Our Staff
Andrea Marais PhD
Research Consultant
Andrea is a cum laude graduate in psychology and journalism and has obtained her PhD in Psychology. She has over 16 years of corporate and academic research experience with a passion for mixed-method approaches. Andrea is the South African charter for the International Ecopsychology Society and is interested in the relationship between nature, animals and human well-being. Andrea has also recently become a research fellow at WITS.
Creason Chetty
Data Scientist
Creason graduated summa cum laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, thereafter pursuing a Masters degree focusing on rocket propulsion design. He currently works as a Data Scientist in the insurance industry with aspirations to leverage data science for the betterment of humanity and the animal kingdom.
Cameron King
Head of Operations | AAA, Operations Director
Cameron ran his own eCommerce business for several years before pivoting to Charity Entrepreneurship to have a more extensive and substantial positive impact on the world. Cameron has been involved in the Effective Altruist community for over ten years and went through Charity entrepreneurship’s incubation program for 2020 furthering his focus on effectiveness, efficiency and operations planning.
Claire Tapscott
Researcher
Claire holds a Master of Social Science degree specialising in Global Studies from the University of Cape Town. She gained international experience conducting qualitative research during her semesters abroad at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi. Claire's research interests include social exclusion, sustainable development and waste disposal as well as animal advocacy and veganism.
Jenna Hiscock
Policy
Analyst
Jenna is a jack of all trades, exploring different facets of our society and what is required for humane forms of development. She is studying her Honours in Development Studies, having completed a Bachelors Degree in Politics and History. Jenna is also a vegan chef and Montessori teacher, which has formed most of her professional career.
Jessamine County
PR
Officer
Jessamine has worked as a producer in film, television and events since graduating with a degree in media and visual studies in 2004. She has been an animal rights advocate since childhood, and her passion for this cause has led her into a cheffing career where she now co-owns a catering company and Peace of Eden Lodge, the first vegan hotel in South Africa. When she's not in the kitchen cooking up a storm, she can be found conceptualising and managing immersive and educational co-creative experiences.
Jonathan Field
Communications
Coordinator
Jonathan received a Bachelor of Arts in Interaction Design from the Cape Town Creative Academy (CTCA), minoring in illustration and critical theory. After gaining his degree, Jonathan went on to work as an intern for several businesses within Cape Town, including King James, Studio6 and The Yellow Door Collective. He is currently working as the in house communications coordinator for Credence Institute and the designer for Ripe Africa.
Kirsty Cook
Communications
Assistant
Kirsty received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management from the Institute of Marketing Management. While working towards her degree, she worked as a Technical IT recruiter and completed a 6-month marketing internship. In addition to her responsibilities at Credence, Kirsty is currently working as a marketing assistant for a biodegradable packaging company in Cape Town.
Lynn Tan
Head of Research | AAA, Research Director
Lynn graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in Translational Biomedical Research. She is a cofounder of Effective Altruism Malaysia and a Regional Rep for The Humane League UK. Lynn was also a participant in Charity Entrepreneurship's 2020 incubation program to learn the fundamentals of creating and operating an effective nonprofit organization. Before the program, she has worked in research, strategy and operations in a healthcare-focused social enterprise and a mental health startup.
Megan McCarthy
Researcher
Megan has a Bachelor’s in Conservation Ecology and a post-graduate diploma in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University. She is currently busy with her Masters in Sustainable Development and is passionate about the environment and creating awareness around related important issues. Megan hopes to see a global movement towards more sustainable practices, where humans live consciously with nature.
Moritz Stumpe
Researcher
Moritz holds a Master’s in International Relations from TU Dresden and a Bachelor’s in International Business Studies from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. He has worked in the private, public and non-profit sector. Next to his engagement at Credence, Moritz is currently working for a sports sponsorship consultancy in Germany. Additionally, he is pursuing training in data science, aiming to acquire valuable skills for effective animal advocacy
Pamela Mayaba
Administration
Assistant
Pamela holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Management from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is an experienced Project Scheduler. She has a history of working in the information technology and services industry, having previously worked as a sustainability coordinator at Greenpop and store manager assistant at Green Co-Op. Pamela is passionate about environmental education and how humans can interact better with nature.
Taya Amit
Intern
Taya is a student living in London, where she is currently pursuing a degree in International Development at Sussex University. Previously she studied and practiced permaculture in Israel, and worked on a reforestation project and a cattle sanctuary in the Sadhana forest in India. Taya is passionate about animal welfare and the environment, leading her to adopt a vegan lifestyle over two years ago.
Board of Directors
Andrew Fisher
Non-Executive Director & Legal Advisor
Andrew is an attorney practicing commercial law in Cape Town. As a legal professional, he has worked on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions, focusing on M&A and corporate finance. Prior to law school, he completed his Master’s in Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, writing his dissertation on the practical ethics of effective animal advocacy.
Brett Thompson
Co-Founder &
CEO
Brett studied finance and economics at the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University in South Africa. After completing his Honours thesis, Making an Economic Case for Vegetarianism, he went on to work at the Fry Family Food Co., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of plant-based food alternatives. Brett has also held senior positions at Beyond Carnism and ProVeg International, accumulating over ten years of experience in animal advocacy.
Francois Otto
Non-Executive Director
& Finance Advisor
Francois is an investment banker with experience across various disciplines including M&A, capital raisings and private equity. After starting his career at Nedbank, he now heads up the investment banking arm at Sasfin, where he is responsible for the group’s specialised lending, private equity and M&A businesses. Francois holds a BCom Honours degree from the Nelson Mandela University, as well as both the CA (SA) and CFA designations
Jayna Sisbarro
Non-Executive Director & Fundraising Advisor
Jayna Sisbarro currently serves Philanthropy Manager for The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). Prior to ALDF, she served as the Director of Development for Shared Interest, a nonprofit social investment fund working in Southern Africa to reduce poverty and provide financial inclusion to rural communities and entrepreneurs. Prior to her 18-year career in fundraising, Jayna held corporate management, sales and marketing positions as well as taught award-winning courses in both leadership and public speaking. Jayna holds a MS in Organizational Communication from Rutgers University and serves on the board of Woodlands Wildlife Refuge.
Ludwig Raal
Co-Founder
& Director
Ludwig holds a Master’s degree in Logistics from the University of Stellenbosch and is currently pursuing an MPhil in Applied Ethics at the same institution. His primary interests lie in animal welfare, having had writings on this topic published in Areo Magazine and Arc Digital. He is also the co-creator of Digital Discourse ZA, an online platform that facilitates public conversations on South African affairs.
Nicola Vernon
Non-Executive
Director
Nicola is the Founder and CEO of Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary, a home for over 150 rescued farm animals situated on its own farm just 7 kms outside of Greyton in the Western Cape. Together with another NPO she founded, Greyton Transition Town, she established a humane and environmental education programme in all six local schools in Greyton and helped create vegetable gardens which augment the schools’ feeding schemes.
Reevin Frank, PhD
Non-Executive Director & Strategy Advisor
Reevin is an Engagement Manager at the management consulting firm, Letsema. His expertise includes strategy and direction setting, organisation structuring, and market opportunity exploration, particularly within the NGO and public sectors. Reevin received a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Cranfield University (UK) and the University of KZN (RSA), where his research focused on energy, waste and water systems. Reevin is driven by a passion for creating effective and sustainable impact in business and communities.
PBO Status
Credence Institute ("CI") is a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO Reference #: 930068987) as set out in section 30(3) of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 (the Act).
CI has been approved for purposes of section18A(1)(a) of the Act and donations to the organisation will be tax-deductible in the hands of the donors in terms of and subject to the limitations prescribed in section 18A of the Act.