WHO WE ARE
Our Story
In 2014, a handful of Venezuelans living in Britain decided to do something about the health crisis in Venezuela. They banded together, collecting essential medical supplies and equipment and shipping them to Venezuela. As the humanitarian crisis deepened, the support grew and by 2016, Healing Venezuela was a registered charity in England & Wales with the number 1170709. We are also registered in the USA as a 501 (c) 3 and in France as an Association.
Healing Venezuela’s mission is to alleviate the public health crisis in Venezuela through a series of high-impact interventions in the public health space. The organisation’s strict non-political affiliation adds to its reach allowing it to work with partners across Venezuela and internationally. The charity has won and been a finalist in several important awards in the UK such as StartUp Charity of the Year by CharityClarity, finalist in two categories of The Times Charities Award and Winner of Bronze for Humanitarian Response in the prestigious GlobalGoodAward.
Our People
Prof. Michael Adler
Patron
Prof. Michael Adler
Patron
Michael Adler is the Emeritus Professor of Genitourinary Medicine/ sexually transmitted infections and HIV at the Royal Free Hospital and University College London. He has been an adviser to the British Government, the WHO, the UN and the EU. He was also Chairman of the National Aids Trust. He has served on the Board of Lepra and Care International UK.
Lord Nigel Crisp
Patron
Lord Nigel Crisp
Patron
Lord Nigel Crisp is an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords where he co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. He works and writes extensively on global health. He also co-chairs Nursing Now, the global campaign on nursing.
He was previously Chief Executive of the English NHS – the largest health organisation in the world with 1.3 million employees – where he led major reforms between 2000 and 2006. He was at the same time the Permanent Secretary of the UK Department of Health.
He has written several books including “Turning the World Upside Down – the search for global health in the 21st century” and, edited with Francis Omaswa, “African Health Leaders – making change and claiming the future”. He has also chaired a number of reviews and commissions including, most recently, the Gulbenkian Commission on the Future of Health in Portugal and the Commission on the Provision of Acute Psychiatric Care for Adults.
He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, an Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Medicine.
More information at nigelcrisp.com and @lordnigelcrisp
Rupert Pennant-Rea
Patron
Rupert Pennant-Rea
Patron
Rupert was editor of The Economist and later its Chairman. He was Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England and Chairman of several financial institutions. He has been involved in the charitable sector both in the UK and internationally.
⋆ UK Team ⋆
Cinzia De Santis
Chairwoman & Founder
Cinzia De Santis
Chairwoman & Founder
Cinzia is a dual British-Venezuelan marine biologist with a Master in Public Policies. She had a career as an environmentalist working for NGOs and international oil companies. In her last post, she was Head of Health, Safety, Environment for a FTSE100 company. Cinzia has been involved in non-profit organisations in the UK and Venezuela and founded Healing Venezuela in 2016.
Marisol Giardina
CEO
Marisol Giardina
CEO
Marisol Giardina is a tech professional working in Belfast. She started in Healing Venezuela as a volunteer and, thanks to her enthusiasm and dedication, became one of our most active ambassadors. She organises events in Northern Ireland and is in charge of our family planning programme. Marisol joined the Board of Trustees in July and will continue organising events to raise funds and awareness of the situation in Venezuela.
Mayra Sánchez
Communications Director
Mayra Sánchez
Communications Director
Mayra is a Venezuelan from San Cristobal, Táchira state, with a degree in Mass Media from the Universidad de los Andes.
She has worked in several radio stations and currently runs a podcast (“Vida de emprendedores”) in La Nación Radio de San Cristobal She has written articles for the newspaper La Nación and, currently, for Frontera Viva. She also has experience in the educational field, from pre-school to university level, specialising in Spanish, Literature, Religion and Culture. She currently lives in London where she works as a coach at the Bay Tree Foundation, as a volunteer and ambassador for Healing Venezuela and collaborates with the Venezuelan senior citizens group “Los Robles”.
Prof. Alejandro Arenas
Trustee
Prof. Alejandro Arenas
Trustee
Alejandro is Senior Clinical Research Associate at University College London, working on infectious and tropical diseases. He was Assistant Professor of medicine at the Jose María Vargas Medical School in Venezuela. He also teaches clinical research methodology in collaboration with academic institutions in various countries in Latin America. Alejandro has been on the Board of Trustees since 2017.
John O' Driscoll
Trustee
John O' Driscoll
Trustee
John has a BA in Political Economy & National Economics and a Master of Business Studies. John was Head of Tax & Treasury and BG Group plc and was a director of the boards of over 20 subsidiary companies within BG Group. He has been Trustee of several organisations, including an employer-nominated Trustee of BG’s Pension Scheme. John joined the Board of Trustees in 2019.
Andreina Townsend
Trustee
Andreina Townsend
Trustee
Andreina was born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela. She left Venezuela after finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Law to pursue further studies in the USA. She obtained an MSc from Boston University in Administrative Studies with a specialisation in Multinational Commerce. Upon moving to the UK in 2000, she has volunteered for various NPOs, including as a chairwoman. In 2019, Andreina began volunteering for Healing Venezuela, where she has been a trustee since 2023.
Her skills and experience have made a substantially positive impact on the lives of Venezuelans most in need.
Josefina Cao
Accounts Manager
Josefina Cao
Accounts Manager
Josefina was born in Valencia, Venezuela where she lived happily obtaining her degree in Accounting at the University José Antonio Páez, and later postgraduate degrees in Fiscal and Financial Management at the University of Carabobo. At the same time she gained professional experience in the administrative and accounting area with various companies.
Upon moving abroad, she obtained a degree in Business Administration and Management and completed a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance at the University of La Coruña, Spain.
Thania is very grateful to have the opportunity to add her collaboration to this noble cause that Healing Venezuela represents.
Marius Klaus Tkocz
Trustee
Marius Klaus Tkocz
Trustee
Marius holds an MSc in Finance and Investment from the University of Exeter. He works as a portfolio manager. Marius worn born and raised in Germany. Venezuela is one of his main interests. Marius joined the Board of Trustees in 2024.
⋆ Our Ambassadors Around The World ⋆
Jany Lesseur
France
Jany Lesseur
France
Healing Venezuela France was born from the initiative of a group of Venezuelan residents in Lyon, led by our ambassador Jany Lesseur. Since 2018 they have been operating as an association maintaining close links with Healing Venezuela in the UK organising various activities, including participation in regional festival with international NGOs, and sponsoring an international film festival. Jany is a seasoned professional in areas of organisation development and Climate Change.
Elena Palacios
USA
Elena Palacios
USA
Elena Palacios is a retired high-tech corporate leader with over 30 years of experience in global operations and technology, having held key roles at Lexmark, HP/Compaq, and Xerox. Equipped with dual master’s degrees in chemistry and business administration (MBA), Elena blends analytical expertise with strategic business insights to get results. Celebrated for her strategic acumen and leadership in driving digital transformation, she has been recognized with 15 prestigious awards. Elena has spearheaded initiatives across Latin America and Asia, streamlining operations and leading international teams. Now dedicated to supporting organizations that aid people in difficult situations, she leverages her expertise to enhance lives through improved processes and strategic innovation.
Ernesto Calzadilla
Goodwill Ambassador
Ernesto Calzadilla
Goodwill Ambassador
Ernesto is one of the most successful Venezuelan public figures. A marine biologist with a distinguished career in TV, films and theatre, he has made his name nationally and internationally by participating in programmes in Venezuela, the US, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and Colombia. Amongst his many roles, Ernesto has been a long-standing presenter at the Colombian TV musical contest programme Yo me llamo, (My Name Is) as well as a leading figure in the popular TV series Amor en Custodia, (Love Under Custody). He is now one of the main characters in the hit Netflix series Palpito II (The Marked Heart), which launched on April 23. With a great career ahead of him, Ernesto has agreed to become our Good Will Ambassador. He will help us spread our message around the world, and we are thrilled to have him!
Jemelin Artigas
Goodwill Ambassador
Jemelin Artigas
Goodwill Ambassador
Jemelin Artigas is the UK’s leading Latin influencers since her TV debut on The Apprentice UK. Originally from Venezuela and one of the only born and bread Latina to appear on the show, Jemelin keeps making headlines in the UK papers and has appeared on shows for ITV and TLC, being the only Latina to appear on UK national television with a very inspiring story. Jemelin is also a businesswoman, entrepreneur, presenter, award winning motivational speaker, mental health advocate and an ambassador to many charities and great causes.
Our Partners
Contact us
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