#KindFest is the brainchild of Susie Hills.

Susie is a kindness spotter, and the kickstarter of #TeamKind – an online community of people highlighting and celebrating kindness. In 2019, she was named as one of Unilever's ‘Leading Lights in Kindness' in the Financial Times.

Susie is regularly asked to present on kindness in leadership – having recently done so for organisations such as AUA and CASE Europe (overfilling the room to the extent that it had to be run again for all the delegates who weren’t able to get in the first time!).

She writes regularly on kindness on her LinkedIn page and also for Halpin, where she is the Joint CEO and Co-Founder – a management consultancy for nonprofits who strive to make the world a better place.

Shivonne is a co-founder and director of Roots + Wings, a boutique management consultancy for the third sector. She is an expert practitioner of feminist co-leadership and a fierce advocate for excellence in fundraising, communications and governance at charities of all sizes.

Shivonne has over a decade’s experience of leading charities as a Managing Director, Trustee and Chair of the Board. During this time, she pioneered a feminist approach to co-leadership, prioritising collaboration, learning and honesty above ego and personal glory. She now shares this methodology with others through an annual Coaching Circle for Leading Women, led in partnership with Brita Fernandez Schmidt.

Before founding Roots + Wings, Shivonne spent 25 years working at a variety of charities and non-for-profit organisations. She led fundraising, marketing and communications teams to success at Shelter, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, Comic Relief, Global Radio Charities, Amref Health Africa and Global Fund for Children. Most recently, she was Managing Director of Women for Women International – UK.

Shivonne is a founding member and Director of KindFest, the world’s first entirely digital festival celebrating Kindness. She was previously a member of the Fundraising and Communications Committee at Womankind Worldwide and Chair of Trustees for Khulisa, a charity that delivers social and emotional programmes in schools, prisons and communities helping young people to thrive. She was twice listed on Civil Society magazine’s Fundraising's 50 Most Influential list (No:17, No: 9). Shivonne holds a degree in Development and International Relations from the University of Sussex. Outside of work, Shivonne loves her dogs, her nieces, yoga, pilates and running.

Kim Rowell is an incredible storyteller and has committed her career to amplifying voices from underrepresented communities, creating an outstanding portfolio of creative content across the last 15 years for major broadcasters, independent production companies and publishers in the UK including the BBC, ITN Productions, Channel 4 and The Telegraph.

The variety of her portfolio, and genuine passion for championing inclusivity and diversity in everything she does, has led Kim to be described as ‘pioneering’ and recognised for making a distinctive, innovative contribution in her field, as well as remaining committed to act as a role model and mentor to others.

Kim was a founding member of the global kindness festival ‘KindFest’ during the pandemic, raising thousands of pounds for charity each year, and also sits on the Board for the Royal Television Society Technology Centre, after having received their Production award in 2022. She is also an ambassador for the Women of the Future programme, and sits on the board of In Place of War, a global organisation that uses creativity in places of conflict as a tool for positive change, playing a fundamental part in amplifying their initiatives, visiting both barrios in Colombia and climate change projects in Greenland.

Kim was appointed a Trustee and Board Member for UN Women UK in October 2023, on a mission to ensure that every woman and girl has access to safety, choice and a voice.

Paula is a higher education consultant and change maker. She has held senior leadership positions in Universities in the UK, Malaysia and Australia. Passionate about equality and social inclusion, she is driven by the power of education to transform lives, and to mitigate poverty and exclusion. Her doctoral research considered decoloniality in transnational education.

She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Accountants, holds a sustainability based MBA from the University of Exeter and Masters of Tertiary Education Management from the University of Melbourne. Paula is a proud member of the Harvard Kennedy Women and Power network advocating for female empowerment, gender equality and the power of compassion, openness and integrity in leadership.

She loves time with family and friends, and is happiest when running or walking the coastline of her Devon home.

Clare has more than 25 year’s experience of creating and producing truly global events and LOVES working with TeamKindUK. Born in London, she now lives in New York City where she has set up Ripple+Bounce events company to further her creativity in the events space!

Clare has a degree in Politics and an MSC in Housing Economics from the London School of Economics. Her passions in life revolve around social inclusivity, equity and fairness and her family and friends are EVERYTHING.

In NYC she volunteers with the Mayor’s Office of Immigration, and in her spare time swims anywhere she can! Her most recent outdoor swim was the Liberty Swim from Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty in the summer.

Clare is one of the founding Directors of KindFest.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clareruby/

Kim is a designer, illustrator and founder of Figgydoo, a brand design studio working with purpose-led organisations, charities, and good social causes. She’s committed to building powerful partnerships, delivering work that positively impacts people and planet.

With almost two decade’s experience leading design teams across Ireland and the UK, Kim spent years creative directing events for a global not-for-profit organisation.

In 2022, Kim founded stationery brand Pawpear, creating exquisitely colourful stationery made in Ireland, and inspired by its richness of folklore, nature, language and heritage.

Kim is a founding member of KindFest and holds a degree in Visual Communication from the Limerick School of Art & Design. When she’s not working, you’ll find Kim knitting prolifically in a wingback armchair or playing with her Dachshund soultwin, Heinrich.

https://www.figgydoo.com/

https://www.pawpear.ie/

Will is a Videographer and Editor who is passionate about creating content for which will help and inspire people. This is his second year editing all the content for KindFest and has loved every minute of it!

When he isn’t creating content he will often be found in the sea or somewhere outdoors exploring and taking photos of his home of Cornwall and beyond.

@poncho_productions and @poncho_productions_photography

Kamilah McInnis is a journalist, writer, presenter, musician and mental health advocate. She currently works for the BBC, producing the news podcast ‘If You Don’t Know. Having struggled with depression for over a decade, she uses art such as her music, journalism and poetry to express herself, turning pain into power.

She also recently became an author, writing the children’s book ‘Windrush Wonders: Tales of Travel and Triumph’, with her childhood best friend. It tells the true stories of three inspiring individuals from the Windrush Generation, with all the profits going to charity.

When she isn’t working, you’ll find Kamilah gardening, playing the piano and the violin, or boogying at a festival. This will be her third year with TeamKindUK!

Emily is a graduate consultant working alongside clients to organise events. Emily has previously worked in Higher Education with a client-based focus enabling her to follow and support in their journeys as they unfold.

Emily is passionate about people’s stories and ensuring everyone is happy. In her spare time she is a volunteer carer and once a year has the opportunity to take a group of amazing young children to Lourdes.

@emilynewberryy