The Africa Centre recently appointed six new trustees with a view to diversifying and bolstering its Board. This comes at a pivotal time as the iconic charity prepares to unveil its new flagship building in Southwark, London in late spring 2022.
All the new trustees joined in late 2021 and were recruited following an open and rigorous competition designed to fill specific vacancies. The appointments follow an externally facilitated governance review in early 2021 which identified several skills gaps and a need to both refresh and strengthen the board to bring a broader perspective and safeguard the future sustainability of the charity. The new appointments will underpin the charity’s financial and operational growth and help to deliver on its renewed purpose, mission, and vision.
The newly appointed trustees are Kerryn Greenberg, Julian Boiatey, Audrey Mpunzwana, Ethel Tambudzai, John Mensah and Gosia Brzezinska.
Collectively, the new trustees bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. They join seven existing trustees led by Oba Nsugbe, who oversees the charity’s work.
“We are thrilled to welcome on board fresh talent and perspectives to help in our mission to educate about, connect to, and advocate for Africa. Our new trustees bring with them not just youthful energy but also a wealth of expertise across areas as diverse as fundraising, governance, entrepreneurship and fundraising. They will be an undoubted asset to the charity going forward”. – Chair of the Board of Trustees, Oba Nsugbe, QC SAN.
Audrey Mpunzwana said: ““The Africa Centre has a rich history of promoting cultural exchange, creative expression, entrepreneurship and innovation dating back to the 1960’s. I am delighted to be joining the Board at this time as we build on the Charity’s past successes, while delivering our exciting and forward-looking mission to our diverse stakeholders in London and beyond”.
Julian Boaitey, was recruited alongside Ethel Tambudzai as a young Trustee to lead the charge in drawing more young people to The Africa Centre. He said: “I’m honoured to have been selected as one of the new young trustees. I’ve been involved with the centre for many years now and I’m excited to leverage my experience in helping shape the future of the centre and the incredible work that is being done”
The Africa Centre has an exciting programme of events lined up to celebrate its relaunch. It has bold ambitions to scale its programmes in order to reach more diverse communities with rich and authentic Africa-inspired experiences. Staff and trustees are currently preparing to welcome everyone to the new home for contemporary African culture and heritage in London.
The Africa Centre is a charity that champions the diversity of Africa and its diaspora. It promotes social cohesion, education, thought leadership, and innovation in art, culture, and entrepreneurship.
Originally conceived in 1964 to foster non-governmental relations between newly independent Africa and Britain, the charity has since evolved into a forward-thinking, inclusive, and respected cultural institution that promotes positive conversations about Africa. Its mission is to connect, educate and advocate for Africa and its global diaspora.
To secure its long-term future, the charity made a strategic decision in 2013 to move from its original home for five decades in Covent Garden, London to its current location in Southwark. The Covent Garden leasehold sale plus Arts Council England funding enabled it to secure the freehold of the Southwark building which it has been refurbishing since the spring of 2021.
The Africa Centre expects to open doors to the new home for contemporary African culture and heritage in London in late spring 2022.
THE NEW TRUSTEES
Kerryn Greenberg
Kerryn Greenberg is a curator and the former Head of International Collection Exhibitions at Tate. In her previous role as Curator (International Art) at Tate Modern, she was responsible for establishing Tate’s Africa Acquisitions Committee. In 2011, Kerryn oversaw the acquisition of more than 200 works and curated numerous displays.
Julian Boaitey
Julian is an entrepreneur with 7 years of commercial and operations experience at early-stage start-ups such as Monzo, Chip, and Bridge-U. He was one of the founding members of the original Young Africa Centre in 2016 and has since set up Yendy; a personal care brand with a supply chain built to support small scale female farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Audrey Mpunzwana
Audrey is a seasoned communication specialist whose expertise encompasses all aspects of stakeholder engagement including media relations, brand awareness, external affairs planning, and employee engagement. Her work in the global corporate and international development sectors has taken her all over the world, including 20 African capitals.
Ethel Tambudzai
One of two new young trustees, Ethel is passionate about governance, building communities, and strategic planning. She is the Founder & Director of Tambu Group Ltd; a boutique consulting firm that has worked with start-ups, charities, members clubs, and social enterprises across the UK, Europe, and Africa.
John Mensah
John is an accomplished charity and fundraising consultant with a strong mix of knowledge and skills to lead change. He is the founder and CEO of Outreach Management Services, a local consultancy firm that provides specialised services to charities, community, and faith-based organisations. His experience includes providing strategic leadership to ensure that organisations become successful in governance, fundraising, compliance, and capacity-building to enable them to make the right impact.
Gosia Brzezinska
Founder and Director of BB Partners, a strategic communications advisory, Gosia brings a decade of communications experience, a practical approach to business and financial management and planning for growth. She has vast experience in managing reputations, running global campaigns, designing strategic communications for Africa-based organisations or influencing stakeholders on the continent.
