Who we are
The Zennström Philanthropies was established in 2007. It is governed by its directors, who are Catherine Zennström, Niklas Zennström, and Salvatore LaSpada. Allison Robertshaw heads up the Climate Change and Social Entrepreneurship programmes and Emma Reilly manages the Human Rights programmes. Further information about our team can be found below.
Catherine Zennström, Co-founder and Chair
Catherine is chair and co-founder of Zennström Philanthropies, established in 2007 by Catherine and her husband Niklas. Zennström Philanthropies' engagement is centred around human rights, climate change and social entrepreneurship. Catherine focuses on the human rights portfolio as well as promoting best practice in philanthropy. She has had a deep commitment in the voluntary sector for many years, both as a volunteer and a philanthropist. From 2002 to 2006, she worked as a full time volunteer at Médecins Sans Frontières and Amnesty International in their London offices. In 2006, she became a trustee of Refuge (a UK national charity fighting domestic violence), and in 2007 became a member of the Paris Committee for Human Rights Watch and the Global Philanthropy Forum. The next year Catherine joined the international board of directors of Human Rights Watch and became a trustee of the Institute for Philanthropy. She is also a member of International Human Rights Funders Group and The Philanthropy Workshop Alumni Group (TPW co-hort 12).
Before moving to London, Catherine worked for 10 years in the Telecom industry for different international companies in Sweden, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. She is a French citizen and was educated in California and France, and received a BA in Business Administration from the University of Humberside, Hull, UK.
Before moving to London, Catherine worked for 10 years in the Telecom industry for different international companies in Sweden, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. She is a French citizen and was educated in California and France, and received a BA in Business Administration from the University of Humberside, Hull, UK.
Niklas Zennström, Co-founder and Director
Niklas is an internet entrepreneur who has co-founded several companies, including Atomico Investments, Joost, Skype, and Kazaa. He is currently a Partner at Atomico. In addition to this, he is also the Co-Chairman of Joost. Through Atomico, Niklas serves as a Board Member for several start-up companies.
Niklas started his professional career at Tele2, the first competitive phone company in Europe. Niklas holds dual degrees in Business and MSc Engineering Physics/Computer Science from Uppsala University in Sweden. He spent his final year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Niklas has won a series of industry awards including ‘Business Leader of the Year 2006’ (European Voice), ‘Innovation in Computing and Communications 2006’ (Economist Innovation Awards) and the ‘Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for Technology Change Agent of the Year 2006’. Niklas was also named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ (European Business Leaders Awards 2006) and was included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People List for 2006.
Niklas is a Swedish citizen. He is passionate about engaging those with influence to find sustainable solutions to the challenges created by global warming, as well as nurturing social entrepreneurs.
Niklas started his professional career at Tele2, the first competitive phone company in Europe. Niklas holds dual degrees in Business and MSc Engineering Physics/Computer Science from Uppsala University in Sweden. He spent his final year at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Niklas has won a series of industry awards including ‘Business Leader of the Year 2006’ (European Voice), ‘Innovation in Computing and Communications 2006’ (Economist Innovation Awards) and the ‘Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for Technology Change Agent of the Year 2006’. Niklas was also named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ (European Business Leaders Awards 2006) and was included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People List for 2006.
Niklas is a Swedish citizen. He is passionate about engaging those with influence to find sustainable solutions to the challenges created by global warming, as well as nurturing social entrepreneurs.
Dr. Salvatore LaSpada is Chief Executive of the Institute for Philanthropy in London. Formerly, he was Director of The Philanthropy Workshop at the Rockefeller Foundation, a strategic philanthropy training and networking programme for high net worth individuals and new foundation Trustees, a programme which is now housed at the Institute for Philanthropy.
From 1993-1999, he was a philanthropic advisor to the Rockefeller family at Rockefeller Financial Services. His previous affiliations include: the Brazil Office of the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation (where he was earlier a post-doctoral Fellow) and the MacArthur Foundation as a Visiting Scholar. He was also an Eisenhower Fellow in Argentina, where he promoted strategic philanthropy to corporations and individuals of wealth. Previous to his work in philanthropy, he was founder and director of the Urban Video Project, a media education programme for at-risk minority youth in New York City.
Sal is also a Trustee of the Raymond and Gloria Naftali Foundation (New York). He is the former Chair of Tamkeen: The Centre for Arab-American Empowerment, Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Hetrick-Martin Institute. He serves on the advisory committee of Philanthropy UK and the Global Equity Initiative at Harvard University. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Bologna’s Masters in International Studies in Philanthropy.
From 1993-1999, he was a philanthropic advisor to the Rockefeller family at Rockefeller Financial Services. His previous affiliations include: the Brazil Office of the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation (where he was earlier a post-doctoral Fellow) and the MacArthur Foundation as a Visiting Scholar. He was also an Eisenhower Fellow in Argentina, where he promoted strategic philanthropy to corporations and individuals of wealth. Previous to his work in philanthropy, he was founder and director of the Urban Video Project, a media education programme for at-risk minority youth in New York City.
Sal is also a Trustee of the Raymond and Gloria Naftali Foundation (New York). He is the former Chair of Tamkeen: The Centre for Arab-American Empowerment, Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Hetrick-Martin Institute. He serves on the advisory committee of Philanthropy UK and the Global Equity Initiative at Harvard University. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Bologna’s Masters in International Studies in Philanthropy.
Allison Robertshaw, Programme Officer, Climate Change and Social Entrepreneurship
Allison joined Zennström Philanthropies in 2008 to manage the climate change and social entrepreneurship portfolios. She brings with her over ten years experience in the space through a variety of roles in the NGO, business, government and philanthropic sector in both Europe and the United States.
Most recently, she headed up Global Philanthropy and Climate Change work at the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation. Allison holds a BSFS in Economics from the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and an MSc in the History of Economic Development from the London School of Economics.
Most recently, she headed up Global Philanthropy and Climate Change work at the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation. Allison holds a BSFS in Economics from the Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and an MSc in the History of Economic Development from the London School of Economics.
Emma Reilly, Programme Officer, Human Rights
Emma joined Zennström Philanthropies in March 2009 to manage the human rights portfolio. She has over a decade of voluntary and professional experience in the protection of the full range of human rights. She has worked for grassroots organisations, international NGOs, the EU and the UN, both at headquarters and in the field.
Emma holds an MA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge, a Graduate Diploma in Law from Nottingham Law School, and the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, for which she studied at the European Inter-University Centre in Venice, Italy and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, University of Vienna, Austria.
Emma holds an MA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge, a Graduate Diploma in Law from Nottingham Law School, and the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation, for which she studied at the European Inter-University Centre in Venice, Italy and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, University of Vienna, Austria.
