Peter Hunt AM
- Founding Chair of the So They Can Board, from 2011-2021.
- As an investment banker, Peter advised local and muti-national companies and governments in Australia for nearly 35 years.
- Co-founded Greenhill Australia, one of Australia’s leading independent investment banking advisory firms and Executive Chairman and Chairman between 1999 - 2018.
- Chaired the Securities Institute's Taskforce responsible for the Mergers and Acquisitions graduate diploma course from 1993 – 2000.
- Member of the ASIC Advisory Panel from 2009 – 2012 and a founding member of Adara Partners (www.adarapartners.org).
- Chaired Cambooya Services Pty Ltd, which runs the Family Office for the Vincent Fairfax Family, from 2010 - 2017.
- Chairman and Co-Founder of Mind Medicine Australia (www.mindmedicineaustralia.org).
- Past Chairman of Grameen Australia (www.grameen.org.au) and Grameen Australia Philippines.
- Co-Founder of Manly Women’s Shelter and Founder and Director of Women’s Community Shelters (www.womenscommunityshelters.org.au).
- Past Director of Project Rozanna (www.projectrozana.org).
- Previously a Member of the Advisory Councils of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and the Centre for Social Impact.
Rachel Castle
Rachel Castle (www.castleandthings.com.au) is a much loved and celebrated Australian artist and creator of beautiful things for the home. Rachel has spent the past 20 years in the homeware industry both in Australia and the UK, and currently lives in Sydney. Rachel has been a child sponsor and supporter of So They Can since the beginning.
“So They Can works so tirelessly to educate and care for some of the poorest communities in Africa, especially women and children, and I feel privileged to be their ambassador. I’m excited about supporting one of their education programs, Sew Women Can, teaching vulnerable young African women to sew.”
Andrew Durante
Andrew is a professional footballer, who has captained the Wellington Phoenix since 2008 and played for the New Zealand national team, the All Whites, since 2013.
‘’I’ve been indirectly involved with So They Can over the years, donating my time when the opportunities arise. I now look forward to being more involved in this amazing organisation as one of their Ambassadors. To see so many young children and families affected by poverty, health issues and a lack of education is shocking and with young girls of my own, their situation really hit home.” Andrew lives in Wellington with his wife Sarah and their three girls Adalyn, Milana and Evita.
Neil and Sharon Finn
After a career of making music, Neil Finn felt liberated sitting behind a drum kit while his wife Sharon took front of stage with a bass guitar as together they formed two thirds of ‘Pajama Club’ and we are honoured to have them both as So They Can Ambassadors.
Neil, a legendary singer and songwriter, has given his time to perform many times over the years to raise funds for So They Can. Neil says “It’s inspiring for us to see what has been achieved by So They Can. They have made it their mission to attach themselves to communities in need and then really follow it through”. Neil is currently touring with the iconic, Fleetwood Mac.
Miranda Harcourt
Miranda is an accomplished New Zealand actress and director. She has won international awards for her acting, directing and theatre work. In 2004 Miranda was made an ONZM for her services to theatre and the community. With her love and track record in mentoring it is little wonder why she is passionate in community development and So They Can’s work.
Kimbra Johnson
New Zealand born Kimbra has made history on the US Billboard charts, and is now putting her name to a cause close to her heart: becoming an ambassador for So They Can. On her reasons behind the partnership, Kimbra says “It hopefully means being a part of these children’s lives by giving what I can and helping to raise awareness for what we can all do to help”.
Peta Mathias
I am thrilled to become a So They Can Ambassador. I believe that when you put out a helping hand to people, you always get much more than you give and you always learn something about your values.
One of my favourite quotes is, “If you are coming to help me, you are wasting your time but, if you are coming because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together”.
I look forward to working together with So They Can and the communities they support.
Thomasin McKenzie
Thomasin McKenzie is a New Zealand actress, best known for her breakout role in the 2018 American film Leave No Trace, for which she received critical acclaim, as well as starring as a German Jewish girl hiding in Nazi Germany in the political satire, Jojo Rabbit.
"So They Can is an organisation that I have looked up to for a really long time. In an ideal world, we'd all have access to quality education and be able to walk through life with a feeling of empowerment. I think So They Can is leading us towards that world, and I'm really excited to join them on that journey".
Megan Morton
Megan Morton is an internationally acclaimed stylist who has been called on to style, design and work her ‘house whispering’ magic for celebrities and magazines including Elle Decorating UK and Vanity Fair. Megan has been a supporter of So They Can since its inception.
“Having watched So They Can grow since the beginning, I am so pleased that we will now be working together.”An intrepid traveller, Megan visited our Kenyan projects last year, “I loved visiting the communities So They Can works with in Kenya, meeting the women and children whose lives are being transformed through education.”
Peter Overton
Peter Overton is an Australian television journalist and news reader and has worked at the Nine Network for nearly 30 years. After completing a Bachelor of Economics degree at Macquarie University, he moved into the media to pursue his love of telling stories. He began at Nine as a news reporter in 1991 and in 2009 was appointed as Chief News Reader of Nine News, Sydney. He also travelled the world and covered major world events including September 11 and the Bali bombings as a reporter with 60 minutes.
Peter was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Macquarie University in 2019 for services to media and his extensive charity work and received an AM in the Australia Day Honours, 2020 for significant service to the broadcast media and community. He is also a Wing Commander, Specialist Reserve Capability Officer in the RAAF.
Peter is married to Jessica Rowe and they have two daughters. He has a strong sense of community and is patron and ambassador for a number of Australian charities. We are honoured that he is now an ambassador for So They Can.
Mark & Toni Skaife
Mark Skaife, legendary racing car champion and respected Foxsports commentator and his wife Toni have joined the So They Can family as our Ambassadors.
Mark said of their appointment, “Toni and I are both excited and proud to be working with So They Can. We have literally welcomed them into our family by sponsoring a young student from So They Can’s thriving primary school in Kenya. We will wholeheartedly lend our voice and our support to promote the amazing work So They Can is doing to help break the cycle of poverty via education.”
Conrad Smith
Conrad Smith played for the Wellington Hurricanes and New Zealand All Blacks from 2004-2015. Conrad is also a barrister and solicitor and practiced in New Zealand during his career. Conrad and wife Lee now live in Pau, France where he recently retired from playing.
Conrad and Lee have visited the projects twice and especially loved their time at the Holding Hands Children’s Home teaching rugby and getting to know the children. On what inspired him to help out and give up his time he says: “It’s the volunteers over there who are the real heroes. All they want you to do is come back and ask for some help to make their job easier. So you sort of feel it’s the least you can do. We get called heroes for playing rugby but man what they do – it’s unreal.”
Jessica Grace Smith
Jessica is an accomplished actor and director, first appearing on our screens in the award winning Australian drama series, Home & Away. After graduating from Toi Whakaari, New Zealand Drama School, with a Bachelor of Performing Arts majoring in Acting, Jess has pursued her love of acting and theatre with vigor.
“I feel very excited and privileged to be working with So They Can. I am particularly inspired by the work they are doing with single mothers in Kenya through Sew Women Can, providing the resources and training for them to become self-sufficient in the future. I want to learn from these communities, these women, and build a reciprocal relationship of sharing, learning and growing.”
Liz Mills
Coach Liz Mills began her coaching journey in Sydney, Australia at the age of 16. Whilst coaching juniors and senior women's teams in Sydney, Coach Mills completed her undergraduate degree in Sports Science and Sports Management. Since 2011 she has been a head coach and assistant coach for men's club teams, national university teams and national teams in Africa and during this time, in 2013 Coach Mills returned to Sydney, Australia to complete her Masters degree in Coaching.
She is currently the head coach of the Kenyan men's national team, who in February 2021 qualified for the 2021 AfroBasket for the first time in 28 years.
"I'm passionate about education because it significantly improves the number of opportunities available for those who undertake any form. For girls and women in particular, education not only has a direct impact on their lives and those of their families but also their entire community."
