired me to be the person I am.

When I was five, I was pretty sure I’d be an air hostess when I grew up.

I start my day by checking WhatsApp for my family jams.

If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve fast cars, clear blue water, food and a DJ playing Afrobeats and pop tunes at the villa with my family and friends making up dance routines.

If I were a superhero, my superpower would be fixing mistakes we made in the past.

If I didn’t live in New York, I’d live in Cape Town.

When I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, it really had an impact on me.

The luxury item I would take on a desert island is a solar powered iPhone with all my apps connected to a lifetime subscription to Starlink.