Education Builds Progress: Clayton Heijman’s Commitment to Impact through Finance and Philanthropy
Updated: May 1, 2025
As Managing Director of Privium Fund Management, Clayton Heijman has spent over a decade shaping the infrastructure for innovative and sustainable investment strategies. With a career spanning senior roles at Crédit Agricole, Fortis Bank, and Goldman Sachs, he is no stranger to leadership in high-performance environments. But beyond the boardroom, Clayton’s commitment to fostering opportunity and long-term progress continues in his philanthropic work, as a trustee of Alternatives 4 Children UK (A4C UK).
Clayton’s involvement with A4C UK is a natural extension of his professional and personal ethos.
“Our firm was already involved in the A4C efforts in continental Europe,”
he explains,
“and it felt both right and necessary to help establish the UK chapter.”
For Clayton, education is more than a cause, it is a foundational enabler.
“We all benefitted from having access to education. As the saying goes: if you educate a child, a generation will benefit.”
Founded on the belief that education is the most impactful lever for change, A4C UK supports projects that help children in underprivileged communities gain access to quality schooling. Clayton sees his role on the committee not just as honorary, but as actively transformational.
“It means contributing to this shared goal and effort. It was great to launch the effort in the UK by talking to a group of curious professionals from the financial sector.”
That connection to the investment industry is critical. Clayton believes the values of the sector; support, honesty, and progression, are tightly aligned with the mission of A4C.
“Our industry has benefitted from the fact that everyone working in it has enjoyed various levels of education. If it wasn’t for our teachers and their efforts, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Therefore, it is only right that we support education systems, in both developed and underdeveloped countries.”
What sets A4C apart for Clayton is its efficiency and focus.
“Like other charities, A4C tries to help, but it does this in the most effective way, and in a field that provides the biggest impact to the child, the family, and the community.”
Balancing this work with his leadership at Privium comes naturally.
“It’s something very nice you want to talk about in both private and professional life,”
he says. And he is not shy about encouraging others to support the cause,
“Do it! Apart from the feeling of belonging to a great team, your contribution will have a significant impact.”
Looking to the future, Clayton hopes to see A4C UK reach a milestone that speaks volumes:
“Getting the first group of children to high school or even college.”
In three words, Clayton sums up what A4C means to him: Education Builds Progress, a philosophy he lives, both in his work and in his advocacy.
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