Our Mission is to make a difference
The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust was founded in 1963 to create a formal structure for Ernest and Joan Kleinworts’ philanthropic interests.
Alongside their wish to make a difference to people in need in their home county of Sussex, Ernest and Joan were also passionate about the conservation of wildlife, worldwide. These interests remain core areas of activity for EKCT today.
Our History
Ernest Kleinwort was a partner and former Chairman of the banking house of Kleinwort, Sons & Co. Today the bank is part of the Société Générale Group and is known as Kleinwort Hambros.
He played vital roles during the formative years of both the Worldwide Fund for Nature, and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. He assisted with their development, serving on the advisory panel of what became WWF-UK, and both he and Joan served as Council Members of WWT.
For his services to nature conservation, Ernest was made Commander of Order of the Golden Ark in 1974, a Dutch Royal honour. He worked closely alongside the late HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and the late HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands on many key conservation initiatives.
Ernest married Joan Nightingale Crossley in 1932. Joan became the Women’s Voluntary County Organiser for East Sussex, a Justice of the Peace, and a Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex. She was a passionate and active champion for the care of disadvantaged people. Working alongside other influential philanthropists in Sussex, she played a significant role in the formation and growth of many charities including the Disabled Housing Trust and Little Black Bag Housing Association. Joan served as President of the South of England Agricultural Society, Patron of Age Concern West Sussex, and she was invested as a Member, Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.). for her charitable work.
Ernest died in 1977 and Joan continued the work of EKCT until her death in 1991. Their legacy has been continued by subsequent generations of the Kleinwort family, with Ernest and Joan’s grandchildren appointed to the board of Trustees today.
Since records began in 1978, EKCT has donated over £50 million to charitable causes.
Our People
Tom Chandos
Chair
Lord Chandos was appointed as Trustee and Chairman in 2013. He is a Trustee (and past Chairman) of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Chair of The Thomson Foundation and Vice-Chair of LAMDA. He also holds a number of non-executive Director positions.
Sir Richard Kleinwort
Bt, DL
Sir Richard Kleinwort was appointed in 1987. He started his career in banking in 1980 with Kleinwort Benson (Geneva) and then spent several years in Investment Banking with Deutsche Bank in Germany. Currently serving the West Sussex Lieutenancy as Vice Lord Lieutenant, Sir Richard was High Sheriff in 2008/9. He has served on multiple Charities in Sussex and has been on the UK Board of WWF Ambassadors for over 20 years.
Marina Kleinwort
Marina Kleinwort was appointed as Trustee in 1991. She has sat as a Trustee on a number of boards and has a long-standing interest in Sussex, philanthropy, and meeting the needs of disadvantaged people. She is a passionate supporter of the arts and a keen photographer, who loves to travel.
Alexander Kleinwort
Alexander Kleinwort was appointed in 2004. Former Director of a firm specialising in global Fraud Investigations and Due Diligence. Now seed investor in various businesses including edutainment and property. Passionate about wildlife conservation, youth enterprise and activity, Psychology, travel, and any sports requiring a racket, two wheels or skis.
Edmund Limerick
Edmund Limerick was appointed in 2012. After a long career as a diplomat, lawyer and banker living in London, Paris, Dakar, Amman, Moscow and Dubai, Edmund has been based in Sussex since 2006 where he runs a diversified farm. Passionate about Sussex in general, whether farming, walking or kitesurfing off the coast, and improving the lives of all in Sussex, especially by connecting people with the countryside around them.
Charlie Mayhew MBE
Charlie Mayhew was appointed in 2013. Working initially as an independent financial advisor, he was elected a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society in 1987 and co-founded the African conservation charity, Tusk Trust in 1990. HRH The Duke of Cambridge became the charity’s Royal Patron in 2005. Charlie was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of his conservation work.
Sally Case
Director
Sally Case was appointed Director in 2016. She was called to the Bar in 1996 and practised as a barrister in Brighton; she has now worked as a senior leader in the charitable sector for more than 20 years, and the conservation sector for 10 years. Sally holds an ILM diploma in strategic leadership and executive management.
Andrina Murrell
Grants Officer
Andrina Murrell became Grants Officer for EKCT in 2023, following four years as Administrator. Over the last twenty years, working within a number of wildlife conservation and animal welfare organisations, she has undertaken a diverse range of roles including conservation project management and campaigning to fundraising and communications.