We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE as the new Chair of the Board. Previously, she served on the Sentebale Board from 2009-2015.
Sophie is a Zimbabwe-born executive with experience leading strategy, legal and operations functions for companies such as Morgan Stanley, Virgin Money, Baker McKenzie and Meta. She is Chair and Co-founder of Nandi Life Sciences, a US based biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics for rare cancers and auto-immune diseases. Sophie is also Chair and Executive Founder of the Black British Business Awards. In 2021, she was awarded an MBE for extraordinary contributions to diversity in business. Sophie grew up in southern Africa, and, through various prestigious scholarships, was educated in Canada, the U.S. and U.K.
Sophie will succeed Johnny Hornby, who served 11 years on Sentebale’s Board and was Chair since March 2018. During his 11-year tenure, Johnny played a pivotal role in the charity’s growth and success, enabling it to deliver access to vital health services, care, support and skills trainings to the most vulnerable young people across Lesotho and Botswana.
“Under Johnny’s leadership and vision, Sentebale has scaled its services and operations to deliver holistic support thousands in Lesotho and Botswana. His commitment to the children and young people of southern Africa has been incredible, and we are grateful for his dedication, partnership and friendship over the last 11 years,’ said Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. “We are so pleased to welcome Sophie back to Sentebale. Her experience, passion for social change and entrepreneurial spirit will be a tremendous benefit to Sentebale’s next chapter.”
Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE said, “I am honoured to be appointed as the new Chair of Sentebale. I have had the privilege of a world-class education and career specifically because many people took a chance on me, the young girl from Zimbabwe, and gave me air cover when the odds were stacked against me. Sentebale has the capacity to transform lives and inspire youngsters to reach for the stars and define their own destinies. I am committed to building on the incredible work that Johnny and the team have done, and to ensure that we deliver focused programmes that transform the trajectories of children and young people affected by poverty, inequity and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana.”
“It has been a privilege to be a part of this unique charity which undertakes such vital work with children and young people across Lesotho and Botswana,” said Johnny Hornby. “During my time on the Board, and latterly as Chair, great progress has been made in ensuring thousands of children and young people know their HIV status and can access and stay on treatment. Furthermore, we developed a new strategy that adopts a more holistic approach in responding to the needs voiced by children and young people today. By working together to secure the necessary funding, and delivering sustainable programmes, we are supporting this generation of young Basotho and Batswana to thrive.”
“I am enormously grateful to my fellow trustees for all their commitment and support over the years, and I want to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication. I wish Sophie the very best in her new role as Chair and look forward to following Sentebale through its next phase of leadership.”
