OUR TEAM
Bringing skills, experience, energy and heart to all we do
Board of Trustees
Derrick Mkandla
Chair of Trustees
An adopted Yorkshireman, Derrick and his family emigrated to the UK from Zimbabwe when he was 10. He has maintained strong ties with his homeland, through regular visits to family and continued involvement in supporting Zimbabwean communities.
The Son of ZET’s founding father, Vulindlela Mkandla, he is one of four founding members of the ZET board of trustees and has been contributing to the work of the charity since 1987. Derrick chairs board meetings and line manages the Operations Manager.
He spent his professional career as an engineer, retiring after 32 years in UK industry.
Stuart Kempfield
Vice Chair
Stuart is a political economist with ten years of experience in international development. Holding roles with global think tanks and local community-based organisations he has worked on a range of issues related to poverty and inequality.
He has been a project manager and strategic advisor on numerous development programmes – for donors including DFID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and HSBC – and has played a leading role in global campaigns on water, climate, and development. He previously lived and worked in Zambia.
He was ZET’s first Operations Manager between 2012 and 2014.
Hannah O'Riordan
Secretary
Hannah started working with ZET as a volunteer before stepping up to become Operations Manager and then Trustee.
Before ZET, she graduated from the University of Leeds with a first class degree in Politics including a dissertation on sub-Saharan African development.
She has experience fundraising and campaigning for several international charities. She has worked with children and young adults in schools and on extra-curricular programmes, mainstreaming the importance of education for social mobility and enhancing safeguarding.
Tony McCartney
Treasurer
Tony is an accountant by profession, the majority of which was spent in large consulting firms, including EY where he was an audit partner.
Having completed 2 Masters degrees in International Development from SOAS and the London School of Economics, Tony is currently a trustee to three other charities with a focus on international development issues.
Colourgrad N Mpoko
Trustee
Colourgrad N Mpoko left Zimbabwe for the UK in 1972 in order to pursue his studies in Leeds. He holds a B.SC and PhD in Clinical Biochemistry. One of four founding members of the ZET board of trustees and spent many years as Secretary.
He is a trustee of the Thekwane Alumni Association in Zimbabwe. An Alumni Association promoting interchange among ex-Thekwane graduates and current students. He is also involved with Touched By An Angel a charitable organisation based in the UK dedicated to raising funds to buy essential, life, saving medical equipment and medicines for Bulawayo hospitals that are currently in crisis.
Adam Randon
Trustee
AColourgrad N Mpoko left Zimbabwe for the UK in 1972 in order to pursue his studies in Leeds. He holds a B.SC and PhD in Clinical Biochemistry. One of four founding members of the ZET board of trustees and spent many years as Secretary.
He is a trustee of the Thekwane Alumni Association in Zimbabwe. An Alumni Association promoting interchange among ex-Thekwane graduates and current students. He is also involved with Touched By An Angel a charitable organisation based in the UK dedicated to raising funds to buy essential, life, saving medical equipment and medicines for Bulawayo hospitals that are currently in crisis.
Chelsea Brown
Trustee
Chelsea is the Major Donor Relationship Manager at Young Epilepsy, a UK charity championing the rights of children and young people.
She is founder of The Millie Community, which advances economic empowerment and education for women around the world. Chelsea hosts The Millie Podcast, where she speaks with inspiring women from across the globe about resilience, leadership, and creating change.
She has also held international board positions with Sitti Social Enterprises, a Palestinian impact organization, and Femme International, an NGO addressing menstrual equity in East Africa.
Maureen Mguni
Trustee
Maureen was orignally a beneficary of ZET’s work coming over from Zimbabwe to further her studies. She spent time as ZET Administrator and after some years away she returned to join the board.
Currently she works as a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and a Senior Social Worker with extensive experience in child protection, mental health and education. Additionally, Maureen is a Safeguarding Consultant, with expertise in issues pertaining to Violence Against Women and Girls. Her ongoing doctoral research is on Female Genital Mutilation in the UK.
Maureen holds a BA in Sociology, a Master’s in Development Studies, and another Master’s in Social Work.
Vuli Mkandla
Founder (Retired)
The Zimbabwe Educational Trust was founded in 1987 by Vulindlela Mkandla. Born in Bulawayo, Mr. Mkandla worked for Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education as a teacher, head teacher, and finally as manager of district schools.
He left Zimbabwe in 1970, travelling to the UK to complete an Educational Administration course in Leeds, where he has remained to this day.
In 2012, Mr Mkandla’s work was recognised by the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards, who presented him with the ‘Lifetime Contribution Award’.
Staff
Andrew Jackson
Operations Manager
At the helm since 2018, Andrew reports to the board and oversees all areas of our operations.
He has lived and volunteered in Nepal and Tanzania, covering projects on education, the environment and access to healthcare. Former work includes; leading on educational programmes with businesses at Ahead Partnership, operations and youth work at NCS – The Challenge, business development at Association of Blind Asians, and health, social care and dementia policy at Department of Health.
He visits Zimbabwe regularly to maintain partnerships, visit projects, meet beneficiaries and undertake due diligence on all aspects of our work.
His mission is to address some of the deepest disparities in the world today, addressing basic and fundamental needs before life’s nice to haves.
Nasreen Mohamed
Fundraising & Operations Officer
Nasreen is a passionate advocate for social impact with over a decade of experience empowering underserved communities across East Africa through her Kenyan-based social enterprise Afrikapu. With a strong focus on education, gender equity, and inclusive development, she has led high-impact initiative to uplift women and youth in some of East-Africa’s most vulnerable settings.
Her contributions in the social-tech space have earned her several prestigious global honours, including recognition as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, a Mandela Washington Fellow and a UK Go Global Africa Champion.
With executive leadership training from Harvard University, Nasreen brings a proven ability to harness partnerships, innovation, and social enterprise to create sustainable opportunities and enhance resilience in marginalized communities across Africa and beyond.
Her mission is to walk alongside communities as they build lasting change through learning, leadership, and hope.