Board of Directors
Audrey A. Cappell - Director
Audrey Cappell is a passionate writer and women’s rights activist. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Marymount Manhattan College. Mrs. Cappell is the president and founder of Felicity House, an organization devoted to the success, creativity, and happiness of women with autism. She is also the president and founder of Foundation for a Just Society, an organization that works toward a world without discrimination by giving women, girls, and LGBTQI people the tools to pursue a successful and accomplished life. Mrs. Cappell is also a director of the Nick Simons Foundation and a director of Foundation for a Just Society International.
Marilyn H. Simons - Director
Marilyn Simons is a philanthropist and advocate focused on funding basic science research. A
co-founder of the Simons Foundation, Marilyn currently serves as a co-chair of the foundation’s
board of trustees.
Mrs. Simons also has more than 25 years of experience actively supporting nonprofit organizations in New York City and State. She is a Director of Foundation for a Just Society International, is chairman of the board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an outstanding U.S. research facility specializing in molecular biology and genetics, and is a board member of the Turkana Basin Institute, a research institution that supports scientific projects in the Turkana Basin of Northern Kenya. She also serves as chair of the Stony Brook Women’s Leadership Council. In addition to her work to advance basic science research, Simons has been involved in K–12 education for underserved communities. She is a member of the board of trustees of the Learning Spring School, a New York City-based school for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and the East Harlem Scholars Academy in New York City.
Mrs. Simons received a B.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
John Richmond - Director
John oversees Butterfield Trust (Bermuda) Limited (“BTBL”) which provides private client and corporate trustee services, together with associated company administration.
John has over 25 years’ experience managing complex trust structures for ultra-high net worth families across multiple jurisdictions. He was previously with HSBC Private Bank (Bermuda) prior to joining Butterfield Trust (Bermuda) Limited (BTBL) in May 2016.
John is a Director of BTBL and acts in a personal capacity on a variety of Boards, Foundations and Private Trust Companies. John is a member of the Institute of Directors.
Jan Spiering - Director
Jan Spiering is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Bermuda and the retired Managing Partner and Chairman of Ernst & Young Bermuda, a firm he joined in 1979. Prior to that he was with Robson Rhodes, a United Kingdom firm of Chartered Accountants with whom he qualified.
Mr. Spiering serves as a Director of a number of investment funds and some not for profit foundations. He is a director of the Foundation for a Just Society International and also served as a Director for various companies in the financial services industry including two public companies quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. He has served on various Public Boards and Committees including as Deputy Chairman of Bermuda’s International Business Association, Chairman of Bermuda’s International Business Association Mutual Fund’s Committee, Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Bermuda College and Chairman of Bermuda’s International Business Forum from 1995 to 2005.
Mr. Spiering is an independent director.
Kady Safar - Advisor
Kady is a public school teacher in Brooklyn, NY and holds a Master Teaching Fellowship with Math for America. Kady holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s degree in special education from Bank Street College. She also holds a certificate in bilingual education from Wayne State University. She currently serves on the boards of Foundation for a Just Society, Felicity House and as an advisor for Foundation for a Just Society International.