We are a global team united by a common goal...to change the world through education.

International Office

Cassandra Treadwell with two African children

Cassandra Treadwell

CEO and Co-Founder

Clelia Preziuso Office Manager So They Can

Clelia Preziuso

Administration Manager

Ellie - Photo for website

Ellie Knight

Communications & Marketing Manager

Sean Mura, COO

Sean Mura

COO and CFO

Lisa Wagg Child Sponsorship Manager So They Can

Lisa Wagg

Sponsor Relations Manager

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE

Angela O'Connell

Grants Manager

Rita

Rita Reichelova

Program Implementation Manager

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE (3)

Emily Whitehouse

Partnerships Manager

Raeywn Phipps Volunteer Manager So They Can

Raeywn Phipps

Volunteer Manager

Kenyan Team

8

Boniface Mouti

Country Manager
Member of East African Executive Management Team

James Wabara Program Manager and Village Director Miti Mingi

James Wabara

Assistant Country Manager | Head of Community Development Program
Member of East African Executive Management Team

Jeddy Chepkurui Human Resources and Child Sponsorship Officer So They Can

Jeddy Chepkurui

Human Resources and
Child Sponsorship Officer

Nicodemus Nyamumbo PR and Logistics Manager

Nicodemus Nyamumbo

PR and Logistics Manager

Mercy Wanjiku Early Childhood Development Co-ordinator So They Can

Mercy Wanjiku

Education Program Officer

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE

Jackline Missati

Miti Mingi Village Social Worker

Euster Agamara.jpg

Euster Agamara

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

7

Jane Kadogo

Project Coordinator

6

Bridget Tuei

Accounts Assistant

1

Lilian Achieng

Social Worker

STC

Stephen Njogu

Accountant

3

Joshua Ikaro

Social Worker

5

Gibson Irungu

Loans Liaison Officer

2

Peter Mwaura

Sponsorship Assistant

4

Moses Gachunji

Social Worker & Child Protection Officer

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE (3)

Everisters Ayole

Education Program Officer

Tanzanian Team

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE (2)

Roselyne Mariki

Country Manager | Member of East African Executive Management Team

Wilson Kaijge 2

Wilson Kaijage

MEL Manager for Tanzania & Kenya | Member of East African Executive Management Team

TEAM PHOTOS FOR WEBSITE (4)

Ramadhani Hussein

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning Officer & Communication Officer 

Grace 2

Grace Swai

Education Program Manager (Acting)

Peter Nelson

Peter Nelson

Teaching skills facilitator & My Voice Co-ordinator

Paulo Loishiye Financial Controller So They Can

Paulo Loishiye

Finance Manager | Member of East African Executive Management Team

2

Yasin Mohammed Dudu

Driver

Zaddock Kewda 2

Zaddock Kweka

Community Engagement
Co-ordinator 

1

Mohamed Jumanne

Demonstration Farm Supervisor

Board of Directors

Munzurul_Khan_So_They_Can

Munzurul Khan

Chair of So They Can Board

  • As an Accountant, Munzurul specialises in compliance and strategic accounting advisory services acquired through 26 years of professional experience, including Senior Management roles in PwC and BDO.
  • As an Entrepreneur, Munzurul’s experiences expressed through financial and commercial acumen in SMEs, multi-national businesses and high net wealth family groups. 
  • Munzurul is well regarded as a thought leader and key-note speaker of property investments in Australia. 
  • Principal of Keshab Chartered Accountants and Chair of KHI Partners - leading Accounting, Financial Planning, Law, Bookkeeping, Mortgage Broking, Construction and Investment Partners.
  • Currently involved with various commercial Boards in Australia.
  • Board Member of Dana Asia.
  • Ex-Board Member of Grameen Australia. 
  • Member of the ICAA, Masters of Commerce, Public Practitioner, JP, ASIC SMSF Auditor, PIPA Member, NSW Real Estate Licence Holder.

   

cass

Cassandra Treadwell

Chief Executive Officer, Director and Co-Founder

 

  • Cassandra holds a Bachelor of Laws: Master of Arts Medical Law and Ethics.
  • She started her career as a Medico Legal Counsel at Capital & Coast Health New Zealand, before becoming a Fellow of Medical Law and Ethics at North Shore Hospital Sydney.
  • Cassandra founded So They Can with her dear friend and colleague Keri Chittenden after visiting the Internally Displaced Persons' Camps in Kenya. 
  • She now has over 12 years’ experience in international development and NGO projects, working closely with the teams in Kenya and Tanzania to create sustainable change.
  • In her role as CEO, Cass is also responsible for leading the fundraising, philanthropic and corporate partnerships and is often invited to speak and inspire audiences at events.
  • In 2015, Cassandra was a finalist for New Zealander of the Year and in 2018 she was a finalist in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.
  • In 2018, Cassandra spoke at TEDx on revolutionising charity. You can watch it here.
Keri2

Keri Chittenden

Director and Co-Founder

  • Bachelor of Business (Land Economy).
  • 3 years project management with Lend Lease Development in Sydney and London.
  • 10 years event production and general manager for David Grant Special Events.
  • 10 years owner/director of the Skywalk Company, operating as executive producer/ project manager.
  • 10 years’ experience in international development and NGO projects.
  • Recognised as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence in 2015.
Andrew_Bloxham

Andrew Bloxham

Director

  • Andrew has been in the private sector importing/distribution business for 35 years. Most of that time as a business owner and having recently sold his company is now working in a senior management position with a top 100 Australian Private Company.
  • Andrew and his family have been contributors to So They Can since 2012, with Andrew being a Director for the past 8 years.

 

 

Dianne Lucas, Director | So They Can

Dianne Lucas

Director

  • Di has a background in education. She has interests in the areas of medical research, animal welfare, human rights, the arts and ethics.
  • Di developed a special interest in East Africa when the family participated with Flora & Fauna International in moving the last surviving White Rhinos to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located in Nanyuki in the Rift Valley.
  • Former Chair of the Lort Smith Ethics Committee.
  • Former Owner and Director of Cell Care Australia.
  • Member of the Australian Committee for Human Rights Watch.
  • Patron of the Arts actively supporting the Australian Ballet and the Melbourne Theatre Company.
David Southon, So They Can Director

David Southon

Director

  • Bachelor of Business (Land Economy).
  • Co-founder, Director and Executive Chair of the Aliro Group, an institutional quality property development, investment and funds management group
  • Over 30 years' experience in the office, industrial, retail and residential property sectors.
  • In 1991 David co-founded of Charter Hall Group, a diversified listed property investment and funds management group with over 45 billion of funds under management.

Previous Positions

  • Joint Managing Director of Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC).
  • Director of Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR).
  • Director of Charter Hall Direct.
  • Director of Commercial Industrial Property.
  • Member of NSW Advisory Board of the Property Industry Foundation.
  • Director and Vice President of Property Council Australia.
  • Member of various investment committees of unlisted property funds.
Board Directors _Jennifer_Price

Jennifer Price

Director

 

  • Master of International Public Health (Hons.) (USYD)
  • Jennifer has worked on development projects in the Pacific region investigating health systems finance, service utilisation, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis and equity. 
    • UNSW - DFAT funded project, conducting national surveys in Fiji and Timor Leste, investigating equity in health finance (health costs per household) and service utilisation (access to quality health services).
    • Nossal Institute for Global Health (Melbourne Uni.) – Fiji based project encouraging the production and utilisation of national health accounts across the Pacific region for monitoring, evaluating and strengthening health systems using the WHO national health accounts methodology. 
    • USYD - Primary research on the implementation of WHO national health accounts in the Pacific region and using the data for policy analysis.
  • Private sector research - Financial controller and project manager for an Australian based social research company.
  • Former member of the Australian Committee for Human Rights Watch.
Board images

Poppy Rouse

Director

  • Poppy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University Of Leeds and also holds a Diploma of Digital Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing. 

  • Poppy is a design thinking practitioner, facilitator and innovation consultant who is passionate about unleashing potential in the clients she works with and solving problems that matter. 

  • Following an international career spanning marketing, communications, capability and innovation roles, she now works with leaders across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors to apply new ways of thinking to solve wicked problems for the communities they serve.

  • After spending time in East Africa in 2019 and being shocked by the number of young children she saw missing out on school, she joined the So They Can team to help us work towards our mission to ensure more children have access to quality education. 

 

New Zealand Board of Trustees

Diana

Diana Crossan

Chair of So They Can New Zealand

  • Diana started her career as a probation officer. She held several senior roles in the public service including the head of the Equal Employment Opportunities unit and Group Manager HR for the Justice Department.

  • She later held a number of leadership roles in the private sector in New Zealand and the UK, before returning to New Zealand as Retirement Commissioner and then Chief Executive for Wellington Free Ambulance.

  • Diana is on several boards in the private, public and community sectors, including Chair of the JR McKenzie Trust and the Ngai Tahu Savings Scheme, Whai Rawa.

  • Her community work focuses on justice and wellbeing for New Zealanders and include work with disadvantaged women and families, financial literacy, financial products and support for refugees. 

  • Diana was appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year honours.

cass

Cassandra Treadwell

Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Co-Founder

  • Cassandra holds a Bachelor of Laws: Master of Arts Medical Law and Ethics.
  • She started her career as a Medico Legal Counsel at Capital & Coast Health New Zealand, before becoming a Fellow of Medical Law and Ethics at North Shore Hospital Sydney.
  • Cassandra founded So They Can with her dear friend and colleague Keri Chittenden after visiting the Internally Displaced Persons' Camps in Kenya. 
  • She now has over 12 years’ experience in international development and NGO projects, working closely with the teams in Kenya and Tanzania to create sustainable change.
  • In her role as CEO, Cass is also responsible for leading the fundraising, philanthropic and corporate partnerships and is often invited to speak and inspire audiences at events.
  • In 2015, Cassandra was a finalist for New Zealander of the Year and in 2018 she was a finalist in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.
  • In 2018, Cassandra spoke at TEDx on revolutionising charity. You can watch it here.
Linzi

Linzi Ebbage-Thomas

Trustee 

  • Linzi initially studied business before completing a MSc. in Human Resources Development.

  • She has worked in operational Human Resources leadership roles for the British Army, a National UK Recruitment Company, a Global Investment Bank and a US retail brand roll-out in the UK.

  • Linzi worked with the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand before starting her own Organisational Development consultancy, Develop NZ.

  • Linzi currently is an Owner/Director for PURE NZ Ice Cream and a Board Member for the Cancer Society of NZ (Otago & Southland) and sits on a number of national committees.  

  • Africa has always been part of Linzi’s travels from being a young woman and when she turned 50 she took the opportunity to travel with her best friend to volunteer for So They Can in Kenya and to walk Mt Kilimanjaro.  The trip was life changing for Linzi and her work with So They Can has deepened since.

Michelle

Michelle Luping

Trustee

  • Michelle is a Director of a Wellington consultancy firm and works on various assignments that cover a range of industries. Michelle is an outcomes-based thinker, thriving on complex challenges.

  • She has extensive experience in legal, procurement, strategic consulting and programme management roles in the public and private sector.

  • She’s commercially astute with strong negotiating skills, handling intricate pieces of work and implementing effective governance models. She’s highly regarded for establishing strong working and stakeholder relationships.

  • Michelle’s passion for So They Can comes from a deep seated belief that education provides children with the confidence to build on their talents. Every child should have a baseline on which to grow and develop their natural learning instincts as from there, they can create a continuum of education for the future children.

Ellen

Ellen Cheyne

Trustee

  • Ellen holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) and is a member of Chartered Accountants ANZ.

  • With over 20 years’ experience in Financial Services, Retail, Infrastructure and Professional Services, Ellen has enjoyed a successful international career spanning New Zealand in the UK.

  • Currently Chief Financial Officer of Retirement Income Group, Ellen also holds a number of community board positions including Trustee of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Perpetual Members Trust and Trustee of So They Can New Zealand.

  • Ellen is passionate about social justice and inclusion, and has been a strong supporter of So They Can’s work in East Africa for a number of years. 

Hayley

Hayley Whatarau

Trustee

  • Hayley is a qualified lawyer with more than 15 years’ experience in the design and implementation of development projects in several jurisdictions.  

  • Her previous roles include Legal Associate for the United Nations World Health Organization, Director of an international consulting firm and specialist advisor to various foundations. These experiences have allowed her to work extensively in Asia, Africa, Europe and Australasia.

  • Hayley has a rich family heritage from the Māori tribes of Ngāti Whātua and Te Rarawa in Aotearoa, and the Iama/Tudu people of the Torres Strait.

  • She holds directorships in leading social impact organisations, as well as tribal entities. Hayley is passionate about education and has been a proud supporter of So They Can for a number of years.

Samantha

Samantha Hayes

Trustee

  • Samantha is a journalist with more than 15 years experience.

  • She currently co-anchors Three's flagship programme Newshub Live at 6pm with Mike McRoberts and has also presented and reported for current affairs show 3rd Degree and evening news programmes Nightline, Newshub Late and Newsworthy.  

  • While on work experience with Nightline, she was sent to interview notorious heavy metal band Megadeth and came back with an international scoop.

  • She won Dancing with the Stars in 2018 with professional dance partner Aaron Gilmore raising $120,000 through public votes for their chosen charity Riding for the Disabled NZ.

  • In 2015 Samantha visited So They Can’s schools and projects in Kenya and Tanzania and ran a half marathon in the Masai Mara Game Reserve with Cassandra Treadwell during the Great Migration to help fundraise for the charity. Sam was so impressed with what she saw she jumped at the chance to join the New Zealand Trust as a trustee.

Governance Bodies - So They Can Global Alliance
So They Can : Kenya

Boniface Mouti

Roselyne Mariki

Sean Mura

Christie Esch

So They Can : Tanzania

Boniface Mouti

Sean Mura

Christie Esch

Paulo Loishiye

So They Can : USA

Christie Esch

Cassandra Treadwell

Joanna Riley

Monica Bua

Samantha Wainaina