Thuso

29/08/2025

Very positive to see Thuso listed by Consultancy.uk as one of the UK's top consulting firms in the non-profit sector, alongside: Ecorys, Grant Thornton UK , NPC (New Philanthropy Capital), NCVO, RSM, BDO, EY, Campbell Tickell, Palladium: Make It Possible, Deloitte, Adam Smith International, Accenture, KPMG, PA Consulting, Azets, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), Clarasys, Orr Group, Lancia Consult, Altair Ltd, McKinsey & Company, PwC, PPL, Agilisys, TPXimpact | B Corp™, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Entec Si, Dalberg, and other leading providers.

https://www.consultancy.uk/rankings/top-consulting-firms-in-the-uk-by-industry-expertise/non-profit

What are the UK's top consulting firms in the Non Profit industry? Our guide of leading consulting firms presents the top consultancy firms specialised in Non Profit.

29/08/2025

Thuso’s Managing Director has had the opportunity to support, on behalf of the UNICEF Office to the African Union & UNECA, the Finalisation of the 'Transforming Learning and Skills Development in Africa' 2nd Continental report, produced jointly by the African Union, UNICEF, and UNESCO.

As noted within the Foreword by Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, at UNESCO, Pia Rebello Britto, Global Director, Education and Adolescent Development, at UNICEF, and Professor Saidou Madougou Director, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, at the African Union Commission:

'This second edition of the monitoring report on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Education (SDG 4) and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) offers valuable guidance for policy-makers in designing and implementing policies and programmes that will transform learning and skills development in Africa. This guidance will be vital as countries plan for the next decade of the CESA (2026-2035)'

The report is available for download at the following link:https://www.unicef.org/wca/media/10856/file/Transforming-learning-skills-development-Africa.pdf.pdf

29/08/2025

Over the past few months, the Thuso team, led by Senior Consultant Daniel Cronin, has been working in collaboration with Save the Children Australia, Tonga National University (TNU) and the Ministry of Education and Training (MET) to develop Tonga's first Online Course on Child Protection and Child Safeguarding.

The course aims to empower both pre-service and in-service teachers with vital knowledge and skills in child protection and safeguarding, establishing a new standard for education professionals across Tonga.

The course has been launched recently, during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Education and Training, Hon. Dr. 'Uhilameilangi Fasi, and Vice-Chancellor of Tonga National University (TNU), Dr. Guilio Masasso Pāunga.

All interested participants are invited to enroll by:
1. Creating an account on TNU's e-Learning Platform https://elearning.tnu.edu.to
2. Selecting ‘Courses’
3. Clicking ‘Child Protection and Safeguarding

This is the Tonga National University Moodle Site for students with lecturers to work in an e-environment creating a faster, better and safer place for studying. We have enable self sign up, and self enrollment for some of our courses.

29/08/2025

Very positive to see this year's Spear's Magazine Spear's School Index, developed with input from an international Expert Advisory Panel, jointly Chaired by Matthew Goldie-Scot, and including several members of the wider team at Thuso, including Dan O'Brien, and PATRICIA VLAD, in addition to experts drawn from the Independent Schools Association (ISA), Debrett's Education, The Good Schools Guide, Think Tutors, Lionheart Education, and Keystone Tutors.

This serves as a rich guide to the world's leading schools, and a key tool to those advising family offices internationally, as well as for international families seeking the best schools for their children.

Many thanks, as always, to Edwin Smith, Shady Elkholy, Aisha Alli, and the wider team at Spear's for all their work in finalising the Index.

The Index can be found at the following link:

Introducing the Spear's Schools Index 2025, which recognises the 100 leading private schools in the world.

29/08/2025

Very positive to receive a copy of the 2025 Spear's Magazine Spears500 'the definitive resource for (U)HNWs in search of expert advisers and service-providers', with an introduction from James Reed CBE, CEO of Reed, building on the excellent work undertaken by Edwin Smith, Shady Elkholy, Aisha Alli, and the wider team at Spear's.

Pleased to see Thuso's Managing Director, Matthew Goldie-Scot listed as a 'Top Recommended' Advisor in the field of Education, noting his recent work in the Pacific, in Uzbekistan, in Ukraine, and engaging with the African Union Commission on continental education initiatives.

Likewise, delighted to see Thuso's portfolio profiled within the Spears500, highlighting the group's work in supporting programming, impact investment, philanthropy, and monitoring and evaluation relating to:
Education;
Child Protection;
Health, Nutrition, and Food Security;
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene;
Security and Peace-building;
Livelihoods;
Anti-Trafficking;
Energy and Renewables; and
Conservation and Environment.

With a particular focus on work with private foundations, HNW individuals, and family owned businesses.

An excellent reflection on the excellent work of the team in continuing to expand Thuso's work internationally.

29/08/2025

Thuso convened a high-level industry stakeholder roundtable meeting in January 2025 on behalf of The Commonwealth Secretariat this week, focused on Agriculture Data Infrastructure in Africa.

Facilitated by Senior Thuso Consultants Dr. Michael Brown, and Dr. Edward Morrison, with oversight from Benjamin Kwasi Addom, PhD, the session was attended by representatives from Citrii Software , ABF Sugar, GIRSAL Ltd, and Farmer Globale, and served as an important step in Thuso’s finalisation of the business case for investment into Agricultural Data in Africa, ensuring industry expertise informs this process, allowing for practicable solutions and recommendations for implementation across the continent.

This built on recent engagements with The Commonwealth working to develop a business case for National Agriculture Data Infrastructure throughout the African Continent, and the recent Writeshop on 'Investment Roadmap for National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI)' in Lilongwe, with participation and support from Malawi, Ghana, Bangladesh, Barbados, as well as the Open Society Foundations, CARICOM: Caribbean Community, a2i, AGRA, Esoko, Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA), and Farmerline Group, which took place in late 2024, with support and input from Thuso.

29/08/2025

Commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat, Thuso led the development of the Seychelles Blue Carbon Policy, which seeks to set the priorities of the Nation in furthering its Blue Carbon Agenda. Very positive to see this work reported on the front page of Seychelles Nation.

The final validation workshop session was supported by National Consultant Dr Ameer Ebrahim, and Senior Consultant Dr. Michael Brown, as well as the Seychelles Department of Climate Change from the Ministry, and The Commonwealth Secretariat. Many thanks to SeyCCAT (Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust) for hosting the event at the Savoy Resort & Spa Seychelles.

12/09/2024

Recently joining Thuso’s UAE Office, Henry Aufderheide holds a Master's in Archaeology from the St Cross College, University of Oxford, and a Bachelor's degree from New York University. His academic research explored infrastructure and urban hinterlands in North Africa, landscape, and cultural heritage protection and management, with a particular focus on looting and trafficking. He has conducted fieldwork in Cyprus, and Spain, excavating urban environments, and exploring coastal trade and religion.

Henry previously worked in management consultancy at Clarasys, in London, spending two years on projects addressing Theory of Change, and advising on Purpose and Impact strategy, in both the public and private sectors. He also has experience across project management, stakeholder engagement, and public sector operational excellence. During his time in London, he also provided pro-bono support to small charities on strategy and financial stability.

At Thuso, Henry looks forward to combining his academic expertise and consulting experience to help solve problems and build strategic solutions across the development sector, especially in the challenging environments in which Thuso has extensive experience.

Originally from Chicago, Henry has lived in New York, London, and Madrid, and is now based permanently in the Middle East. He is an enthusiast for nature and keen to try anything outdoors. He is an experienced backcountry hiker, spending many summers in the Rocky Mountains, as well as across Europe. He also sails catamarans, and served in his local Marine Rescue on Lake Michigan. He has recently started diving. He is looking forward to exploring the deserts and mountains of Arabia, as well as continuing to explore the outdoors through his travel on Thuso engagements around the world.

27/11/2023

Delighted that Thuso was able to support this event, and that Managing Director, Matthew Goldie-Scot, and General Counsel, Shawn Desker were able to attend in person, along with their guests.

Many thanks, as always, to Edwin Smith, Shady Elkholy, and the wider team at Spear's Magazine for a delightful evening, and to The Rt Hon Michael Portillo, for serving as host.

Congratulations to all the Winners and Finalists, particularly for the School of the Year Award, with The British School of Brussels being selected as the Winner, out of a strong shortlist, comprising a range of leading schools internationally:

Benenden School;
Brighton College;
Charterhouse School;
Dulwich College (Singapore);
Pembroke House School, Kenya;
Sevenoaks School; and
Wycombe Abbey

The support of the other sponsors of the event, AP Executive - Global Executive Search Agency, August, Aranyani Atelier, Blackstone, SilverBell Global, St. James's Place Private Clients, and Blackeye Gin - Catalyst Spirits, is also greatly appreciated.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7133480349325504512/

26/10/2023

Michael is a Technical Fellow specialising in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, with a particular focus on Maritime Science and the Blue Economy, working within the Conservation and Environment Practice at Thuso Group. He undertook studies focused on Sport Science at Stellenbosch University, before completing a B.Sc. (Hons) Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape, where he went on to read for his Ph.D., with his research focusing on the development of new statistical techniques for the delineation of new species. He has also undertaken studies focused on Machine Learning Engineering, and Scripting. With a strong interest in languages, he speaks French, and Afrikaans.

Michael’s experience includes teaching population statistics at the University of the Western Cape, as well as organizing, facilitating and serving as Lecturer at the PRIMALearn International Jellyfish Taxonomy Workshop, where he taught new scientific techniques to better optimize research in both developed countries and developing countries.

Throughout his career, Michael has co-authored a wide range of peer reviewed articles, and opinion pieces in leading news outlets. Michael has also presented talks at the South African Marine Science Symposium and the International JellyBlooms Symposium in Kerala, India as well as being a guest scientist aboard the R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen as part of the EAF-Nansen Ecosystem Monitoring program. Additionally, Michael has co-supervised multiple post-graduate students.

A competitive sailor holding two nationals titles, and a commercial diver, Michael has also been a volunteer swim coach for the UNASA swimming project and has volunteered his time as a safety diver for community outreach snorkelling programs. In addition to providing technical expertise to augment Thuso’s work in Conservation and Environment Policy development, he will also support the expansion of practical work in areas such as anti-poaching, maritime protection, and sport policy.

A South African Citizen, based in Cape Town, he will also continue to support the expansion of Thuso’s portfolio in Africa.

11/10/2023

Patricia Vlad was born in Romania, and educated at Concord College UK (as a scholar, and Head Girl), and at the University of Cambridge, where she read for the Education Tripos with both Natural Sciences, and Modern Languages, also undertaking studies in economics at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with the Erasmus Programme, as well as Acting Studies at Pábulo Escuela de Teatro. She also completed the Certificate in Calculus Teaching, at the Harvard University Harvard Extension School, and subsequently completed a PGCE with the UCL Institute of Education, University of London, as well as the Blockchain Strategy Certificate awarded by the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

While at Cambridge, she was actively engaged in drama and sport, and was awarded a Half-Blue representing the University in Ballroom Dancing through the CUDT in the Varsity Match against the University of Oxford. She also secured a Homerton College Pilkington Award, undertaking research into the genocide in Rwanda and Burundi, and organising a range of cultural and educational initiatives in the region.

She worked initially as a Research Interviewer for The Times, supporting the Committee for Foreign Policy at the Romanian Parliament, and as a Language Specialist at the Camford Royal School in Beijing, China. She went on to work in international development and educational consultancy, with Matthew Goldie-Scot, Charles Schulze, Matej Damborsky, and Alexandra Tigan, serving in a regional Head of Operations role in the Middle East, working with international development organisations, family offices, and private clients, before taking on a series of progressively senior management roles in the K12 Education Sector, including ISS International School, and Nexus International School (Singapore), based in South-East Asia. She has also supported a range of Ed-Tech initiatives globally, having won a series of accolades including the European Young Innovators World Summit Award, the BIG Business Innovations Generator award by Singapore Management University, and the All-Innovate award by the Oxford Foundry (now known as the Entrepreneurship Centre, Saïd Business School).

She was listed as a Forbes ’30 under 30’ professional in 2017, and served as a STEM Thought Leader at the Leadership and Management Institute in Singapore, and as a Judge for the Scholastic Environment Fund. She has also served as an IB Mathematics Examiner for the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

She is fluent in English and Spanish, and is based between Singapore and the Middle East.