Meet The Team

James Preston

Executive Editor

James is a writer and media commentator who has been reporting on how the Tech industry will make the world a better place for 14 years, with a large following on South African radio. He is an early adopter of Bitcoin, and began reporting on its revolutionary capabilities in late 2014.

Philosophical by nature, he is intrigued by how the world works, and in turn, how it can be bettered. James believes wholeheartedly that the world can become as close to perfect as we humans can imagine, but it will take a lot of effort (and time) to get there. He believes his life purpose is to inspire people to believe this, and find their place in helping humanity achieve it.

James regularly does talks on emerging technology and its impact on society at Universities, global conferences, and events. To invite him to speak at your event, or comment for your media outlet, email info@globalcrypto.tv

Shaun Ritson

Founder

Shaun has been working in IT since he can remember. DJing for school parties and helping friends with their computers were his speciality. He took this skill into the business world, where he built a very successful IT operations career.

He joined Derivco in the late 2000s, where he continued to make his mark in IT infrastructure. It was here that he began to hear about Bitcoin and cryptoassets, and started the "genesis WhatsApp group".

The original "SA Crypto" WhatsApp group is where it all began, and his careful facilitation and hard work grew it into South Africa's largest blockchain community. In 2017, he co-founded Avantcore, a blockchain R&D firm, where he and his partners are building some of the most exciting blockchain tech in the country.

He remains passionately involved with Global Crypto, and supports the team on an ongoing basis.

Marc Forrest

Head of Technical Operations

Marc Forrest ventured into the online space long before modems were common-place in our homes. An Internet veteran, Marc has channeled his passion for technology into a flourishing career.

One of KwaZulu-Natal’s first bloggers, Marc began blogging in 2004, and highlighted Durban events and establishments via Durbzblog. In 2007, he launched marcforrest.com. Marc’s blog has, over the years, become a reliable, informative source of information on technology, with a distinctly South African flavour. He was also critical to the creation of izimvo.com and also contributes a monthly Gadgets & Gizmos column to a a number of lifestyle magazines, including The Ballito & The Airport Magazine.

Marc became interested in Bitcoin and all things blockchain in 2012, where he began researching its development capabilities. He has since written a number of successful posts on his own personal blog about digital assets.

When Marc is not making his mark online, he’s at home with his wife and three gorgeous children, making memories and being one of the world’s most mobile-mad dads.

Kratika Agrawal

Admin Assistant

Kratika has extensive experience working for top tech firms from around the world, and has a wealth of knowledge in the FinTech industry. Kratika helps the Global Crypto team ensure everything runs smoothly, publishing press releases, latest articles, reports, liaising with readers, and keeping our social channels nice and tidy. She is our website and community rockstar!

Catherine Jenkin

Senior Editor

Affectionately known as "Cath", Catherine has been working with James, Marc, and the Global Crypto team since their inception in 2016. Her early adoption of the internet led her to become quite the digital pioneer, and coupled with her socially conscious outlook, it was only a matter of time before she became a Bitcoin and blockchain proponent.

Cath is a spook of a ghostwriter and an inquisitive mind at the boardroom table. She also edits a selection of books, working closely with emerging authors to finesse and refine their publications. As a media consultant, Cath helps to create results-driven communication strategies, while providing proof-reading, editorial and other content generation services too.

As a freelance columnist, Cath focuses on Health, Education, Parenting, Technology, Tourism and Finance. Cath is also a regular contributor to a range of print and online publications. Cath has been a familiar online voice since the days of dial-up and ISDN. While her primary focus rests on copywriting for online platforms, she’s also a well-versed content strategist and creator, who regularly assists agencies and brands to create better content for their audiences. After spending ten years as an IT and Media Manager, Cath leapt into the world of freelance work, and has not sat still since.

Team Growth

We have an incredible group of contributors and community managers from all walks of life, and all over the world! You will see their work in our various social and chat channels, and in regular posts for the website. Look out for their faces included on this page soon!