Sunny Harrison
Founder and President
Sunny is the Founder and Executive Director of Create Lasting Change. With a background in cybersecurity and experience in global leadership roles at a multinational technology company, she brings strategic and cross-sector expertise to the nonprofit space.
She is the author of Recalibrate Your Mind, with all proceeds directly supporting programs for abused women.
Sunny founded the organization because she believes that violence is interconnected — the abuse of animals, women, and children doesn't happen in isolation. Guided by this conviction, she created the Voices of Vulnerability (VoV) initiative with a dedicated team to raise awareness and enhance prevention efforts.
Her lifelong advocacy involves rescuing animals and supporting projects for homeless children and women who have been abused. As a dedicated vegan, she believes that human welfare, animal protection, and environmental sustainability are deeply connected.
Germany - previously South Africa and Namibia
Anke Martin
Anke is an Associate Professor with a Ph.D. from Stellenbosch University. She has a strong academic background and emphasizes research and analytical studies, providing evidence-based expertise and critical insight in her work.
Her lifelong passion for animal welfare and deep respect for the interconnectedness of all living things have shaped both her personal and professional values. Growing up surrounded by animals, she developed a strong sense of empathy and responsibility for vulnerable lives. Today, she shares her life with miniature horses, chickens, and dogs.
Within the Voices of Vulnerability (VoV) initiative, Anke plays a key role in developing the project’s research base. Her focus on studies and evidence-based analysis helps build the initiative’s framework, guide its prevention efforts, and make sure that awareness and advocacy are rooted in reliable research.
Australia - previously South Africa and Namibia
Frank Giessen
Frank has spent many years working in cybersecurity with international U.S. technology companies. He served as a board member of WHITE IT, an initiative to fight child pornography on the internet. Additionally, Frank was part of the executive board of D21, Germany's largest network for the digital society. The organization promotes digital inclusion, ethical digitalization, and social responsibility amid technological change. Protecting vulnerable and defenseless beings is not only a professional obligation for Frank but also a personal one. His dedication to animal welfare stems from a conviction to help in a direct and meaningful way.
Germany
Richard Leaning
Richard brings more than 40 years of distinguished experience in law enforcement and cybercrime prevention, spanning national and international service as well as collaboration with the private sector. Throughout his career, he has been deeply committed to protecting vulnerable populations from online abuse, cyber exploitation, and transnational digital threats.
Richard has played a key role in advancing global Internet safety through the development of effective frameworks, informed cybersecurity policy, and strong international partnerships. His work has consistently centered on collaboration, prevention, and victim-focused approaches to addressing harm in digital spaces. Richard will help drive the Voices of Vulnerability Project.
Belgium
Navid Karimzadeh
Navid is an Engineering Program Manager at a leading global tech company and holds a degree in Systems Engineering. As a key contributor to our education projects, he brings strategic insight and technical leadership to every initiative. A strong advocate for education, Navid believes it is the foundation for meaningful, long-term change. He is also a lifelong animal advocate and a steadfast voice for those who need support, always willing to speak up and stand up for what is right.
Germany
Hardy Rusch
Co-Founder
Hardy is a freelance software developer who has worked at global tech companies for many years. However, his passion is around creating change for the environment and animals, with a strong focus on animal rescue. He has supported many complicated animal rescues, especially those related to feral and injured animals. Hardy has been a vegan and animal and environment advocate for many years. He has extensive expertise with animals that have disabilities and is passionate about giving them a chance and the love they deserve.
Germany - previously South Africa and Namibia
Marius Nel
Marius is a huge animal lover and an advocate for inclusion and diversity. Marius has a business degree and served many years in theSouth Africa Police Service (SAPS) holding the rank of Colonel and working at their Head Office. He got his first pet at the age of four and his love for animals started growing from there. Realizing each animal has it's own unique personality and the unconditional love they give us as human beings. He is a activist against keeping animals in captivity. He is a huge advocate to adopt a pet rather than buying one from a breeder. He also believes that using renewable energy sources is the best way to safe what is left of the ozone layer. Marius is a vegetarian /almost vegan.
South Africa
Ruben de Kemp
Ruben de Kemp is a documentary filmmaker and co-founder of undoq, driven by a deep concern for real-world issues and underrepresented voices. His recent work took him to Namibia, where he is producing a film about a mobile animal clinic, and he is currently documenting the stories of women affected by gender-based violence in Cape Town. Ruben’s approach is immersive and compassionate, using storytelling to raise awareness and build meaningful connections. His work aligns closely with Create Lasting Change’s mission to inspire impact through lived experiences. He aims to create powerful documentaries that shed light on unseen realities.
Netherlands
