Action for Children chief executive to stay on
The children's charity announced Melanie Armstrong is to extend her contract as interim chief executive until March 2023. Armstrong was supposed to be in the role for only six months but has stayed for three years.
She assumed the role in March 2020 weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic, succeeding Julie Bentley, who stepped down after two years for personal reasons.
Armstrong said: “I have agreed to extend my contract from the end of the year until March 2023 when I will then hand over the reins to someone new. I have felt immensely privileged to have led the charity and know it is well placed to face the future.”
New CEO for Adoption UK
Emily Frith will take up the role of chief executive at the national adoption charity after Sue Armstrong Brown announced she was stepping down after five years in the role.
Frith joins from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner where she was head of policy and public affairs. She has experience working as a special adviser to the deputy prime minister, as a director at the Education Policy Institute, and as a health advisor across a variety of settings.
On her appointment, Frith said: “I am passionate about achieving change for children, particularly those who have a difficult start in life, and giving them a voice and control in the decisions that affect them. One of my priorities will be to meet AUK’s new adoptee advisory groups and work with them to build relationships with the wider community of adopted people.”
Voluntary Action North Somerset appoints chief
Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) has appointed Mandy Gardner as its new chief executive. She will succeed Paul Lucock, who will step down in October after three years in the role.
Gardner has experience as the operations manager at Bath City Football Club Foundation.
On her appointment, she said: “I look forward and am excited to be joining the VANS team and building on the great foundation and further growth potential of VANS in the VCFSE sector over the coming years and supporting our partners and working with stakeholders and communities across North Somerset”.
Chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust to step down
Ian Green, the chief executive of the HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, has announced he will be stepping down from the role after almost seven years in post.
He joined the charity in 2016 during a tumultuous period where the previous chief executive, Rosemary Gillespie, stepped down after making allegations of sexual harassment.
Green has said he will continue in his role until the charity appoints his successor. Last week, he spoke to Civil Society News about his experiences there and encouraged people to apply for his outgoing role.
He told Civil Society News: “It's been the privilege of my life to lead an organisation that has been with me on my journey with HIV and will continue to do so after I've left.”
Carnegie UK appoints chair
Wellbeing charity Carnegie UK has welcomed David Emerson as its new chair. He succeeds John Elvidge, who has just completed his five-year term.
Emerson is also chair of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and Longleigh Foundation. He was chief executive of the Association of Charitable Foundations from 2003 – 2016.
In assuming the role, Emerson praised his predecessor: “With a relationship with Carnegie UK that dates back to 2012, John was instrumental in shaping the organisation as it is today. He set the bar of ambition high and helped Trustees navigate a period of strategic change. John leaves big shoes to fill, but I know that working with Sarah and colleagues we can rise to the challenge.”
Carers Trust UK appoints trustees
Jennifer Twist, the chief executive of Care for the Carers which supports unpaid carers in East Sussex, has joined the Carers Trust UK board of trustees.
She has over 15 years experience working with carers. She has been chief executive of the local charity since 2012. She is also a former carer.
Rhys Moore has also joined the board of trustees. Moore is the founding director of the Living Wage Foundation and currently works as executive director for Public Impact at the National Housing Federation.
Carers Trust’s chair, John McLean, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jennifer and Rhys on to the Board. They both bring a wealth of experience gained in senior leadership roles, as well as a passion for supporting unpaid carers and campaigning for better support. On behalf of my fellow trustees I would like to welcome them to Carers Trust, and am very much looking forward to working with them.”
LOOK welcomes trustee
LOOK is a small national charity that provides support to visually impaired people. It has recently appointed Alison Rand to its board as a trustee and treasurer of the charity.
Rand is an executive of Hakluyt & Company and was previously a director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
On her appointment, Rand said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining LOOK UK’s board of trustees. I have had the pleasure of spending time with the organisation this year, attending events and meeting some of the wonderful mentors and mentees. Everyone I’ve met has been inspirational, so to be appointed a trustee is an honour.”
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