We share performance insights and decades of expertise gained from British Special Forces, Helicopter Search & Rescue, and significant business success to provide philanthropic support.
Collaborating with organisations, innovators, businesses, and scholars, who are tackling the unnecessary challenges of today – and beyond.
We believe social responsibility, supported by our shared performance insights and business expertise, is a potent driver for positive change. Investing in both profit and non-profit organisations where support is necessary to impact the outcome and financials positively.
The impact of our philanthropic investment, be it time or money, is always focused on short-term social gain, underpinned by the sustainable long-term social and financial value that will continue and carry forward.
We believe people are intrinsically good and capable but don’t always have access to opportunities or the required support. We have chosen to focus on increasing effective access and addressing inequities through innovative solutions that empower individuals, cultivate accountability, enable adaptive organisations, and build healthy supportive outcomes.
We jointly believe in the importance of thinking big about what’s possible. It drove our approach to what we have gained and drives what we choose to invest our time and money into now —along with a willingness to think creatively about how philanthropy operates across systems that impact people’s lives.
As a former Royal Marine Commando, with post-service operational engagement with the UK special forces, Army and RAF, the support we offer the Military is extremely important to Mark.
Unfortunately, and surprisingly to most, some areas of support and lifelong care of the Military Family, serving and retired, falls upon charitable organisations.
Kent & Kray focus on partnering with organisations and military stakeholders that provide support, advice and lifelong camaraderie to serving and retired military and their families.
Our focus is to ensure that the organisations we collaborate with are working towards productive and sustainable approaches to supporting the serving and retired military financially and socially.
Poaching has been deemed illegal for hundreds of years, it’s considered one of the greatest threats to the most endangered species.
Unfortunately, poaching is lucrative, and consumers continue to purchase poached products. So why would the perpetrators stop when they are financially gaining without consequence for bad behaviour?
New solutions are necessary to prevent the extinction of many valued species, including addressing the issue directly and educating public audiences on how they might be contributing to the persistence of poaching.
By utilising our leadership, communication, brand, and marketing experience, along with Mark’s experience as a Search & Rescue helicopter pilot, we can help across the spectrum of active anti-poaching support which also includes helicopter air support.
We support the notion that philanthropy is more than funding. Focusing on more than donating funds to ensure any monetary support, is underpinned by our insights and experiences to ensure a positive outcome.
In its truest sense, philanthropy is about improving the lives of others, independent of the method. We work across the social, military and business sectors where we believe in the purpose and where we can add value.
We aspire to address complex and critical economic and social requirements by challenging orthodoxy, making catalytic changes, embracing risk and ambiguity, and being creative in how we engage to create a positive systemic outcome.
To ensure sustainable outcomes work in a networked way, supporting and engaging one another and building strong, diverse communities.
We work to earn the trust of others by holding ourselves accountable to high standards that reflect our values and help us achieve our vision.
Passing on what we have learned from our successes and failures allows our partners to seek new perspectives. Always maintaining the all-important ability to be curious and understand that every situation is dynamic and constantly evolving.
We treat all people as intrinsically good and capable. We warm-heartedly acknowledge and appreciate the diverse experiences and perspectives of our partners, investees, and employees, and value the perspective of those who disagree with us.
As co-founder and partner of Kent & Kray, Mark oversees the collaborative relationships and engagement to ensure we support organisations within our chosen ‘areas of focus’, and those that will ultimately benefit from our support.
With operational experience at the apex of the British Special Forces, flying helicopter Search & Rescue missions, having a hugely successful business career and a selfless commitment to philanthropy, his insight is diverse. Currently, Mark is the Executive Chairman of Aviation Partners – a multi-billion-dollar helicopter infrastructure initiative in the Middle East.
Mark is a natural and proven leader who, with strength and humility, has achieved global business success in his commercial and charitable endeavours. His business success is underpinned by how one should communicate and function in the high-octane environment of helicopter search & rescue missions and specialist military operations. Proving to be a valuable contributor to business and society, Mark is the ultimate advocate that one should walk the walk before one can talk the talk.
Committed, no-nonsense leadership, teamwork and partnership have all been at the heart of his success and contribute to the positive outcomes for the complex issues faced by our chosen partners.
As co-founder and partner of Kent & Kray, Jody oversees financial management, ensuring a predictable flow of resources (time and people) to the organisation’s Kent & Kray support. She brings global business and general management experience rooted in creativity, business development, and financial management.
She is a board adviser for Aviation Partners – a multi-billion-dollar helicopter infrastructure initiative in the Middle East. Prior to this, Jody held executive-level positions in financial advisory, brand development, and management companies. With an entrepreneurial spirit and interest in finding new solutions for existing problems, Jody approaches Kent & Kray projects with creative curiosity.
Her dedicated approach, combined with a passion for collaboration and interaction, drives Kent & Kray’s work to contribute to positive outcomes for complex issues facing our chosen partners.
Captain Mark Burby has been shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates the achievements of service leavers throughout their whole career, both in the military and their accomplishments after leaving the military.
Kent & Kray does not accept unsolicited proposals. We proactively seek new philanthropic engagements based on funding priorities and typically source opportunities from within our network of partners and contacts. We do not accept unsolicited business plans, funding proposals, or personal funding requests.
Kent & Kray 