History and Governance

The resources of the Oak Foundation originated from an interest in the Duty Free Shoppers business which Alan M. Parker helped to build up. Since 1998 when the Foundation was reorganised and began to hire new staff, it has made over 1,200 grants to not-for-profit organisations throughout the world. A five-member Board of Trustees governs the Foundation: Jette Parker, Chair; Alan Parker, Vice Chair; C. Turner; K. Parker; and N. Parker. An Advisory Board also supports the Foundation’s work: William Cotter retired at the end of the year as Chair of the Advisory Board. William Norris, Julie Sandorf and Bradford Smith continue to serve as Advisory Board members. The Foundation’s Trustees and their Advisory Board confer regularly to consider requests for assistance.

The Foundation’s secretariat currently comprises:

• Bradford Smith, President
• Gary Goodman, Secretary of the Foundation
• Vinit Rishi, Director of Administration
• Jeremy McTeague, Head of Grant Administration
• Jeanne Liu Kuk, Internal Audit
• Eve Zeender, Internal Audit
• Heidi Mayhew, Administrator
• Destiny Ekperi, Administrator