Our Team
Thea Partridge
About Thea
Thea’s broad marketing and communications experience spans across several sectors include entertainment, travel, fin-tech and the third sector. She takes an innovative and pragmatic approach towards client briefs and is passionate about using her skills in project and partnership management, marketing, PR, events, and fundraising, to help create a better world.
Since Spring 2019, Thea has coached hundreds of charities on making the best use of the product features on Crowdfunder UK. Most recently Thea helped to spearhead the national #SaveOurTheatres campaign, which raised over £1.7m for 85 UK Theatres.
She has also played an integral role in implementing a new charity fundraising product which enables over 20,000 charities to fundraise using the Crowdfunder platform, without incurring platform fees. Thea embraces new challenges whole-heartedly; whether cracking a tricky client brief or running a marathon for charity.
About Colin
Dr Colin Habberton is a social-impact strategist, advisor, and researcher specialising in impact investing, impact measurement, and systems-level change. He works at the intersection of capital, evidence, and practice, helping investors, funds, foundations, and mission-driven organisations design rigorous yet practical approaches to achieving measurable social outcomes.
With a background spanning academia, applied research, and advisory work, Colin is known for translating complex impact concepts into usable frameworks that support real-world decision-making. His work focuses on impact measurement and management (IMM), theory of change design, impact assurance, and the integration of impact data into investment strategy, governance, and reporting. He has particular expertise in private markets, blended finance, and social-outcomes-oriented investment vehicles.
Colin has advised clients across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, supporting a wide range of impact themes including poverty alleviation, inclusive finance, education, health, livelihoods, and climate resilience. He frequently works with investment teams to align impact intent, measurement systems, and capital allocation, ensuring that impact claims are credible, transparent, and decision-useful.
He is the founder of Relativ Impact, a platform and advisory practice focused on advancing high-quality impact practice through applied tools, frameworks, and digital solutions. This includes the development of interactive dashboards, capability assessments, and theory-of-change visualisations that help organisations move from narrative impact to evidence-based impact management.
Colin holds a doctorate focused on investment decision-making, and regularly speaks, teaches, and writes on impact investing, impact measurement, and the future of accountable capital. He is motivated by a conviction that capital, when thoughtfully designed and responsibly governed, can be a powerful force for lasting social good.
About Sarah
Sarah leads Relativ’s operations in North America as well as projects with clients and partners globally.
Before joining Relativ, Sarah held various management positions at organizations, mainly youth development focused, in Canada and across Southern Africa. Her educational background is in international development and fundraising management.
Sarah has experience in multiple levels and areas of social sector management including project development, impact measurement, fundraising, and communications. She is the Campaign Chair for one of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka’s endowment funds and is leading the development of an Impact Measurement and Management Community of Practice for the Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development.
Having served a diverse range of stakeholders from around the world, Sarah is dedicated to advancing creative approaches to development through sustainable resource mobilization.
About Eija
Eija Searle is a Project Manager and Impact Analyst at Relativ Impact. She specialises in integrating environmental and social considerations into infrastructure and development projects to achieve sustainable and equitable outcomes. Her professional background includes civil and geotechnical engineering, project management, impact and risk assessment, due diligence, and stakeholder engagement across government, civil society, and community groups within the African context. Eija’s skills include applying systems thinking and spatial mapping to assess and communicate environmental and social impacts, as well as developing collaborative approaches that prioritise health, biodiversity, and community well-being. She is experienced in aligning projects with policy, strategic goals, and regulatory standards to reduce environmental health risks and strengthen responsible development. She has contributed to projects in mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development, with a focus on international best practice. She is an active member of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
Kirsty Dewrance
About Kirsty
Kirsty has been with the Relativ team from the start in 2009. Living in Norhtern KZN in the heart of Zululand, by qualification she is a veterinary nurse, ballet and swimming teacher and dog trainer.
She has worked as a freelance graphic and web designer since 2007 and contributes to our Relativ team with all things visual.
Sibongakonke Mkhize
About Sbonga
Sbonga is an operations assistant for Relativ Impact, she holds an honours degree in Industrial Sociology, where she developed a deep passion for understanding the social dynamics within industries and organizations. Her focus spans labour relations, organizational behaviour, and workplace culture, as she believes in the power of improving work environments and how people interact within them. She has practical experience in marketing and promotions through her work with Real Promotions, as well as in retail, where she was also exposed to administrative tasks and gained insight into the operational side of business. Additionally, she interned in the Department of Social Development, further expanding her understanding of social policies and community engagement. With a strong interest in working with people, she aims to make a meaningful impact by fostering positive changes in workplace structures and helping organizations build more collaborative, productive, and supportive environments.
Partners
Duncan Parker
44Group
About Duncan
Duncan has a unique academic and professional background in the third sector and the investment world and is passionate and committed to blending commercial solutions to social and environmental issues. Appointments include International Director for one of the world’s largest Development / Humanitarian Aid organisations – The Salvation Army, with a global portfolio of economic development and aid projects of £50m p.a. Duncan engaged in long term appointments living and working in Africa, Americas and Asia running field programmes focused on enterprise led development. This included responding to man-made and natural disasters that forced the movement of people. Of note the religious /civil war in Uganda operating child focused psycho social projects in a refugee camp in Lira, and the reestablishment of enterprise following the South Asia Tsunami.
After leaving the third sector to pioneer an African Agricultural investment fund in 2009 and then to create a successful exit, Duncan founded a PE backed social enterprise that created cause marketing relationships between Business and Charity securing partnership deals with BDO and IMG who manage the Ethical Goods brand to this day in addition to an executive role with Crowdfunder having taken a shareholding within the organisation. Duncan is also founding Trustee/ambassador of two anti-human trafficking charities.
Tom Brushwood
Ziptrix
About Tom
Tom’s background is in tech for good, social enterprise business mentoring, and charity fundraising. Tom has directly helped raise £13.5Mil for charities via Crowdfunding, thanks in part to custom designed Data, AI and Automation tools.
Tom is the founder and Manging Director of Ziptrix a specialist consultancy business that helps purpose-driven organisations radically improve their funding, marketing and sales performance using Data, AI and Automation.
He has worked with 100s of social entrepreneurs 1-to-1, working with them to improve their business models, revenue streams, sales and marketing systems – anything they needed to grow. He served as a business mentor for 10+ years to business founders and SMEs, and a pro-bono business mentor to Unltd for 4 years.
Chloe Dickinson
Ziptrix
About Chloe
Chloe’s background is 18 years working with charities on change management, organisational development, effective business processes, risk and compliance across all areas of charity operations including GDPR, and strategic
planning and performance reporting.
She has worked at the SLT level of international development charities including Ashden Climate Solutions, Practical Action, ADPC in Thailand and at NSPCC and Marie Curie in the UK, as well as the last 4 years consulting for large and small nonprofits.
She studied an MA in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation at Kings College London, and an MEarthSci in earth sciences at Manchester University. She has lived and worked in Asia.
Gabrielle Habberton
Relativ
About Gabrielle
Gabrielle is the Co-Founder of the Relativ Group and a specialist in Socio-economic Development and Impact Management. Gabrielle has been working across the social investment continuum for over a decade. She has been involved in each aspect of the life cycle of impact-driven organizations, the investors that support them and the contexts in which they operate to enhance innovative and sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
Gabrielle completed her formal education, which culminated in a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies, at the University of Cape Town. Gabrielle has since played leading roles in a number of pioneering organisations and projects primarily operating in Southern Africa.
Gabrielle’s work has included areas such as research and analysis; government policy co-creation and design; development of impact management and measurement processes and practices (from theory of change to impact reporting and learning); impact assessment and due diligence of social and impact investments (including a number of evaluations of Jobs Fund investments); deployment and management of impact capital; strategic and product development and planning; and guest lecturing on Masters and Executive education courses.
Matthew Damon
Relativ
About Matthew
Matthew is an impact professional holding a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics. He brings a robust analytical and quantitative skill set to the table, honed through diverse experiences in the business sector. His proficiency with data analysis tools such as Stata, RStudio, and E-views, coupled with his familiarity with the MS Office Suite, empowers him to uncover insights and drive data-driven decision making. His background includes strategic consulting for promising enterprises and conducting research on systemic issues, with a focus on early childhood development. Known for my attention to detail, organizational acumen, and reliability, he excels in both independent and team-based environments, consistently striving for excellence and fostering positive interpersonal relationships.
Nikolaus Hutter
Relevant
About Nikolaus
Nikolaus Hutter is the Founder of New Paradigm Ventures, an advisory firm focused on accelerating the shift to an impact driven economy. He works with International NGOs on Impact Ventures & Investment, is a Director of Impact Investment firm Susterra Capital and serves on the Board of US Development NGO Heifer International, the Hungarian Impact Investors Association and the Hellenic Impact Investing Network.
Together with Impact Hub Vienna, he co-founded the Investment Ready Program (www.investment-ready.org), the first accelerator for social innovators in the CEE region, and the CEE Impact Day (www.ceeimpactday.org), an annual gathering for impact investors, entrepreneurs and practitioners from the region. Previously, he served as Managing Director Europe of the international impact investor network Toniic (www.toniic.com), held operational roles in the Cleantech industry, and worked as a venture capital investor for over a decade. Nikolaus read Business and Political Economy in Vienna, Strasburg, and at the London School of Economics. He lives in Vienna with his wife and two children.
Gregor Riss
Relevant
About Gregor
Gregor is a purpose-driven entrepreneur with a passion for social impact. He is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Relevant Ventures, a company that supports businesses making a positive difference in the world.
Gregor has extensive experience in financial planning, modelling and forecasting as well a deep understanding of the social impact and investment space. He has helped to support and educate start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as work with large scale investment ventures.
Gregor has extensive experience in the field of international development, having worked with organisations like Get Water Uganda and HELIOZ to bring clean water and solar energy solutions to communities in need. He is also a strong advocate for environmental sustainability and is actively involved in promoting plastic circularity.
He is committed to using his entrepreneurial expertise to help build a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Victor Hijzen
Yarra One
About Victor
Felicity Coghlan
Yarra One
About Felicity
Asssociates
Richard Martin
About Richard
Richard Martin is a brand and narrative strategist who helps companies turn complexity into clarity. With a decade of experience spanning advertising, digital publishing, and employer branding, he distills complex ideas into simple, human stories that move audiences and markets. Having worked across different regions, he brings a global lens to local challenges. As Director of Ground Kontrol Creative Studio, he builds strategic frameworks that connect insight, imagination, and impact – helping businesses create real momentum.
About Graeme
Graeme holds 25+ years of experience spanning the realms of international development, public engagement and business leadership, providing him with a unique perspective on tackling social and environmental challenges.
Graeme’s dedication extends to fostering movements for global good. He has played a key role in mobilising people and transformational funding around issues of social justice, equality, and sustainable development, including initiatives focused on engaging specific demographics and enabling opportunities for vulnerable populations to create self-led change.