Patrons

Build Africa's patrons support the charity by raising awareness, fundraising and hosting and attending key events. We are very grateful to them for their continued support and invaluable contribution.

Mark Florman (Chair of Patrons and Ambassadors) Mark is Strategic Adviser & Industry Ambassador at The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. He is the co-founder and Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice and Senior Advisor to 8 Miles LLP (the pan-African private equity fund). Mark is also Advisor to the African IP Trust, Chairman of the Legacy List and is involved in numerous philanthropic and related activities.
Richard Dowden Richard is a journalist and author. He first worked in Africa in the early 1970's as a volunteer teacher in rural Uganda. He then entered journalism, becoming Africa Editor of The Independent and then The Economist. In 2002 he was appointed Director of the Royal African Society. His book, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, was published in 2008 to much acclaim.
Shiulie Ghosh Shiulie is a news anchor for Al Jazeera International based in Doha. Previously a correspondent and presenter for ITV News, Shiulie was awarded the 2006 Alfred I. Dupont Columbia News Broadcasting Award for her reports on the Asian tsunami. Shiulie has supported Build Africa since 2002. She has visited our work in Africa and helped make a short film about our projects.
Tamzin Merchant Tamzin is an actress and poet. She has played roles in Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre and has starred in the BBC 2 drama The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Tamzin's other credits include Margo Durrell in the 2005 BBC television film My Family and Other Animals, and in 2006 she appeared as the student daughter of Alan Davies, in the comedy The Good Housekeeping Guide.
Henry Olonga Henry is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, noted for his fast bowling. He spent the first few years of his life growing up in Zambia and Kenya before moving to Zimbabwe in 1981, just after the country gained independence. Henry has taken part in a number of Build Africa fundraising events and has recently completed a contemporary pop album.
Danny Wallace Danny Wallace is a British documentary comedian, writer, television and radio presenter on XFM. His notable works include the books Join Me and Yes Man and the TV series How to Start Your Own Country. In 2008 Yes Man was made in to a major motion picture starring Jim Carrey. Recent successes have included his first novel, Charlotte Street.
James Wilby James is a well-known face on stage and screen whose credits include the films Morris, Howard's End, Regeneration, Gosford Park and A Handful of Dust. James has supported Build Africa since 1990, becoming a Patron in 1998. James has recently starred as J. Bruce Ismay in the 4-part television series, Titanic, released in 2012 to mark the disaster's 100th anniversary.
Dr. Richard Hoskins Richard Hoskins is a qualified teacher, author and advocate of African children's rights. He is especially well-known for his work with street children, and those trafficked into Europe for criminal purposes. In June 2012 his book The Boy in the River was published by PanMacmillan to much acclaim, becoming a top ten bestseller. A major television dramatisation is to follow.
Greg Clark MP Greg became MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005.  Having held a number of key shadow ministerial roles, in May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government. July 2011 saw his appointment as Minister for Cities and in September 2012, Greg became Financial Secretary to the Treasury.