Meet Our Trustees

Jill Ritchie

Chair

Jill Ritchie has specialised in raising money from UK trusts, high net worth and government donors for over three decades. She is the author of 28 books, 21 on fundraising, has contributed to numerous online and printed publications globally and is a qualified trainer in adult education, focusing on fundraising, non-profit management, reporting and social entrepreneurship.

Chair of the UK Fund for Charities, Jill is in demand as a public speaker and trainer and serves on a number of non-profit boards, including the SA-UK Trust Network, which she founded www.sa-uktrusts.org.uk

She was one of the first to successfully raise substantial funding from the UK Lottery for organisations outside of the UK. She has also assisted in/overseen numerous large successful grant applications to donors such as DFID, Comic Relief and numerous other UK-based donor entities.

Although she has assisted organisations in over 30 countries globally, she has focused much of her time assisting non-profits and universities in sub-Saharan Africa. Jill has been made a Fellow of the Southern African Institute of Fundraising and is also a member of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Kelvin Glen

Trustee

Kelvin is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the charity sector, where he has dedicated his career to driving positive change across a wide array of causes. With a solid foundation in fundraising and a proven track record of managing impactful programmes and projects at the executive level. He has a wealth of knowledge in both the charity and funding realms and brings a diverse skill set encompassing advocacy, lobbying, fundraising, charity management, marketing and campaigning.

His areas of expertise include consultation and project management services in the charity, corporate social investment, foundation, and philanthropy sectors. Kelvin has successfully led fundraising teams and initiatives for international, national, and local charities, operating in multicultural settings and diverse geographic locations to raise awareness and necessary funds for various causes.

He is the Director of Development & Partnerships at The Resource Alliance and volunteers as a trustee for the SA-UK Trust Network demonstrating his deep commitment to philanthropic endeavours. Kelvin volunteers for Switchboard.

Dalene Swart

Trustee

With more than 20 years' experience in the Non-Profit Sector I still learn and grow daily.

Skilled in event planning, fundraising, marketing, and digital communication I see how stories of heartache and struggle unfold and change into stories of adventure, success, positive change and joy. But none of these stories exist in isolation and it is a privilege to play a role in this production.

Attention to detail, compassion, the ability to think “out-of-the-box” and a passion for networking allows me to see possibilities and connect opportunities. In my mind, personal and work interests are intertwined. Volunteering at a community food garden, having coffee with a friend or introducing a big corporate to a Non-Profit Organisation; every phone call, every act and every event is an opportunity to connect.

I fondly think back to a London SA Wine Auction in aid of a special needs school in South Africa. South African wine estates donated speciality wines, companies and individuals paid generous amounts of money to attend this prestigious London event: international rugby players played hosts at the tables while British guests and Ex-Pats listened to the personal journey of the Head Boy and Head Girl of the school. Funds raised at this auction, gave more than 500 learners the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. This international fundraising event touched the lives of not only the small group of representatives from SA; two teachers, two learners and myself, it also changed the lives of everyone who attended.

I live by the motto to be true to yourself, to be authentic. Whenever I am asked what my key to success is, the answer is quite simple - don’t try to do everything yourself. Look for partnerships, collaboration opportunities and ask experts for guidance, help and invite them to join forces.

Dr Carolyne Opinde

Trustee

Dr Carolyne Opinde is an award-winning strategist and global thought leader whose career spans science, social innovation, and systems transformation. With a foundation in science, she brings analytical rigour and a future-focused mindset to her work across public, private, and social impact sectors. As Founder and CEO of The NGO Whisperer® Centre For Social Impact, she equips organisations with the tools to embrace inclusive innovation, unlock social investment and scale transformative partnerships for social impact. Her approach blends systems thinking and design led strategy with agile delivery, digital foresight, and a passion for technological advancement. She is the creator of The NGO Whisperer® Sustainability Model, which has supported over 200 social impact organisations worldwide in advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also serves as the creator and convenor of The NGO Whisperer® Global Summit and The NGO Whisperer® Global Fellowship Programme, the publisher of The NGO Whisperer® Magazine, and the host and producer of The NGO Whisperer® Show. These capacity-building and storytelling platforms amplify the voices of cross-sector changemakers across the globe, particularly those who are often left behind.

Dr Opinde has successfully led multimillion-pound programmes and mobilised over £100 million in funding across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She has played a pivotal role in strategic project design and resource mobilisation for digital innovations. Her work has improved access to primary healthcare and mental health services, sparked entrepreneurship, created jobs, advanced engendered safety and security initiatives, supported peacebuilding efforts, strengthened transparency and accountability mechanisms, and championed civic education, among other transformative outcomes. Dr Opinde is a certified project manager and agile practitioner with advanced qualifications in innovation, digital strategy, and content marketing. She is a Full Member of the Association for Project Management (APM), and an active contributor to professional networks including the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), and the Human Change Management Institute (HUCMI)