Who we are

Patron: Roberta Bondar C.C. O.Ont. MD PhD FRSC FRCP ICD.D

Dr. Bondar became Patron of Hoopers Africa Trust in June 2013.

As the world’s first neurologist in space, Dr. Roberta Bondar is globally recognized for her pioneering contribution to space medicine research. Aboard the NASA Discovery mission STS-42 in 1992, she conducted over 40 experiments in the shuttle’s first international microgravity laboratory on behalf of six international space agencies.

Dr. Bondar is an acclaimed photographer of the natural wonders of our planet and the author of four best-selling photo essay books featuring her stunning photography of the Earth. She is Co-Founder and President of The Roberta Bondar Foundation http://www.therbf.org

Among the many honors and awards, Dr. Bondar has been recognized with the NASA Spaceflight Medal, inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and into the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame for her pioneering research in space medicine. Dr. Bondar is a Companion of the Order of Canada and has been appointed to the Order of Ontario and as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She has received 28 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities. Dr. Bondar received her own star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2011.

Chairman: Roger Hooper

Roger founded Hoopers Africa Trust in March 2007 following many visits to Kenya. He is a photographer who is passionate about wildlife. He has photographed many extraordinary aspects of our planet and has travelled to all seven continents.

Roger uses his photography as a way of informing others of the frailty and beauty of the world around us, highlighting the need to preserve our wildest environments, and the plight of our most endangered species.

Roger is a supporter of WWF-UK and a member of Wildlife Photographers United who support the Remembering Wildlife series of books to raise funds for conservation. www.rogerhooper.co.uk

Trustee: Charlotte Dobrée Morrison

Charlotte has wide experience in financial and private equity public relations, and marketing, through working at Financial Dynamics, the BVCA and Equus Group, having started in the City as an analyst and fund manager at Kleinwort Benson.

Charlotte is currently CFO of Stornoway Media Inc, a Director of Stuff International Design Limited, Head of Communications for RunGreen International Limited as well as having her own property management business.

Trustee: Nick Giles

Nick is HAT’s lawyer as well as being a trustee. He has been responsible for ensuring all the requirements of charity law are satisfied. Nick carried out the legal work to set up HAT and has been involved ever since. This has included visiting Kenya to meet the students every other year since 2007.

Nick has been a friend of Roger Hooper for over 40 years, so when Roger decided to set up HAT, Nick was delighted to become involved.

Nick lives with his wife Ina in Putney, South West London. Away from work, Nick's interest are theatre, tennis, football and socialising with family and friends.

Trustee: Elizabeth Barthes-Wilson

In December 2015 Dr Elizabeth Barthes-Wilson joined our board of Trustees.

Elizabeth is a General Practitioner in London, with experience of working in Africa, including at an Ebola Treatment Centre in Sierra Leone.

Elizabeth's medical expertise greatly benefits Hoopers Africa Trust and the health and well-being of our HAT students.

Away from work, Elizabeth's interests include travel and photography.

Trustee: Dr. Marice Theron

Marice is a consultant paediatrician in the UK with a special interest in neonatology and is the clinical lead for neonatology at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Marice was born in South Africa and raised in Namibia.

In her free time Marice enjoys travel and photography.

Trustee: Helen Couldrey

Helen has a degree in Education from Sussex University and taught at schools in London and Toronto. She became a commissioning editor with McGraw-Hill International with the remit to introduce a new Mathematics programme for Canadian schools. In 1982 Helen set up and ran a publishing and stationery company in London. This company was acquired by GMC Publications Limited in 2012.

Helen was the Director of Hoopers Gallery from 2003-2011 and is a Past Master and on the Court of the Worshipful Company of Stationers’ and Newspaper Makers in the City of London. Helen is also Chair of the Stationers' Education Committee

Trustee: Lady Sally Knowles

Sally studied law at university in Cardiff and qualified as a Solicitor in 1993. Between 2000 and 2006, she worked for the global law firm, DLA Piper, where she was a Partner in the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring department, specialising in litigious matters in that field.

Sally is married to Sir Nigel Knowles,

Nigel was honoured with a knighthood in 2008 for services to the legal profession. Nigel and Sally have two young sons and live in Fulham, London.

Trustee: Neil Whitehead

Neil was born in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an architect and in 2005 founded Stuff International Design Limited.

Prior to this he was UK Managing Director of Fitch PLC, after being its Creative Director, while it rose to become the fourth largest design business in the world. More recently Neil started Stuff Innovations to advise start-up companies.