Nick Hamilton
Co-founder & Chief Development Officer
Nick is Head of Business Development and Fundraising at The Conduit. He had a career in investment banking and fund management, including as the Asia Pacific CEO of Standard Bank Group and Asia CEO of Unicredit.
This subsequently led him to pursue for-profit investments that have positive social outcomes as an investor and board member of Latitude Hotels Group, an African impact hospitality company, and as an investor in Postcard Hotels, an Indian impact hospitality business. His experience paved the way to co-founding The Conduit with Paul.
Paul Van Zyl
Co-founder & CEO
Paul served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission working alongside Nelson Mandela. He went on to co-found the International Centre for Transitional Justice, an organization that works in over 40 countries that have endured massive human rights violations under repression and conflict. It was a natural progression to co-found The Conduit with Nick.
Conduit Holdco Board
Salima Vellani
Co-founder of Bagatelle International and founder of KBox Global and Absurd Bird. Salima has been a serial founder in the F&B industry for over a decade.
Nick Stace
Head of social purpose and sustainable finance for Barclays UK. Nick is also Chair of The Prison Reform Trust, NED and advisor to Rewired Earth.
Nick Vetch
Co-founder and executive chairman of FTSE business Big Yellow. Nick is active in human rights work and is a member of the Uyghur Tribunal.
James Down
Managing Director at CPP Investments. James was formerly chief strategy officer at The Guardian Media Group, responsible for digital transformation.
Jayma Pau
Co-CEO at Leaders’ Quest. Jayma works with multinational clients and has a particular interest in culture change and the alignment of executive teams.
Stuart Roden
Former chairman of Lansdowne Partners. Stuart is also chairman and founder of Unlocking Potential and a trustee of The National Gallery.
Conduit Club Limited Board
Nick Hamilton – Chair
Chief Development Officer at The Conduit. Nick previously held senior roles in investment banking, before co-founding The Conduit with Paul.
Megan Kennedy
Global Chief Operating Officer at The Conduit. Megan has over 20 years of experience in the global hospitality and lifestyle industry.
Johanna Campion
Investor, mentor, and board member, Johanna spent 25 years in investment banking and chairs the advisory board of Mission Beyond UK.
Jivan de Silva
Co-manager at Yellowwoods. Jivan was previously Strategy and Transformation Director at Nando’s UK & Ireland, driving the commercial success of the business.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION
As set out in our articles of association we have a non-executive board including investor representation that provides robust oversight and accountability and to which the senior executive team, comprising the CEO, CFO, COO and CDO (Chief Development Officer) report. The board is supported by a Board Secretary that oversees all board information, investor communications and investment rounds, and who liaises with our expert legal advisors, Cripps, to ensure legal oversight, compliance and appropriate KYC processes for all investment. The board is governed by clear terms of reference including specific board reserved matters.
Our Story
Guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu – meaning ‘I am because you are’ – our co-founders committed to using the club’s platform to host events on social and environmental issues. Bringing people together in-person, eye-to-eye, to share ideas and make meaningful connections.
