Our People
Meet our experienced and dedicated global team.
Trustees
Our Board of Trustees work together to set our strategic direction and check our progress against our strategy. Between them, they have a wide range of experience from business management, sustainability, technology and media. Members of the Board also participate in three subcommittees: the Finance Sub-Committee (chaired by Carole Ramella), the People and Culture Sub-Committee (chaired by Elizabeth Ntege), and a newly formed Partnership for Growth Committee chaired by Max Whicher.
Nicoletta Gopsill-Piccolrovazzi
Chair
Location: Switzerland
Nicoletta has 30+ years’ experience leading organisations, with a focus on sustainability.
Richard Edwards
Trustee
Location: UK
Richard is a senior finance leader with over 20 years of experience in multinational corporations.
Elizabeth Ntege
Trustee
Location: Uganda
Elizabeth is CEO of NFT Consult, a consultancy firm that works across Africa.
Carole Ramella
Trustee
Location: Ghana
Carole is the founder and Managing Director of GFA Consulting Ltd, a corporate finance boutique based in Ghana.
Max Whicher
Trustee
Location: UK
Max is a co-founder and CEO of Spin Brands, a social media agency based in London.
Janine McKelvey
Trustee
Location: UK
Janine leads a team of data lawyers, compliance and assurance professionals at BT Group, a multinational telecommunications company.
Derrick Betts
Trustee
Location: UK
Derrick is an Associate Partner at EY-Parthenon, part of the global Earnst & Young consultancy firm.
Helen McMillan
Trustee
Location: UK
Helen is a freelance consultant, specialising in the hospitality industry.
Senior leadership team
Our senior leadership team are responsible for day-to-day decision-making and for leading our departments.
Ven Nyamondo
CEO
Location: Rwanda
Ven is a trained Certified Accountant with over 16 years’ experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Chance for Childhood, she was the Director of Finance at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. Ven joined Chance for Childhood in 2018 as Regional Finance Manager and with the growth of our East African portfolio she transitioned into Head of Operations. In 2023 she assumed the COO role, taking responsibility for all programme operations. In 2025, she was appointed as our first Africa-based CEO.
Richard Opoku
Country Representative and Global Safeguarding Lead
Location: Ghana
Richard O. Opoku is a specialist in disability inclusion, safeguarding, and international development, with extensive experience designing and delivering programmes that promote inclusive, safe and equitable education for children. Richard is a certified Children’s Accelerated Trauma Technique (CATT) Counsellor, member of Inclusion International and recipient of the Humanitarian Awards Global 2020.
Felicien Turatsinze
Head of Operations - East Africa
Location: Rwanda
Felicien is one of Rwanda’s only qualified speech and language therapists, and a qualified physiotherapist. He trained at the Manchester Met University and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Mount Kenya University. Felicien has been responsible for leading the first community-based education and social reform programmes to include relevant specialist services such as speech and language support and community-based physiotherapist services.
Vanda Marenghi
Head of Finance
Location: UK
Vanda is an ACCA‑qualified finance leader with extensive experience across international charities, media organisations and global corporations. Her charity finance career spans senior roles at the Elton John AIDS Foundation and BBC Media Action. As Head of Finance at Chance for Childhood, she provides strategic financial leadership, ensures robust compliance, and delivers clear, insightful reporting to support organisational impact.
Matt Zeqiri
Head of Fundraising and Communications
Location: UK
Matt joined as Senior Partnerships Manager in 2023, drawn to the charity’s work and values, particularly the #OverExposed campaign. He enjoys developing meaningful strategic partnerships with Chance for Childhood’s supporters and has a particular interest in introducing new funders to our impactful work. He lives in North Wales countryside with his partner, two boys under eight, three pigs, three sheep, a cat and a dog. It is noisy.
Programmes team
Our programmes team look after all of our projects across the countries where we work.
100% of our programme staff are nationals, living and working in our countries of operation.
Rwanda
Programmes team
Jacqueline Mukandayisenga
Adrien Habiyaremye
Jean Paul Maniragena
Elie Kwizerimana
Japhet Niyokwizerwa
Fabrice Gatokarakura
Marie-Lyse Nzamwita
Joseph Munyandamutsa
Theophile Ntigurirwa
Phionah Ngabire
Emerance Mizero
Fidele Nikuze
Gaspard Manirakiza
Jean Claude Nkundwanimana
Jeanne Nyirahabimana
Prosper Twiringiyimana
Jean Denys Ndorimana
Thierry Giraneza
Ghana
Programmes team
Richard Opoku
Abdul-Ghaffar Adam
Eric Nkrumah
Francis Owusu
Yvonne Agbezudor
Uganda
Programmes team
Andrew Epenu
Innocent Tukei
Immaculate Kiiza
Joyce Nakanwagi
Aisha Kabugho
Nathan Mukabire
Franko Olong
UK
Finance team
Vanda Marenghi
Jacqueline Lam
Betty Debrah
Fundraising and Communications team
Matt Zeqiri
Janey Hellmen
Ruby Cardona
Eleanor Lelourec
Mychaela Okoro
Discover more:
Stay in the loop
Sign up to get the latest updates on our work and ways you can make a difference.
By signing up, you agree to our data policy. Learn more in our privacy policy.