A meeting of hearts and minds
Trevor Bird
South African-born Trevor moved to the United Kingdom in 2004, looking for new opportunities. His career initially flourished in the Motor Retail sector, but the allure of the legal field had truly captivated him, leading him to qualify as a solicitor in 2017. Trevor joined a regional legal practice, quickly progressing to partner status and leading the corporate team. During his tenure there, he has been a guiding light for numerous tech startups, providing invaluable legal advice and business development guidance.
However, Trevor’s aspirations extend far beyond his legal career. He is a visionary with an ambitious goal: To reshape the world of infrastructure finance starting on the African continent. Exploiting the transformative potential of infrastructure, providing, for example, greater access to electricity, will transform countless lives in Africa; Trevor is passionately committed to this vision and is leveraging his skills, knowledge, and networks to achieve it.
Trevor is not just a lawyer but a leader, innovator, and catalyst for change. His philosophy is deeply rooted in the African concept of Ubuntu, which emphasises the interdependence of individuals with their societal and physical environments. This philosophy, often translated as “I am because we are” or “humanity towards others”, advocates for a sustainable lifestyle that respects the rights of others, including future generations.
Kiley Tan
Malaysian-born Kiley moved to the UK in 1994 to study law and train as a barrister before being admitted to the English Bar in 1998. In 1999, he returned to Malaysia and entered the Malaysian Bar, where he practised until 2002, when he returned to the UK and re-qualified as a solicitor in England. In the early part of his career, Kiley specialised in commercial dispute resolution. Since 2010, Kiley has practised in the area of non-contentious commercial work. He has been a partner at two legal firms.
With 25 years of experience in law and over nine years as a successful independent business owner, Kiley is the epitome of a modern entrepreneur who is not afraid to take well-calculated risks to achieve a positive outcome. He is a highly committed individual whose word is his bond and who takes pride in making a tangible difference.
He and Trevor joined forces in 2019 after meeting with several project owners and financiers when they realised that life-critical infrastructure programmes in Africa needed funding. Leveraging their combined legal expertise and drawing on a deep understanding of compliance and ethical practices and a shared passion for positive change enables them to bring technology and real-world projects together. They are now on a mission to help fund essential projects and transform lives.