New CEO for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
Andrew McLaughlin has been appointed the new chief executive of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. He will join the trust in September.
The former National Trust general manager of Kingston Lacy worked for the trust for over eight years in several senior leadership roles. Since then, he was chief executive of the University of Bath student union for over four years.
He joins the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust from South Gloucestershire Council, where he is service director, communications, strategy and innovation.
McLaughlin said: “My family and I have deep connections with Gloucestershire and I’m thrilled to be joining the county’s largest membership organisation as their new CEO. Like many people, I’ve become increasingly alarmed at the decline of nature both here in our county and across the UK and see my role as CEO as ensuring we have everything in place to make our ambitious strategy a reality, for the wildlife and people of Gloucestershire. I can’t wait to get started.”
Interim CEO appointed at St George’s Hospital Charity
Alex Botha has been appointed as new interim chief executive of St George’s Hospital Charity. He succeeds Amerjit Chohan, who stepped down last month after five years at the helm.
Botha is a chartered accountant with PwC. He has had roles as an executive consultant for a construction company and at Deloitte. He has been a trustee for several charities.
The trustees will begin recruiting for a permanent lead this autumn.
New senior leaders for Causeway
The modern slavery charity Causeway has appointed Amy Bond as its new chief operating officer and Deepa Mistry as chief finance officer.
Bond replaces Steve Watson who held the role for six years. She moves from being chief engagement officer at the charity, a role she has occupied since joining the charity in 2015. Before this, she had a career in the NHS.
As COO she will oversee the services, people and culture, fundraising, business development and communications and engagement departments.
Bond said: “I’m honoured to be moving into this role. During my time at Causeway I’ve seen thousands of lives positively impacted as a result of the team’s hard work. Steve Watson leaves big shoes to fill, and I’m looking forward to building on all that has been developed and continuing our mission to create lasting change.”
Mistry has held a number of senior finance and operations roles at organisations like Credit Suisse, Lloyd Banking Group and Cleft Lip and Palate Association.
In her new role, Mistry will oversee finance, governance, risk and procurement at the charity.
On her appointment, she said: “I am looking forward to working with the dedicated and deeply compassionate team at Causeway. In a post-pandemic era, the world is waking up to the injustices faced by the marginalised and vulnerable, and I was drawn to Causeway to help sustain the crucial support, freedoms and fair experiences essential to survivors of modern slavery and those caught up in cycles of crime and exploitation.”
Announced earlier this year was that Causeway’s CEO, Ed Newton, will be stepping down in November after 11 years. Recruitment for a new lead is currently underway.
Wellcome appoints two directors
Wellcome has appointed Jimmy Volmink as its first chief equity, diversity and inclusion officer. The newly-created role caused controversy earlier this year after it was advertised with a salary of £211,500.
He joins from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where he was dean of medicine and health sciences and is emeritus professor of global health. He began his career as a general practitioner in disadvantaged communities in rural Eswatini and Cape Town. Volmink is the founding director of Cochrane South Africa, part of a network that works to support evidence-based health care.
He will lead Wellcome's EDI strategy and lead its work on becoming an inclusive funder and employer. Volmink will take up post in October.
Beth Thompson has been appointed as the charity's chief strategy officer. She joined Wellcome as a policy officer in 2009 and has had several leadership roles in policy and strategy at the charity since. Before this, she worked at the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Academy of Medical Sciences in policy roles.
The role, which Thompson took up this month, oversees the charity's policy, government relations and strategic partnerships teams.
Paul Schreier, interim chief executive at Wellcome, said: “As a global organisation, we need leaders highly skilled at working with others to drive change and create impact.
“Jimmy’s expertise in health and medicine including in disadvantaged communities will be invaluable in ensuring the broadest possible impact and reach for our mission of solving urgent health challenges around the world.
“Beth is a highly respected advocate for Wellcome’s work in the UK and beyond. Her depth of experience both of Wellcome and the global health landscape will be a great asset as we increasingly partner with others globally to help deliver our goals.”
British Red Cross appoints communications director
Sal Copley is the British Red Cross’ new executive director for communications and external affairs. She will take up the post in September.
She joins from Sustrans where she was director of external affairs. Before this, she worked in senior roles for Alzheimer’s Society, Oxfam GB and Asylum Reform Initiative.
On her appointment, she said: “The British Red Cross' strategic priorities – disasters and emergencies, health inequalities, displacement and migration – are all urgent, humanitarian issues that I feel passionately about. I am incredibly excited to be joining the British Red Cross’ talented team and the global Red Cross Red Crescent movement. I am really looking forward to working together to make a difference."
StepChange welcomes three trustees
The debt charity StepChange has appointed Liz Harding, Mike Ashley and Sue Acton as its new trustees. They will join the board on 1 July.
Harding brings lived experience to the board as a previous beneficiary of StepChange’s services. She is CEO of Hearts Together, a Devon-based charity.
Most recently, Ashley was non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Barclays Plc. Before this, he worked as an audit committee for KPMG. He is currently a member of the cabinet office board and chair of its audit and risk committee. He is a trustee of Charities Aid Foundation and Scout Association.
Acton is a freelance consultant who specialises in financial services and gambling-related harm and lived experience of financial difficulty.
John Griffith-Jones, chair of StepChange of Debt Charity said: “The whole Board is delighted to welcome Liz, Mike and Sue, as trustees. These appointments will bring diverse insight from both the third and private sector as well as lived experience of problem debt. Their expertise will be vital as the charity charts its path during a once-in-a-generation cost of living crisis as well as a new funding landscape.”
New trustee for National House Project
The National House Project, a charity that supports young people leaving care, has appointed Jamie Roberts to its board of trustees.
Roberts is director of managed accounts at technology company Reconomy Group.
Roberts said: “NHP provides a radical housing solution to the problems that many young people face after leaving the care system. It is vital that we support these people with the community support they need to develop the practical and emotional skills required to live interdependent, happy lives.”
NCVO boss among five additions to Trussell Trust’s board
Sarah Vibert has joined the Trussell Trust’s board as part of the charity’s appointment of five trustees, who have also become company directors.
Fellow charity sector figures Duncan Shrubsole, director of policy, communications and research at Lloyds Bank Foundation and Tom Gibbs, finance director at National Trust, were appointed alongside NCVO’s chief executive at the organisation on 30 May.
The foodbank charity also appointed Sasha Morgan, director at Social Mobility Commission, and Suresh Ariaratnam, founder of Sprung Sultan.
Vibert said: “As CEO at NCVO, I am regularly asked: ‘Would you like to see more or fewer charities?’
“My answer to this question embodies the mission of the Trussell Trust to end the need for food banks: I’d like to see fewer charities needed to provide essential items.
“I firmly believe that poverty is unacceptable and am delighted to be joining the board to support the organisation in working towards a society where no one should have to access a food bank to get by.”
Writing on LinkedIn, Gibbs said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Trussell Trust as a member of the board of trustees. Really excited about the opportunity to support the amazing people at TT and the food banks they support, in their mission to end the need for food banks in the UK.”
He became the National Trust’s finance director in May after its chief financial officer Peter Vermeulen left after seven years to join the University of Bristol.
Gibbs previously held several roles at Barnardo’s, including director of business services.
King appoints National Citizen Service Trust chair
King Charles III has appointed Harris Bokhari as chair of the National Citizen Service Trust for a three-year term.
Harris is a social entrepreneur, public engagement advisor and chartered accountant who founded the Patchwork Foundation in 2010.
He will be paid a day rate of £400 for the role, up to a maximum of £40,000 a year.
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