About the Board
The Foundation is guided by talented and passionate individuals from all walks of life. We are very grateful for their expertise in advancing our mission of supporting disadvantaged children and young adults in South East Asia and assisting them in leading inclusive and normal lives.
Jack Lowe
Chairman
Jack has been active in the micro-finance universe since 2004, when he was asked to take on the CEO role at BlueOrchard Finance SA in Geneva. After raising new capital and restructuring the team, Jack and his new colleagues set about rising new investment funding. Between 2005 and end 2008 the assets under management grew from $40 mio to close to $1 bio and the number of countries invested in expanded from 19 to 45. Jack has 40 years of experience starting-up businesses and engineering innovative financial transactions. He successfully started and managed four Private Equity funds in both emerging and developed economies. He holds a MBA from Stanford University and has worked in 8 countries.
Pia Vontobel
Vice-Chairperson
Pia Vontobel, born in Thailand, holds a BA degree in business from the Dominican College in Racine Wisconsin. After a career start in banking with First National Bank of Chicago in the U.S. and U.S. Trust Company in Geneva, she lived in the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam, where she built and managed companies active in relocation and real estate. Pia Vontobel lives in Zürich. Her husband Jürg is the founder of VietNam Holding which is listed in London and the Chairman of VNHAM.
Rachel Vontobel-Newman
Mrs. Vontobel-Newman has multiple years of experience in corporate and investment banking working for multinational banks and asset managers across Europe and Asia. She holds a CEMS Masters in International Management and a Masters of Arts in Marketing, Services and Communication from the University of St. Gallen.