EBC Financial Group Moves Beyond Support: A New Chapter in United to Beat Malaria

At EBC Financial Group, we believe action speaks louder than words. In 2025, we are proud to be strengthening our bond with the United Nations Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign, stepping boldly into a role that goes far beyond financial support. 

From Backers to Advocates

This year's World Malaria Day theme, "Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite," resonates deeply with our mission. Our journey with United to Beat Malaria has evolved from initial backing to full advocacy. We are not just contributors; we are champions for global health. 

David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, summarised our commitment: "In 2024, we stood in solidarity. In 2025, we stand in action. This campaign is now embedded into our leadership strategy and employee culture. This is not a moment, it’s a movement." 

As part of this new chapter, we are thrilled to sponsor the Move Against Malaria 5K event for the first time. Running from 25 April to 10 May, this virtual event invites participants worldwide to move in their own way—whether by running, walking, or cycling—to raise awareness and critical funds. 

Building a Future of Global Health Equity 

Beyond the Move Against Malaria 5K, our commitment is rooted in driving real, lasting impact. David Barrett’s candid conversation with Margaret McDonnell, Executive Director of United to Beat Malaria, highlighted the growing urgency of the cause: "The first year for me was a complete revelation in terms of how advocacy for this mission worked—not only in America but globally. This year, it was different. The politics have shifted, and the challenges have changed. But if anything, that makes this mission even more important." 

As a financial group operating across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, where malaria remains a daily threat, we feel this cause at a very personal level. Barrett noted: "We have offices in Africa, Latin America, and Asia where malaria is a very real, on-ground problem. Supporting this campaign is a natural progression, resonating with our people and the communities we work in. At the beginning, it was something of interest. But the more you learn about the lives this movement has saved, the more you realise you’ve got to keep going." 

Margaret McDonnell reinforced the role companies like EBC play: "We appreciate that a company like EBC—though not in public health—recognises the impact of malaria on your workforce, clients, and communities. Malaria isn’t just a health issue. It’s an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a strategic global issue." 

Advocacy in Action 

Our advocacy work came to life this March when David Barrett and Samuel Hertz, our APAC Director of Operations, travelled to Washington, D.C. for the United to Beat Malaria Annual Leadership Summit. They joined forces with advocates across industries to push for increased investment in malaria programmes and met directly with Congress leaders to reinforce the call for continued funding. 

Reflecting on the event, Barrett shared: "What stood out most was the passion of the Champions. From students to scientists, their energy is contagious. They’re not just learning—they’re leading. And that gives me hope that a healthier, more just world is truly possible." 

Samuel Hertz also spoke about the summit’s impact: "Being able to walk into the halls of Congress alongside these dedicated Champions—people who are educating communities, building coalitions, and pushing policy forward—was a powerful reminder that advocacy works. EBC was proud to represent the private sector in this movement, and even prouder to walk beside the changemakers driving it." 

Global Workforce Moving Together 

This year, more than 200 EBC employees across the UK, Africa, Asia, and Latin America have rallied to join the Move Against Malaria 5K. We are not only participating—we are sponsoring the event and energising our global workforce to mobilise teams, spread awareness, and fundraise for life-saving initiatives. 

We are also investing in vital interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets, rapid diagnostic tests, and antimalarial treatments. These efforts focus especially on regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America where malaria remains a deadly threat. 

Margaret McDonnell summed up the spirit of our partnership: "This partnership goes beyond corporate philanthropy, it reflects a shared mission to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations." 

Pushing for a Healthier Future 

At EBC, we know that sustainable growth is inseparable from global health. As Samuel Hertz put it: "As a global financial institution, we recognise that sustainable growth is inseparable from global well-being. In the fight against malaria, we are not only donors—we are advocates, allies, and catalysts for change." 

In 2024 alone, efforts from partners like us helped protect over 1.67 million people in vulnerable communities around the world. It is an achievement we are proud of—but it is also a powerful reminder that the work must continue. 

The World Health Organization’s 2024 Malaria Report paints a clear picture of the task ahead: 263 million people fell ill with malaria, and more than 597,000 lives were lost, the majority of them young children. These are lives we can and must save. 

David Barrett summed it up best: "These initiatives require macro thinking. If we keep looking only at the next quarter, we risk losing decades of momentum." 

At EBC Financial Group, we are committed to ensuring that momentum never fades. Together with United to Beat Malaria, we move forward—determined, united, and ready for the road ahead.