Shivia Ambassadors

We are grateful to a number of people who provide invaluable, voluntary support to Shivia in a variety of ways, from significant fundraising in the UK and India to photography, and a lot more besides. We call them Ambassadors.

Vin Murria

Vin has been an active supporter of Shivia for many years and has generously offered exclusive use of a box at the Royal Albert Hall for various concerts and events. By auctioning the box at our fundraising events, we have been able to raise thousands of pounds for our programmes in West Bengal.

Vin founded Advanced Computer Software plc in 2008, a consolidator in the healthcare and business solutions sector and the third largest enterprise software group in the UK. Today Vin sits on the boards of FTSE companies Softcat Plc , DWF Plc, Bunzl Plc and is a Senior advisor at NM Rothschild and HG Capital. In 2007, Vin founded the PS Foundation, a charitable foundation targeted at educating and supporting women in India and the UK. As well as being an Ambassador for Shivia, she is also a Patron of Prince’s Trust and the Outward Bound Trust. In 2018, Vin received an OBE for services to the UK digital economy and advancing women in the software sector.

Garlinda Birkbeck

At the West Bengal Exhibition in 2014 in aid of Shivia

Garlinda is a highly accomplished portrait and landscape photographer. She photographs without artificial light and as naturally as possible. She is based in the United Kingdom but travels around the world to photograph landscapes. Garlinda has visited Shivia’s operations in West Bengal many times since 2011 and documents her visits through the lens of her camera. Her impactful and visually rich images have been used to illustrate much of Shivia’s printed material including donor and annual reports. As well as being a regular donor, Garlinda has also generously donated some of her work to Shivia for our fundraising auctions, as well as the profits from some of her public exhibitions.

Max Patel

Max Patel with Mark Rogers, Executive Director at St James’s Place Wealth Management, and Olly Belcher at the House of Commons event in 2019

Max is the Principal at Shenley Private Wealth, a Senior Partner Practice of St James’s Wealth Management.

Max selected Shivia as her charity of choice in 2014 and since then has been actively promoting our mission and programmes within her personal and professional network. She has generously hosted a number of fundraising events including Aston Martin Driving Experience Days at the production facility at Gaydon and more recently Shivia’s Annual Dinner and Auction at the House of Commons (in 2016, 2017 & 2019; the 2020 event has sadly been cancelled due to Covid-19).

I have been supporting Shivia since 2014 and throughout this time I have been immensely proud to be involved with this team of dedicated individuals who focus on empowering the poorest families in India by providing them with the essential ingredients and tools they need to not just survive, but to improve their lives immeasurably. When I first heard about Shivia and the work they do I was immediately attracted to them and genuinely believe their concept of providing these tools and skills to the families that need them most can make a sustainable and life changing difference. I feel this is such an effective idea and concept as it is a gift for an improved life.

Mr Nawshir Khurody

Nawshir and Olly, West Bengal, January 2020

Nawshir Khurody has been instrumental in raising Shivia’s profile within India and making connections with leading corporate foundations and trusts with a view to raising important funds for our programmes from within India.

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