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Howden Foundation
Our independent charity
Established in 2014, the Howden Foundation is the corporate foundation of Howden, extending the charitable work of the business and its people around the world.
![Howden Foundation logo](/sites/default/files/2023-09/howden_foundation_cobalt_blue_black-web-optimised.png)
What we do
Our mission is to protect people against the social and economic shocks of climate change.
As we face the defining challenge of our age, the Foundation has committed to supporting solutions which build climate resilience for disproportionately affected communities around the world.
Whilst climate related disasters are now unavoidable, we can significantly reduce the effects that these disasters have by supporting tools that further disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
We listen to communities in order to learn about the specific risks they face against a rapidly changing climate and work with high-quality global partners to develop solutions that have the power to build resilience in a scalable and sustainable way.
![Sustainable development goals](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sustainable%20development%20goals%20FINAL%202.jpg)
![Coral reef in Vietnam](/sites/default/files/2023-09/qui-nguyen-0G01UI1MQhg-unsplash%20%281%29.jpg)
How we do it
We build long term partnerships with the international climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction communities. Through the provision of grant funding and skills based volunteering, offered in partnership with our Howden colleagues, we provide a variety of support that enables our partners to thrive.
Our funding has already helped a number of organisations drive climate resilient solutions around the world. This includes our recent partnership with The Nature Conservancy supporting the establishment of the first U.S-based coral reef insurance policy to preserve Hawai‘i’s valuable biodiversity and ecosystems and in doing so, enhancing community and ecosystem resilience to climate change.
![People passing a sign saying "People first" in a Howden office](/sites/default/files/2023-09/our-people-1600w.jpg)
People First Fund
The People First ethos has been at the core of Howden since the company was founded in 1994.
Our People First Fund recognises the charitable giving of Howden employees around the world by offering match funding for employees’ donations and fundraising, helping their efforts go that bit further.
It offers to match up to £750 (or local currency equivalent) raised per employee, per year, when they donate to or raise money for charities that further its charitable objects.
The Fund also supports Howden's Giving Back Celebration campaign. Through this campaign, the Foundation awards larger donations to non-profits making a big difference in the communities in which our people live and work.
Our people
![Photo of David Howden](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/davidhowden-180413-edit.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=raPhvp0d)
David
David Howden
![Photo of David Howden](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/davidhowden-180413-edit.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=raPhvp0d)
David Howden
Chair
David started his career as a broker at Alexander Howden in 1981. He founded the Group in 1994 originally as a wholesale broker employing just three people. He has been the fundamental driving force behind its expansion into an international insurance group offering wholesale, retail and reinsurance broking and underwriting.
As Chief Executive. David's focus is on leading the Group's M&A activities as well as directing and implementing the Group's strategic growth and direction.
He is also a passionate champion of insurance as a force for good and believes it has a major role to play in helping nations respond to the challenges of climate change.
![Photo of Mark Hudson](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/mark-hudson_1.jpg?h=c045da97&itok=d5IgU1aP)
Mark
Mark Hudson
![Photo of Mark Hudson](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/mark-hudson_1.jpg?h=c045da97&itok=d5IgU1aP)
Mark Hudson
Trustee
Mark is the Chief Financial Officer of DUAL Group, the underwriting division of the Howden.
![Photo of Rebecca Scott](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/rebeccascott-180297-edit.jpg?h=04d92ac6&itok=ygwT43jt)
Rebecca
Rebecca Scott
![Photo of Rebecca Scott](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/rebeccascott-180297-edit.jpg?h=04d92ac6&itok=ygwT43jt)
Rebecca Scott
Trustee
Rebecca joined Howden in 2014 as Head of Internal Audit, taking on the role of Chief Risk Officer in 2015.
She was appointed COO of the Group in 2019, where she was responsible for working with senior management to implement the Group's strategic vision, from sustainability to our People First initiatives. In 2022, she resumed the role of Chief Risk Officer. Prior to joining Howden, Rebecca was CRO at a Lloyd's Managing Agency and a Partner at chartered accountancy firm Mazars.
![Photo of Lucy Dormandy](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/lucy-dormandy_1.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=aJ7-8P3M)
Lucy
Lucy Dormandy
![Photo of Lucy Dormandy](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/lucy-dormandy_1.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=aJ7-8P3M)
Lucy Dormandy
Trustee
Lucy is a Corporate Sustainability and Social Impact Director, with experience working in a range of large, international organizations including Wellington Management, Aviva and Hilton. She has over 15 years of experience developing and executing social impact and corporate sustainability strategies, incorporating international market alignment, operational environment management, strategic charitable partnerships, ESG reporting and human rights due diligence. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability and is co-chair of its London Steering Group.
![Photo of Heather Goodhew](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/heather-goodhew_1.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=pCn2t-Qk)
Heather
Heather Goodhew
![Photo of Heather Goodhew](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/heather-goodhew_1.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=pCn2t-Qk)
Heather Goodhew
Trustee
Heather has over 35 years of insurance experience and has held senior leadership roles in underwriting, business development and operations. She now serves on the board of DUAL, the underwriting arm of Howden. As well as serving on the board of the Howden Foundation, Heather is a Trustee for the Vision Foundation and an Ambassador for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (UK).
![Photo of Anshu Mandal](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/anshu-mandal_0.jpg?h=343580d8&itok=OoOJjIym)
Anshu
Anshu Mandal
![Photo of Anshu Mandal](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/anshu-mandal_0.jpg?h=343580d8&itok=OoOJjIym)
Anshu Mandal
Trustee
Anshu has held various roles in the impact investment sector over the past 8 years. She is currently a Business Advisor at Shell Foundation, where she directly supports a portfolio of pioneering ventures tackling global developmental challenges through enterprise-based solutions. She also works with financial intermediaries to unlock more capital into impact sectors.
![Photo of Louise Creasey](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/louise-creasey_0.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=HteWWHyX)
Louise
Louise Creasey
![Photo of Louise Creasey](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/louise-creasey_0.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=HteWWHyX)
Louise Creasey
Trustee
Louise was Managing Director of Sutton Place, a single Family Office, serving as Chief Operating Officer, Head of Advisory Services, Tax Director and within the Global Executive Management Committee, Louise was responsible for governing the overall strategic vision of the family, focused on fiduciary obligations and multiple generations of wealth preservation, and the provision of professional services across multiple areas.
Louise now heads up a new single family office, ERS Private Office Limited, working on behalf of bio-tech entrepreneurs, across various European jurisdictions in both private and business spheres covering all aspects of wealth management and investment advisory services.
Both these roles have been combined with a passion for philanthropic work and as a consequence, Louise is a member of the board of various charitable organisations, advising on philanthropic strategy, good governance and key return drivers on philanthropic funding.
![Photo of Clare Ballantine](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/clare-ballantine_0.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=yS4xJHNf)
Clare
Clare Ballantine
![Photo of Clare Ballantine](/sites/default/files/styles/people_bio_760_760/public/2023-09/clare-ballantine_0.jpg?h=85eca17e&itok=yS4xJHNf)
Clare Ballantine
Head of Howden Foundation
Clare joined as Foundation Manager in 2021 having previously worked for the Maitri Trust, the charitable arm of global investment firm, Stewart Investors. She is passionate about international development and the role that corporate foundations can play in supporting long term change.
Clare leads the work of the Foundation and has a close relationship with the Board to ensure delivery of their strategic objectives.
Contact us
Please email us at info@howdengroupfoundation.com if you have any queries. Please note we source grant proposals through our networks and do not accept unsolicited applications for funding.
Find out more information on our safeguarding policy here.
The Howden Foundation is the working name of the Howden Group Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity Number 1156286). Registered office: One Creechurch Place, London EC3A 5AF.