About - iZinga Assist

About iZinga Assist

Quick background

iZinga Assist was established as a UK-registered charity to help the international donor community identify and support impactful Non-Profit Organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through the iZinga Assist platform, donors can explore independently reviewed and rated NPOs, and support those they trust, while NPOs receive support to maximise their impact. By bridging the gap between NPOs and Donors we bring a new level of transparency and confidence to charitable giving.

With deep expertise in both UK and international giving, and a strong local presence in the regions we serve, iZinga Assist is uniquely positioned to support the entire donation journey—from initial engagement to impact reporting. Our platform not only facilitates donations but also provides donors with insight and feedback from the NPOs they support, ensuring a clear connection between their contributions and the difference they make.

Our Focus

iZinga Assist is committed to empowering Non-Profit Organisations and inspiring Donors. By focusing on the following key areas, iZinga Assist is working to create a more impactful and sustainable non-profit sector.

Bridging the Gap:

Innovatively connecting passionate Donors with impactful NPOs to create meaningful collaborations and address emerging challenges.

Fostering Trust:

Building trust and transparency within the non-profit sector by providing reliable information and verification.

Empowering NPOs:

Equipping NPOs with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to succeed and achieve their missions.

Amplifying Impact:

Sharing the inspiring stories of NPOs and highlighting their positive contributions to society.

Derek Lubner

Chairman

Derek has experience in a wide variety of start-ups in the technology, product marketing and social entrepreneurialism sectors. He has experience working in the USA, the UK, and South Africa. He has been a board member of Mothers2Mothers since its founding 20 years ago. M2M employs over 1500 HIV positive women as mentor mothers, who help to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Based in Cape Town, M2M operates in 10 African countries.

Henk Swanepoel

CEO

Henk is a highly regarded business leader recognised for his exceptional impact on marketing, media, and event management. As Chief Marketing Officer at Digitata Insights Limited, he promoted a groundbreaking gamification platform and implemented cutting-edge strategies that expanded the company globally. Moreover, as Founder and CEO of Swank Marketing Projects, he directed a collection of award-winning events and campaigns. Prior to co-founding iZinga Assist, Henk devoted his expertise to the South African Chamber of Commerce UK as a volunteer executive, where his dedication to advancing social good earned him broad acclaim.

Conal Lewer-Allen

CTO

Conal has been involved in a number of startups in software development and telecommunications industries on a global scale.
His interests include man-machine interface, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, social engineering, and the environment. He lives in Northern Europe but has previously lived in Hong Kong, the USA, and Southern Africa.
He has over 30 years’ experience in the technical and entrepreneurial fields.

Ricardo Wyngaard

Chief Legal Officer

Alexandra Leenen

COO

Jill Ritchie

Head of Fundraising

Adél Burger

Head of Administration

Janet Lubner

Trustee

Janet studied urban and regional planning at the University of Cape Town and then worked for a number of NPOs in South Africa in the late 1980s. After marrying Derek and taking off time to raise their children Rafael and Julia, she began volunteering and participated in a programme that assisted children to learn to read. She was also involved with M2M from its early years as well as the Shine Centre, both based in Cape Town.

Rachel Sikwane

Director

Rachel is a commercial lawyer with over 15 years of experience in commercial and intellectual property (IP) law, and the founder and director of RNMS Incorporated. Recognised as a leader in her field, she provides strategic legal advice on cross-border IP transactions, licensing agreements, and IP strategies to local and international and multi-national clients across South Africa, Africa, and around the world.

Dragana Trivanović

DevOps Project Coordinator

Marlene Woest

Financial Manager

Max Roux

Founders Associate

Empowering Non-Profits, ensuring impactful donations through trust & transparency.

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