Sophie Chandauka
{{Short description|Zimbabwean lawyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sophie Chandauka
| honorific_suffix = MBE
| image =
| birth_name = Sophia Tendai Chandauka
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1978}}
| birth_place = Harare, Zimbabwe
| occupation =
| alma_mater = Lake Superior State University (LSSU)
|
}}
Sophie Tendai Chandauka MBE (born 1978)[https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3304285/meet-sophie-chandauka-whos-centre-prince-harrys-charity-meltdown-she-accused-others-sentebale Meet Sophie Chandauka, who’s at the centre of Prince Harry’s ‘charity meltdown’: she accused others at Sentebale of ‘bullying’, had an awkward encounter with Meghan Markle, and once worked for Meta] South China Morning Post, 29 March 2025 is a Zimbabwean corporate finance lawyer. She became known in 2025 for her role in a dispute involving the charity Sentebale.
Education
Following primary and secondary education in Harare, Zimbabwe, Chandauka was sponsored by Rotary International in 1994 as a Rotary Youth Exchange student for a year in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.{{cite news|last=Hearn|first=Wayne|title=Youth Exchange: Generations of young lives promote world peace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjQEAAAAMBAJ&q=rotary+international+sophie+chandauka&pg=PA25|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=The Rotarian|date=September 1999}} She then attended Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Michigan, where she was awarded another Rotary scholarship to study at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom for a year.
Career
In 2007, Chandauka was shortlisted as a finalist for the British Legal Awards "Young Solicitor of the Year".{{cite web|title=2007 Winners and Finalists|url=http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=660347|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807153214/http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=660347|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2011|work=Legal Week – British Legal Awards|publisher=Incisive Media|access-date=25 October 2013}} In 2008, she was shortlisted as a finalist for The Lawyer Awards "Assistant Solicitor of the Year".{{cite news|title=The Lawyer Awards shortlist 2008|url=http://www.thelawyer.com/the-lawyer-awards-shortlist-2008/132667.article|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=The Lawyer|date=12 May 2008}} Also in that year, Chandauka was selected as one of Management Today{{'s}} "35 Women Under 35" businesswomen to watch and was featured on the cover of the July 2008 issue of the magazine with four other women.{{cite news|last=Devita|first=Emma|title=MT's 35 Women Under 35 2008: The List|url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/829294|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=Management Today|date=3 July 2008}}
In the same year, Chandauka was invited to Lake Superior State University to receive the Paul Ripley Young Alumna Award.{{cite news|title=Paul Ripley Young Alumna Award 2008: Sophie Chandauka|url=http://alumni.lssu.edu/lakerlog/sophie_chandauka_fall2008.php|access-date=25 October 2013|newspaper=Laker Log|date=Fall 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420161558/http://alumni.lssu.edu/lakerlog/sophie_chandauka_fall2008.php|archive-date=20 April 2009}}{{cite news|title=Four to be honored by Lake Superior State University during Great Lake State Weekend|url=http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=34921|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=Soo Today|date=7 October 2008}} In autumn 2011, she was shortlisted as a finalist for the Women of the Future Awards.{{cite news|title=Women of the Future Awards 2011: shortlist announced|url=http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/7461-women-of-the-future-awards-2011-shortlist-announced/page:2|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=Real Business Caspian Media|date=3 October 2011}} In March 2013 she was featured in Financial News' editorial pick of 40 Rising Stars in the European legal profession aged under 40.{{cite news|last=Coe Smith|first=Claire|title=FN 40 under 40: The rising stars of legal services|url=http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2013-03-11/fn-40-under-40-the-rising-stars-of-legal-services?ea9c8a2de0ee111045601ab04d673622|accessdate=25 October 2013|newspaper=Financial News|date=11 March 2013}} She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) – a membership organisation committed to increasing the number of senior black executives in global enterprises.[https://www.elcinfo.com ELC website]
In the 2021 Queen's birthday honours she was awarded an MBE "for services to Diversity in Business."{{cite web| url = https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/surrey-queens-birthday-honours-list-20801365| title = Queen's Birthday Honours 2021: All the Surrey residents recognised in the latest honours list – Surrey Live}}
In 2023, Coventry University awarded her an honorary doctorate.{{cite web | title=Honorary Doctorates | website=Coventry University | date=27 March 2025 | url=https://www.coventry.ac.uk/the-university/alumni/honorary-graduates/ | access-date=27 March 2025}}
Sentebale charity
In 2008, Chandauka was appointed to the board of trustees of Sentebale ("Forget Me Not" in Sesotho), an African children's charity established by Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry to help vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho, particularly those orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.[http://www.sentebale.org/home/OurTeam.html "Our Team"], Sentebale website. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102211149/http://www.sentebale.org/home/OurTeam.html |date=2 January 2011 }}.{{cite news|title=African Charity Sentebale Appoints Baker & McKenzie Associate as Trustee|url=http://www.legal500.com/firms/50079-baker-mckenzie/press_releases/8040|access-date=25 October 2013|newspaper=The Legal 500|date=April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195957/http://www.legal500.com/firms/50079-baker-mckenzie/press_releases/8040|archive-date=29 October 2013}}
In 2025, a dispute arose between Chandauka and the board of trustees, around a decision about focusing the charity's fundraising on America. The dispute resulted in the board asking her to resign as chair. She refused and the board resigned in protest, which led to Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso resigning as patrons.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/25/prince-harry-resigns-in-shock-from-african-charity-he-founded-in-2006|title=Prince Harry resigns ‘in shock’ from African charity he founded in 2006|work=The Guardian|first=Nadeem|last=Badshah|date=25 March 2025|access-date=25 March 2025}} Chandauka sued the charity and reported it to the Charity Commission, claiming that what caused the conflict was that she had "blown the whistle" about "poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the coverup that ensued" in Sentebale.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e7z2e4pkno|title=Harry quits charity he set up in Diana's honour over internal row|work=BBC News|first=Adam|last=Durbin|date=26 March 2025|access-date=26 March 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.elcinfo.com ELC Website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110102211149/http://www.sentebale.org/home/OurTeam.html Sentebale Website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130814042939/http://bldfoundation.org/about_us_page/our_people BLD Foundation Website]
- [http://www.protimos.org Protimos Website]
- [http://www.thebbbawards.com/awards/ BBBAwards Website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandauka, Sophie}}
Category:Zimbabwean women lawyers
Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham
Category:21st-century English lawyers