KENT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Amy moved to Kent in 2016, after a career in London of over 13 years across a range of sectors. Before joining Kent Community Foundation she worked for a Social Work Consultancy and prior to this, spent 5 years working as Research Officer for the City of London Corporation, as well as working in Canary Wharf for an inward investment agency. Having graduated in Hispanic & French Studies, Amy enjoys travelling and having three young children, is passionate about getting involved in local community events and supporting her local primary school PFTA.
Having lived all his life in Kent, Bruce joined Kent Community Foundation in 2014 after 27 years financial services experience primarily in retail and business banking. He admits to being regularly inspired by the actions of individuals and organisations he comes into contact with on a daily basis through working at Kent Community Foundation. Away from work he is a fervent supporter of Maidstone United Football Club attending as many games as possible.
Job Titles:
- TRUSTEE
- Head of Finance at Barts Charity
A Rochester resident, Cheryl is Head of Finance at Barts Charity. She is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years experience along with knowledge of operations and grant-making. Cheryl has been a Trustee Director in the creative arts secto r before joining Kent Community Foundation's Board of Trustees.
Originally from Sheffield Christina has lived in Kent since 1994. With over 20 year's PR experience in lifestyle, consumer, corporate and charity PR, Christina has worked with Kent Community Foundation since 2019 to promote their work in the media. Christina loves working with the dedicated KCF team and sharing the fascinating stories about the huge difference the Foundation makes to volunteer groups, charities and communities across Kent and Medway. Christina has two grown up children, three cats and three chihuahuas and enjoys the theatre, long dog walks in the countryside and holidays in Greece.
Danielle was born and raised in the Kent countryside. She started working at KCF in January 2018 as a Grants Administrator. Since then, Danielle has supported hundreds of grassroots organisations to gain funding. As of April 2020, Danielle's role changed to Grants Officer where she assists with the individual funding and is a key part in managing incoming applications and monitoring processes. Prior to life at KCF, Danielle completed a degree in Education Studies and while attending university, volunteered at a local school supporting creative lessons and art-based after-school activities.
Following her Ph.D. from UCL, Emilia went on to work in equity research for Deutsche Bank and Cantor Fitzgerald in London and Hong Kong. Since moving to Kent, she continues to work as a consultant for healthcare sector investors as well as supporting the family drinks business, Mereworth Wines.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Partner at Warners Solictors
- VICE CHAIR of TRUSTEES
Gail is a partner at Warners Solictors, a law firm with a long heritage and reputation across the south east. Within her role at Warners, Gail offers advice to clients around inheritance and succession planning. She is a key member of the team advising elderly and vulnerable clients, as well as forming part of the Warners Agricultural team of solicitors. Gail brings experience of charity governance issues and before qualifying as a solicitor, Gail spent 20 years working for fine art valuers and auctioneers having graduated from the Courtauld Institute London University in History of Art and Architecturenes.
Gearóid, originally from Ireland, has been a Kent local for 5 years and is a big believer in the value of a supportive community spirit.
He works for Wellcome, a large health and research charitable foundation, in their EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) team with a focus on making it a more inclusive funder and diversifying those who get to participate and benefit from health-based research. He has extensive experience in the voluntary sector and grant-making processes. He is passionate about creating more equal opportunities and embedding more inclusive design and practice into processes, ensuring marginalised voices are centred.
Job Titles:
- Individuals' Grants Officer
Georgie moved back to Kent in 2004 after working in London for the British Heart Foundation and working and travelling abroad. She then worked for Westwood Global Energy Group for 13 years in various roles including Publications Manager. More recently, at Kent Coast Volunteering, she has spent five years on projects funded by Stronger Kent Communities, the Centre for Ageing Better and Tudor Trust and aims to use knowledge gained on the Kent charity sector in her role with KCF; looking after Individuals' Grants which offer support to individuals and families in need.
Hannah has years of experience in marketing roles, specialising in branding, design, social media, website management, videography and copy writing. Before joining Kent Community Foundation in 2017, she worked at an internship agency in London and in the marketing team at Leeds Castle. She has a BA Fashion Marketing and Communications at Nottingham Trent University. Outside of work Hannah is a huge foodie and loves to travel.
Job Titles:
- TRUSTEE
- Chartered Accountant With Ernst & Young
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, Hugo joined Fenwick Limited, the independent department store group where he is Group Trading Director. He was High Sheriff of Kent 2014-15 and is a Trustee of Canterbury Cathedral. He is Vice-Chairman of Canterbury College, Vice-Chair of Sandwell Academy in the West Midlands and Governor of Spring Grove School.
Job Titles:
- Grants and Social Loans Manager
James joined the foundation in November 2016 after working for almost 35 years in the banking sector, working in retail, private and business banking. As part of his role, James loves meeting and working with individuals and organisations who make such a positive impact in their local communities. Outside of work, he enjoys all sports; playing cricket and occasionally hockey and golf.
After completing a combined degree in History & Religious Studies in 2010, Joanne took a variety of short-term jobs in the retail sector. During that time, she indulged her love of the written word by volunteering at the Ashford branch of Healthy Planet's ‘Books For Free' Centres. Her time here (so she claims) is entirely responsible for the fact that she cannot walk a foot through her house without tripping over a book. Jo completed an NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration as part of her apprenticeship with Kent Community Foundation, and is a much valued member of the team.
Josephine lives in Kent and has worked in the charitable sector for more than 20 years. She was previously Director of Fundraising and Communications for Imperial College Healthcare Charity, an independent, grant-making charity raising funds for projects, research, equipment and training at five London hospitals. Before this, Josephine held a variety of strategic positions with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). She is the Chair of the Voluntary Sector Steering Group for Kent and the Kent Children & Young People's Steering Group. She is the voluntary representative on KCC Strategic Partnership Board.
Kathy has spent all her working life in Kent the majority of the time in the Arts and Culture sector. After finishing her studies in Business & Marketing, she joined an Arts production company touring European children's theatre and international opera to major venues across the UK. After spending some years in market research within the UK Hospital sector she returned to the arts as a Business Development Manager for a company providing specialist fine art packing services to the UK's leading Museums, Galleries and Private Collections. The effect of the pandemic led her to a move to the charity sector joining KCF in 2021.
Outside of work, Kathy loves the outdoors and is happiest gardening and enjoying the Kent countryside with her partner and beloved dog Bow.
Kruti works in public policy and advocacy. She is currently Head of Policy at Cancer Research UK, working to influence Government and the health system to drive better outcomes for people with cancer. She is passionate about empowering people to have a voice and bringing about equal access of opportunity. She has volunteered with educational charities to help ‘level the playing field', including most recently being a mentor for ‘The Girls' Network'.
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Office Administrator
Lisa was born and raised in Kent. Originally from Medway, she worked for a local authority before leaving to study full time for a BSc degree in Environmental Biology at Wye College. Lisa remained in the area after graduating, working for a biological control company (selling insects). Since then, she has carried out administration and finance roles in a variety of organisations and most recently worked for many years in a special educational needs school.
Melanie moved to Kent in 1989 and worked for Maidstone-based accountants Day, Smith and Hunter until 1998 when she left to start a family. After a short career break to concentrate on her two young children, Melanie set up her own book-keeping business in 2005. She is now busier than ever! Kent Community Foundation has been one of her clients since 2008, where she feels very much part of the team. Melanie is responsible for the day to day running of the accounting systems for the office and the charitable funds.
Melissa has a background in international development including human rights and public health projects in Cambodia and microcredit programmes in Peru. Melissa is also on the Board of the Garfield Weston Foundation and a number of other charitable and philanthropic organisations.
Munya Badze is a driven, enabler, connector, creative and enterprising with a passion to helping people to succeed. Being innovative and forward thinking has led to effective delivery of regional and national projects such as setting up the Enterprise Adviser Network in Kent, Founder Member of Kent and Medway Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony and has been STEM Ambassador for a number of years.
Job Titles:
- Director of Grants & Impact and Deputy Chief Executive
Natalie grew up in Kent, and after studying and travelling, has spent all of her working life in the voluntary sector - in campaigning and management roles in London for national charities, including Amnesty International and the Pre-School Learning Alliance, and most recently working for Involve. She has a good understanding of the third sector within Kent and Medway, knowledge she uses every day in her work at KCF. In her hometown of Maidstone, Natalie is a founding member of a local charity and governor at a local primary school.
Paul has been based in Kent since 1984 and comes from a background in financial technology solutions. A large part of his career has been spent working in South East Asia and the Gulf Region as well as nearer to home in Europe and London. Commencing work with KCF in early 2020 during the COVID pandemic, Paul loves working closer to home and helping to make a difference to our local communities in Kent. Away from the office, Paul enjoys walking, food and investigating the rich local history of Kent
Job Titles:
- Senior Philanthropy Adviser
Rachel joined Kent Community Foundation in December 2023. As the Senior Philanthropy Adviser, she partners with professionals across Kent and London to connect their clients to small grassroot charitable organisations looking for support. Rachel previously worked at BlackRock Investment Management for 14 years in several roles across the fixed income investment business and client business teams. Rachel moved to Kent in 2021 and lives outside Sissinghurst with her husband and two young children. She is on the Parochial Church Council for Trinity Church Sissinghurst and helps to lead the children's ministry here. She is a committee member of the Woldingham Sacred Heart Association alumni network having attended Woldingham School in Surrey. Outside of work she is a keen runner and enjoys exploring the Kent countryside with her family.
Rachèle joined Kent Community Foundation as Grants Manager in December 2017 after a long career in Education Management within the Public Sector. For over 23 years, she has helped others in the UK and abroad through a number of charitable projects. She is delighted to be part of an organisation and team that truly care and help to support the communities of Kent and Medway. Rachèle's main interests include photography, travelling and discovering new cultures.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of TRUSTEES
- Trustee
Robert spent most of his career in publishing, creating illustrated books for an international market. He is executive chairman of Knole Estates, the property and investment company which - in parallel with the National Trust - cares for Knole, the house and park in Kent that are open to the public. Robert has been involved with education in both the private and state sector, as a governor at Sevenoaks School and Knole Academy, and as a former UK board director of the International Baccalaureate. He has written three critically acclaimed books on aspects of English history and has recently been appointed as a Commissioner of Historic England.
Graduating as an economist, Russell spent the majority of his career with a stockbroking firm in the City of London, principally as a director in corporate finance. Since early retirement, he has been a non-executive director with a number of public and private companies. He chairs the foundation Trustees of the Mathematical School at Rochester, is a past Senior Warden of the Rochester Bridge Trust, on which he still sits, and is also a Trustee of Rochester Cathedral Trust and Rochester Cathedral Council. A former Court Chairman at Medway Magistrates' Court, Russell is also President of the Friends of Medway Archives.
Job Titles:
- TRUSTEE
- Senior Leader at HSBC
Sam is a senior leader at HSBC working closely with small businesses across the world with experience of leading on inclusion and diversity through her work as the global co-chair of HSBC BALANCE, the 50,000 member gender diversity employee resource group. Having worked in financial services for over 20 years, Sam also has experience leading businesses as a Chief Operating Officer and HR experience having lead the learning agenda for a global corporate bank. In addition to this Sam has experience as a non-executive director and is on the board of Women on the Wharf where she leads the cross organisation mentoring programme for over 500 participants.
Job Titles:
- Director of Governance and Operations
Sarah moved to Kent in 2007 when starting her university studies. She spent a year working as a Project Assistant for Canterbury-based charity, Time Out, whilst studying for a Master's degree in Applied Theology. She has an active interest in the charity sector; writing her MA thesis on the challenges faced by faith-based voluntary organisations. Sarah has worked at KCF since 2012 in various roles.
Sophie has lived and worked in Kent for most of her life, working largely in the local charity sector, including roles at Canterbury Cathedral, Shepway and Dover District Volunteer Centre and most recently in the Development Office of a local Independent School. She is passionate about working with people and enjoys seeing the difference local giving can make. She has a BA in History from the University of Warwick and an MA in Arts and Culture Management.
Job Titles:
- Head of Marketing and Communications
After years in marketing and communications, Stacey found true professional fulfilment within the voluntary sector when she joined the Kent Community Foundation team in 2019. She is passionate about facilitating the connection between local communities, charitable organisations, and individuals who want to give, and takes pride in the role she plays in being a voice for better social outcomes for all. Though originally from Manchester, Stacey has found a home in the countryside and coastal communities of Kent.
Trevor is HM Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent. He has experience of charity governance through Army charities and working for Sir Roger De Haan on the regeneration of Folkestone. Until recent retirement, he chaired The Sports Trust, Three Hills Sports Park and Academy FM Folkstone and was a trustee of Creative Folkestone among several other charities. He was previously a trustee of five Kent schools. His first career was in the Army culminating in command of the South-East Brigade and being Deputy Constable of Dover Castle. He was the partnership director at Kent County Council for six years.