Meet our 2025/26 Philanthropy Committee
Philanthropy has always been at the heart of The Conscious Travel Foundation. Every year, we channel our collective resources to support grassroots tourism projects led by communities around the world, and steering the decision making process is our Philanthropy Committee.
Why a committee? From the very beginning, we wanted our programme to be equitable, transparent, and rooted in diverse perspectives and expertise. The committee helps us choose the recipients of our Community Impact Fund grants, ensuring our support reaches the projects and initiatives that need it most.
For 2025/26, we welcome a committee that reflects the depth and breadth of our community. It brings together members, mentors and external experts with a wealth of experience from community-builders and hoteliers, to positive impact pioneers and not-for-profit leaders.
The People
Our members include hoteliers such as Dee Gibson and Omar Winn, who understand the direct impact hospitality businesses can have when working alongside local communities from their experience across Sri Lanka (Kalukanda House) and Bhutan (Gangtey Lodge). We also have sustainability leaders like Quinn Meyer, drawing on decades of conservation and biodiversity work at Crees Manu in Peru, and Natalie Lyall-Grant, who brings her experience embedding positive impact at tour operator Jacada and through her own social enterprise tackling period poverty.
In the wellness and development space, Jools Sampson draws on two decades of experience building transformational retreats in collaboration with communities across the globe at Reclaim Yourself. Dave Kartagener joins us once again, President of KAI and founder of the KAI Foundation, whose projects in Africa and Asia have improved healthcare and education for countless communities.
L-R: Dee Gibson, Omar Winn, Quinn Meyer, Natalie Lyall-Grant, Jools Sampson
This year, we have some of Europe’s most well-regarded, impact-led travel designers and tour operators joining the committee — representing the member demographic whose contributions drive the Community Impact Fund. We welcome Jarrod Kyte, Product and Impact Director at Steppes Travel, who brings his commitment to conservation-led, responsible travel, and Valerie Van De Peer, founder of Wild About Earth, who specialises in designing meaningful journeys that integrate philanthropic micro-experiences.
Alizé King-Harman, travel designer at Joro Experiences, adds a global perspective shaped by her upbringing in the Seychelles, and Venetia Martin, Managing Director of Journeys With Purpose, has been recognised globally for her expertise in conservation-based travel, bringing vital experience in connecting visionary projects with engaged supporters.
L-R: Dave Kartagener, Jarrod Kyte, Valerie Van Der Peer, Alize King-Harman, Venetia Martin
Our mentors bring sector wide insight and expertise. Milo Putnam shares his deep knowledge of ethical wildlife tourism at Laro and Re:wild, while Juliet Kinsman (Bouteco) brings three decades of experience using storytelling, activism and sustainable hospitality to inspire impact.
Our not-for-profit expertise comes from Jenny Teasdale, Operations Director at Fundación Green Apple in Colombia, an existing grantee who knows what it means to receive, manage and deliver impact through grants.
And then there are our external experts. Audrey Scott, who draws on her wealth of experience in tourism development and tourism for good projects around the world at Uncornered Market; and Kuba Nowak, a filmmaker and community builder whose work tells powerful human stories and explores what meaningful philanthropy can look like.
L-R: Milo Putnam, Juliet Kinsman, Jenny Teasdale, Audrey Scott, Kuba Nowak
What’s Next?
This month, members are invited to register their Member Directed Giving projects, or put forward other grassroots initiatives they believe in for our Community Impact Fund grants. Nominations will be reviewed by the committee, beginning the journey that leads to two new grantees being announced early next year.
If you want to find out more about our grants or our philanthropy process, please get in touch.
