Blood Cancer UK appoints chief executive
Blood Cancer UK has appointed Helen Rowntree as its chief executive.
Acting as interim chief since November, Rowntree has now been appointed to the role permanently.
She succeeds Gemma Peters, who joined the charity in 2017 and left to become chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Rowntree began working with Blood Cancer UK in 2019, where she was director of research, services and engagement. Before that, she worked in various senior leadership roles in the NHS for ten years.
John Ormerod, chair of Blood Cancer UK, said: “We were pleased to have a very strong field of candidates. It is testament to the culture we have built here that so many high-calibre people wanted to join us. We are also delighted that, in Helen, we have been able to appoint someone with the leadership and strategic vision to help ensure we have an even greater impact on behalf of people affected by blood cancer. I am looking forward to working with Helen to deliver our new strategy.”
New CEO for Mission Aviation Fellowship UK
Mission Aviation Fellowship UK (MAF), the humanitarian air service, has appointed Donovan Palmer as its chief executive.
Palmer will join from Hope For Justice, an anti-slavery organisation, where he currently serves as chief strategy officer. Before this, he was group managing director and chief executive of Mercy Ships. Palmer joins MAF on 20 February.
MAF UK’s chair of trustees, Matthew Burton, said: “Donovan is joining MAF UK at an exciting time as we seek to grow in order to fulfil our vision to see isolated people changed by the love of Christ.
“The need to increase prayer and financial support as well as staff recruitment is greater than ever and we look forward to the flourishing of the MAF UK team under Donovan’s leadership.”
Prisoners Abroad welcomes chief executive
The human rights charity for those detained overseas, Prisoners Abroad, has announced Christopher Stacey will be taking over as chief executive in May, after Pauline Crowe retires after twenty years in the role.
Stacey will join from Clinks, a charity that works with people in the criminal justice system, where he works as director of support and development. Formerly he worked at Unlock for 12 years, a charity committed to helping those with criminal records.
Christopher said: “Prisoners Abroad is a truly unique charity and I am excited to bring my passion for supporting people caught up in the criminal justice system; helping people through some of the most difficult times in their lives and enabling them to face the future with hope, dignity and opportunity. I look forward to working alongside the committed and talented team of staff, trustees and volunteers, and work with the charity’s supporters and key stakeholders, to champion the importance of the work that Prisoners Abroad does so that its crucial services are enhanced and strengthened.”
The National Academy for Social Prescribing appoints CEO
The National Academy for Social Prescribing has appointed Charlotte Osborn-Forde as its chief executive officer. She takes up the role in April 2023 and will replace James Sanderson, who left the role after three years of working as CEO part-time.
She joins from Involve Kent, where she was chief executive officer for almost 12 years. She is also a trustee and director of Kent Wildlife Trust.
On her appointment, Osborn-Forde said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as CEO of this critically important organisation; now, more than ever, we need to make social prescribing business as usual in health care. I have seen, every day, the difference it makes to patients, the NHS, people and communities. Together, we will continue to grow and scale this transformative movement, changing lives for the better.”
Skilz welcomes chief executive
Scottish sports charity Skilz has appointed Mark Anderson as its first chief executive officer.
Anderson joins from Shelter Scotland where he was a community manager for six months. Before that, he was a learning and development manager at Rossie. He has worked in the charity sector for over 10 years.
He said: “Having been a volunteer at Skilz since the creation of the charity, I am very proud to have been appointed as the first CEO. I look forward to leading Skilz as we aim to grow as a charity and increase the support we give to our community.”
Royal Society for Blind Children welcomes chair
The RSBC welcomed Patrick Plant as its chair of trustees after Ian Stephenson retired from the position late last year.
Plant has been a trustee of the charity for eight years, and became vice-chair last year. He has experience of working in law so brings legal expertise to the role.
“I am immensely proud to be taking up the reins,” he said upon his appointment.
Make 2nds Count appoints chair
Secondary breast cancer charity Make 2nds Count has appointed professor David Cameron as chair.
Cameron is an oncologist, a professional in treating and diagnosing tumours. He is currently professor of oncology at the University of Edinburgh. He is chair of the Breast International Group, an umbrella organisation of 57 academic or not-for-profit breast cancer trials groups. He is also vice chair of the steering group of the Oxford-based Early Breast Cancer Clinical Trialists’ Group.
He said: “I am delighted and privileged to take on this role for an organisation that is doing such fantastic work supporting those affected by secondary breast cancer – and raising awareness of this form of the disease which remains largely unknown by most people.
New chair for Naomi House & Jacksplace
Naomi House & Jacksplace, a children’s hospice by Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust, has appointed Andy Meehan as its chair.
Meehan is a chartered accountant who has been a senior business executive for over 30 years. He is currently chairman of Ramsdens Holdings PLC, Polyco Healthline Group, New English Teas Ltd and the Shaw Education Trust.
Mark Smith, chief executive officer of Naomi House & Jacksplace says: “We are so pleased to welcome Andy to Naomi House & Jacksplace and look forward to benefitting from his wide range of experience in the commercial, public health, education and charity sectors”.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity welcomes chair
ABF The Soldier’s Charity has announced the appointment of its new chairman Simon Heale. He succeeds Philip Jones, who completed his tenure of six years in December.
Heale is a chartered accountant and former trustee and treasurer of Macmillan Cancer Support. He was formerly chief executive of the London Metal Exchange.
Former chairman Philip Jones said: “Simon Heale is the right person at the right time to lead the board through this economically turbulent period and to chart a strategy for the future.”
International Alert appoints chair
The peace building charity International Alert welcomes David Nussbaum as its new chair of the board, replacing retired ambassador Carey Cavanaugh who leaves the role after five years.
Nussbaum is currently chair of the Joffe Charitable Trust, the Transparency International UK Advisory Council, Senior Independent Director of Drax Group plc and more. Previously, he was chief executive of The Elders, where he worked directly with global leaders of peace and human rights.
Nussbaum said: “I share Alert’s vision that sustainable peace can be built only if those directly affected by conflict are at the heart of such efforts. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, Alert’s staff teams and our partners around the world in the years to come.”
New executive director for AbScent
AbScent, which supports people impacted by smell disorders, has appointed Esther Ardagh-Ptolomey as its executive director.
Ardagh-Ptolomey will lead the charity’s strategy to grow awareness of the impact of smell and taste disorders on people’s lives and mental health.
She joins from Learn for Pleasure where she was director of operations and communications for two years. She has experience working at various national charities, including Shelter UK, Cats Protection, RSPCA and Marie Curie UK.
City Bridge Trust appoints chief funding director
The London-based funder City Bridge Trust has announced the appointment of its chief funding director, Sacha Rose-Smith.
Rose-Smith has over 20 years’ experience in the sector. She has worked for the National Lottery Community Fund, London Funders, the Big Lottery Fund and more.
She is currently trustee and chair of the grants committee at The Access to Justice Foundation. From 2015 – 2018 she was chair of the grantmaking committee of BBC Children in Need for London and the south-east region.
New chief financial officer for Oxfam
Helen Wright has been appointed Oxfam’s new chief financial officer (CFO) and will join the charity this February.
She joins from Be the Business, where she was CFO for three years. She has worked in finance roles for both Comic Relief and Save the Children International, and begun her career working in business and finance at PWC.
Women in Prison appoints director of campaigns
Women in Prison has recently appointed Nicola Drinkwater as its director of external affairs and campaigns.
On her appointment, Drinkwater said: “Women affected by the criminal justice system (CJS) are some of the most marginalised people in our society, often at the sharp end of structural disadvantage with a high percentage of women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and abuse and mental ill health.
“I am thrilled to take up this new role at Women in Prison as we move into an exciting new chapter, centring the voice of women with lived experience of the CJS in all that we do and working to influence change to focus on alternatives to using prison as a response to women caught up in the system.”
Tearfund announces head of African and Caribbean Engagement
The Christian aid charity Tearfund has announced Bishop Wayne Perkins as its new head of African and Caribbean engagement team.
He will lead the work of the team engaging with Tearfund’s growing community of Black Majority Churches in the UK. Part of his role is to oversee the development of the new platform The Well, an initiative working with Black Majority Churches and Christians of African and Caribbean Heritage to help fight extreme poverty and injustice.
Perkins is an ordained bishop within the New Testament Church of God and a senior pastor.
He said: “I am excited to be joining Tearfund and working with the African and Caribbean Engagement team. I'm looking forward to using my sphere of influence to speak up against injustice and for those living in poverty. There are many opportunities and challenges ahead and I look forward keenly to what God has in store for us.”
Wellcome appoints director of infectious disease
Alexander Pym has been appointed director of infectious disease at Wellcome and will take up post in March. He succeeds Gordon Dougan who has been interim director since January 2021.
Pym is currently senior director in global public health research & development at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson where he leads the discovery and development of new drugs for tuberculosis and related diseases.
He said: “Wellcome’s infectious disease programme has enormous potential to accelerate research and development in tools and products that will have a huge impact on people’s lives everywhere.”
New Philanthropy Capital welcomes trustee
NPC, the charity think tank and consultancy, has appointed Meera Craston as its new trustee.
She has 20 years’ experience working in public policy and not-for-profit consulting.
Craston's current work includes acting as an advisor and thinking partner for clients across the independent, public, not-for-profit and private sectors to support the design of effective strategy, evaluation/impact assessment, leadership, culture and policy
She is currently an evidence & evaluation associate at Youth Endowment Fund. Previously, she has worked as head of evidence at Macmillan Cancer Support and a director at the research company SQW.
Crisis appoints five trustees
Crisis, the national homelessness charity, has announced the appointment of five new trustees.
- Kath Palmer is chief executive of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group.
- Waqar Ahmed is group finance director at L&Q and brings over 20 years’ experience in the commercial housing sector.
- Charlotte Bates is a lawyer and mediator who has worked with a number of lived experience boards, including the Kerslake Commission.
- Ezechi Britton is the chairman of Uome, a small business app. They are also strategic board advisor for Crisis.
- Sapna Dutta is global SVP and general counsel at Reckitt, a consumer goods company.
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