GSY/SA Africa Funds Debate and Thought Leaders Private Wealth Workshop

James is responsible for implementing Guernsey Finance's business development strategy to promote the island as a global finance specialist and connect Guernsey’s industry in its chosen target markets.

He has more than 25 years' experience in the fiduciary sector, where he worked for international banks and independent trust companies based in the Channel Islands, Switzerland and the UAE.

Neil is a Partner in Grant Thornton's Channel Islands tax team and specialises in offshore trust and company tax advisory and compliance services.

At present, Neil is advising clients on the implications of the proposed changes to the taxation of non-domiciliary and what impact these changes will have on trust structures in the Channel Islands.  Neil also leads Grant Thornton's tax information exchange service line and has a deep understanding of the US FATCA and OECD Common Reporting Standards and is the Channel Island lead on Grant Thornton’s global asset management tax working party.  Neil regularly advises on the creation and on-going management of fund structures in particular the use of Guernsey Private Investment Funds and how these can be used by UHNW families to assist with the transfer of family wealth to future generations.

Neil has been listed as one of the City wealth's Top 50 Global Tax Professionals of 2025 having been name in the Top 100 tax advisors in 2023 and was named City wealth's Future Leaders Accountant of the Year in 2018.

Gareth studied at Christian Brothers College in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where he achieved a BCom majoring in Economics and Management. He has also obtained a qualification in Personal Financial Management from UNISA and completed his RE5 qualification. In 2015, Gareth began his career as a Sales Consultant and Account Executive at Sasfin Forex. 
 
He then joined Currency Partners in June 2019 as an FX Business Consultant. During this time, Gareth has been responsible for growing Currency Partners’ footprint in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Gareth believes in building client relationships through honest communication and timely execution that supports their individual FX product and service needs.

Milton is a corporate, funds and banking and finance lawyer with previous experience at international law firms in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Singapore and China.

Milton has broad experience advising financial institutions and sponsors, in relation to acquisition finance, cross-border finance, private equity, structured finance, debt capital markets, derivatives, hedge funds, high yield debt, and securitisation.

Milton has funds experience and has advised both GPs and LPs in relation to the establishment of domestic and international funds and has assisted clients with the full spectrum of private investment funds, all major investment strategies and all stages of a private investment fund's life cycle.

Milton was admitted as an Attorney in South Africa in 1997 and as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2003 and has previously worked as senior counsel in the private equity practice of O'Melveny & Myers, London where he acted for private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and hedge funds on various capital market, structured finance, acquisitions and private equity related transactions. He has experience in the European, Asian and African markets.

Milton was a partner in the Beijing office of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP where he assisted Chinese State-Owned Enterprises and financial institutions with their outbound investment strategy, particularly relating to cross-border transactions into Africa and Europe.

Milton was also the founding partner of CMS South African and was head of their African funds and private equity practice.

He was recently recognised by Best Lawyers for Private Equity & Funds, 2020 - 2022.

Justin is an impact investment specialist with over 20 years experience in supporting the design and deployment of private capital to create better opportunities for vulnerable communities. These investments have positively impacted hundreds of thousands of lives across a diverse range of countries. 

His wide-spanning career has included working for an international non-profit patroned by King Charles, working on a multi-country job creation programme for the United Nations and serving as a director of a large private foundation in the Middle East.

As well as founding and running Innovest, Justin serves as a non-executive director on a number of impact investment funds and investment vehicles focused on enhancing human development and addressing climate change in emerging markets.

Justin has BA Hons in History from the University of Birmingham and a MSc in Sustainable Development from the London School of Economics.

As the Chief Revenue Officer at Currency Partners, Lauren can leverage her years of experience to manage and optimise sales, products and distribution, growing the business in the process.

Prior to joining Currency Partners in 2018, she started her career at 1st Contact in 2007, helping the FX team with their Business Development. Lauren next worked at Bidvest Bank, managing the Cape Region’s Corporate FX Sales team. In 2015, she was included in the Bidvest Academy.

In 2016, Lauren won the Regional Leadership Award. She then ascended to an area head-position, managing all branch and business banking in the greater Cape Region.

Andrew is a highly regarded South African tax practitioner. He has significant tax experience in a number of fields including finance transactions, corporate transactions and/or restructures, international tax and tax compliance work, including voluntary disclosure and disputes.  He also has significant experience from an exchange control perspective in relation to cross border transactions and ownership of crypto assets.

Andrew is widely recognized as being commercial and innovative when attempting to solve client problems. He also has good relationships with various regulators where interactions are necessary noting that he has over 15 years’ experience in providing complex employees’ tax advisory services to large and complex South African companies.

He was ranked by Chambers and Partners in South Africa for Tax, 2018-2022.