TennisIsLife
Trustees · The panel

The people behind the mission.

A small panel of trustees plus a dedicated programme manager. Tennis players, business operators and people with deep on-the-ground networks across the launch geographies — giving time and access pro bono.

Trustees
6
Countries
4
Continents
3
Founded
2018
  • Temitope Ayedun

    London

  • Tobias Drogseth

    Zurich

  • Inger Njau

    Dar es Salaam

  • Segun Aluko

    Lagos

  • Jim Huggins

    Croydon

  • Osasu Osemwota

    London

Founder

Where the dream and the funding started.

The founder leads strategy, fundraising and direction of the charity, alongside his role at Planettalk Limited.

Founding trustee

Temitope Ayedun

Founding Trustee · MD/CEO, Planettalk Limited

London, UK

Founder of TennisIsLife and managing director of Planettalk Limited. Leads strategy, fundraising and overall direction of the charity.

Kit that's collecting dust in a UK garage can completely change what's possible on a court in Tanzania. The model is that simple.

Trustees give time, networks and access — not money. The structure keeps the panel honest about what each of us can actually contribute.

The trustee panelOn how the panel works

Advisory trustees

The four people steering alongside the founder.

Supporting the programme through advisory, networks, materials and access — on a voluntary basis. No obligation to fund; the obligation is to use what each of them already has.

  • Tobias Drogseth

    Trustee · Business Development & Investor

    Zurich, Switzerland

    Business development professional, start-up investor and avid tennis player. Drives equipment collection drives across continental Europe — over thirty racquets, bags and shoes secured in Zurich alone.

  • Inger Njau

    Trustee · IT Professional

    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    IT professional and long-term Captain at DSM Gymkhana Club. Champions developmental tennis for the disabled and young people, and coordinates the Dar es Salaam programme.

  • Segun Aluko

    Trustee · Marketing & Education Investor

    Lagos, Nigeria

    Marketing professional and education investor. President of the Tennis Players Parents Association (TPPA) in Nigeria and former Tennis Captain at the Lagos Country Club.

  • Jim Huggins

    Trustee · Entrepreneur & Storage Partner

    Croydon, UK

    Entrepreneur and Chairman of the South Croydon Sports Club Tennis Section. Provides UK storage and logistics support for shipping equipment to our African partners.

Programme team

Day-to-day delivery.

Where the trustees set direction, the programme team keeps the wheels turning — collections, shipping, partner relationships, reporting.

  • Osasu Osemwota

    Programme Manager · Operations, Planettalk Limited

    London, UK

    Operations Manager at Planettalk Limited, doubling as programme manager for the charity. Coordinates collections, shipping, partner relationships and on-the-ground reporting.

Join the panel

Trustees with skills we don't yet have.

If you bring fundraising, communications, monitoring & evaluation, or African-market logistics expertise, we'd love a conversation. The panel is small by design — additions are deliberate.