Derek Lubner

Derek Lubner is the Co-Founder and Chairman of iZinga Assist, a groundbreaking platform reimagining trust and transparency in the philanthropic sector across Africa. Together with CEO Henk Swanepoel, Derek has shaped iZinga Assist's strategic vision and governance architecture since its founding.

As Chairman, Derek provides board leadership and strategic direction for iZinga Assist's dual operations as a UK-registered charity and a South African non-profit affiliate. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning iZinga Assist as a credibility-building infrastructure for the non-profit sector — enabling donors to give with confidence through rigorous verification of NPO compliance, governance, and impact.

Derek's passion for social accountability and systemic change in the philanthropic ecosystem drives iZinga Assist's mission to shift the culture of giving in Africa — from hesitancy rooted in opacity to generosity powered by transparent evidence. The platform's Donor Journey model has been recognised as a transformative innovation in social sector finance.

At the NGO Summit 2026, Derek brings the perspective of a philanthropic infrastructure builder — challenging participants to think beyond individual programmes to the systemic governance and accountability frameworks that determine whether civil society organisations can attract, retain, and steward donor investment at scale.