International Leadership Team
Our International Leadership Team is key to imparting and furthering our mission and vision through discerning leadership and passionate motivation, focusing on protecting children and enabling family reunification, in Kenya and beyond.
Kelly Strong
Chief Executive Officer, United Kingdom
Kelly has passionately been leading teams internationally for over 10 years, managing radical change. Although Kelly holds a BSc Hons in Adult Nursing, she has looked to leverage her diverse experiences and knowledge by turning good intentions into best practice within the international development sector. Kelly began her role as CEO in 2019 after spending 7.5 years living in Kenya with her husband and children.
Board of Trustees
Kenyan children’s Project
Samuel Nudds
Samuel has worked professionally as a designer for over 15 years from starting his career in advertising, illustration and branding before transitioning to digital design. Sam’s role as creative director and Trustee stems from his and his wife’s passion to see vulnerable children from freed from abuse and poverty.
Brandon Stiver
Brandon is the Senior Director of Global Programmes and Partnerships at 1MILLIONHOME with experience running family based advocacy and care ministry in Tanzania, working in the Californian foster care system and church leadership. As a child welfare and non-profit professional, Brandon is working to mobilise communities and install systems for reunifying children back to their families in the majority world. He also teaches graduate and undergraduate students on issues facing at risk children globally.
Rebecca Patterson
Rebecca formerly worked at UK organisation, ‘Home for Good.’ She has recently been working towards a Masters in Social Work and has a desire to see care reformed here the UK, and across the globe. Her passion for children to be raised in safe families aligns with our charity vision and we are so glad to have her on our Board!
Andrew Ball
Andy is Founder, and CEO of UK Registered Charity, ‘KnownValuedLoved’, set up to provide children living in conflict zones, access to quality education. Andy was also a Deputy Head Teacher and Safeguard Lead within his home County of Derbyshire, UK. His background and experience in Charity Management, Safeguarding and Global Development is invaluable.
Board of Directors
children’s Transformation project - kenya
Ursla Achieng Oburu
Chairlady, Kenya
Ursla has a background as Field Officer at Kenya Aids Intervention Prevention Programme Group and Senior Social Worker at Children’s Transformation Project - Kenya led her to secure her latest role as a Probation Officer in the Kenyan Juvenile System. Ursla’s goal to deliver high quality standards of social care and child protection, as well as her commitment to vulnerable individuals and families in her community has been her motivation to continue to work, even through extreme health challenges over the last few years. Ursla is an inspiration to many and her zeal for seeing lives transformed and care reform in the nation of Kenya, and the rest of the world is what made her a fantastic candidate for her current role as Chairlady.
Victoria Zillah
Board Member, Kenya
Victoria is a Member of County Assembly of Kakamega and the Founder and Chairlady and Director of a youth-led organisation that majors on Policy Advocacy. As a well-known influencer and policy advocate with 10 years experience, she dedicates her life to helping shape people and communities, creating unique approaches to personal and leadership development through her exemplary performance and advocacy of matters affecting youths, women, adolescents and children. Through her leadership as a policy advocate she has been able to influence several county policies which include Kakamega County GBV Policy, Kakamega Children's Policy among others and currently spearheading the drafting of Kakamega County Cancer Policy document among others. She has actively participated in local and international forums on peace and security issues, youth development, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Child Protection.
Kelly Strong
Executive Director & Board Member, United Kingdom
Alice Gathii Karia
Secretary, Kenya
Former Programme’s Executive Officer of ACCIK, Alice has 15+ years experience in developing and managing programmes at county & national level in Kenya. Alice is committed to seeing the world change for at risk children. She has credited training programmes for child care and protection actors and designed & implemented programmes for 2000+ frontline professionals. Career highlights to date: rolling out national child care and protection initiatives to 400+ children facilities across 45 counties, strategic partnership development with the GoK, Private Sector and civil societies, and partnering with Kenya Women Judges Association to Launch & implement the Cry for justice Sensitization programme in 2017.
Judith Nasimiyu Mandillah
Board Member, Kenya
Judith is Assistant Director of Probation in Kenya and Coordinator of Probation and Aftercare Service Western Region, Kenya. Judith is a certified professional psychological counsellor, a judiciary practicing accredited mediator and restorative justice peace keeping consultant. With 34 years of probation experience, Judith has been instrumental in regional restorative justice practice and children's rights advocacy and she initiated the establishment of the ‘Probation Community Resource and Training Center’ for community crime prevention. Judith has championed the interests and needs of countless children, especially those in conflict with the law and in need of care/protection, particularly in policy formulation, reintegration and resettlement. She is also a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Phylis Nyambura
Board Member, Kenya
Ms. Phylis Nyambura is a Human Rights Advocate with progressive experience as a social justice advocate and practitioner in governance, rule of law and access to justice, public health and HIV/AIDS, social economic justice, children and gender minority rights.
She is a founder member and Partner at PNAC Advocates and a Legal Consultant at Husika Trust, an organisation that campaigns for eradication of all forms of violence against women where she spearheads law and policy reform initiatives on children, youth and women’s rights issues.
Vincent Munyoni
Treasurer, Kenya
Vincent has diverse skills and experience as a Procurement Specialist and Programme Coordinator that started through his studies in Business Management and Quality Management. Vincent is now the Outreach and Community Programme Coordinator for the Salvation Army across Western Kenya, working primarily with the street-connected children. CTP-K began a partnership with the Salvation Army in 2015, assisting with their Street Work. It has been such an impactful collaboration and the partnership continues to blossom. Vincent's incredible leadership qualities are clearly visible through the Salvation Army’s work with the street-connected children. He is a credit to them.
Jonathan Strong
Board Member, United Kingdom
Jonathan, known as “Jono” had a big role change back in 2013 after he and his wife Kelly decided to move out to Kenya and transition from working as an Engineer, to becoming a member of the Children Transformation Project - Kenya’s leadership team. During their 7.5 years living on the ground in Kenya, Jono took the primary role in raising their 3 young children, all conceived in Kenya. Jono could not be more passionate about raising children in love, with a deep desire to see parents equipped and encouraged to reach their full potential as caregivers, creating safety and enabling children to feel secure and a strong sense of belonging. Jono is also an avid coffee drinker!
Cassie Furnari
Board Member, USA
Cassie is the Founder and Executive Director at Milele International. She has a wealth of experience in fundraising, leadership, public speaking, international development, and family based care. Cassie is an advocate for the rights, protection, and resources for youth in Kenya. She is passionate about healthy and thriving families and caring for a population that is often times left behind. Cassie’s like-minded organisation, Milele International desires to see children living on the streets in Kenya freed from poverty and given the opportunities they need to succeed. Our similar mission and drive has enabled a beautiful relationship and collaboration. Although Cassie lives in Southern California with her husband, she frequently travels to Kenya.
Franc Mona
Trustee, Kenya
Franc and his wife live in Kakamega Country where they have been raising their children whilst he ran a Children’s Charitable Institute since 2005, until recently.
Franc acts as an official in the County Network of Children’s Charitable Institution’s (KACCCIN) since 2007. As a member and County Representative for the Association of Children’s Charitiable Institute’s in Kenya since 2012.