Relate appoints its first black president
Relate, a relationships charity, has elected relationship psychologist and psychotherapist Anjula Mutanda as its new president. She succeeds Janet Walker OBE, who held the role for two years.
Initially, Mutanda was an ambassador with the charity and more recently promoted to vice president. She has been working with Relate for almost a decade.
On her appointment, she said: “I’m very excited to be appointed as Relate’s first black president.
“People of different backgrounds are underrepresented in the counselling profession and this is something we definitely need to do something about. I’m looking forward to working with Relate to reach more young people, more people from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities, more LGBTQ+ people and to attract more counsellors from these backgrounds to train with the charity.”
New chair for British Red Cross
The humanitarian charity British Red Cross has named Elizabeth Padmore as its new chair.
Padmore succeeds David Bernstein, who held the role for eight years. She starts in January 2022.
She is also chair at Housing Solutions, a housing association based in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, and also chairs committees at two Oxford colleges. She previously worked as a strategy partner at Accenture, where she created and ran its global think tank.
On her appointment, Padmore said: “I am honoured and excited to be joining the British Red Cross. It’s an organisation whose values I care deeply about and the need for whose work has never been greater.”
Road Safety Trust welcomes new chair and trustees
The Road Safety Trust has appointed Tony Fuller, who has been vice chair of the organisation since 2018, as its new chair.
He has previous experience working as a director at PwC, a national coordinator at ACPO and worked as a commander with Metropolitan Police for 30 years.
Sonya Hurt, who has been a trustee since 2020, has become vice chair in Fuller’s place.
The charity has also appointed three new trustees to its board:
- Jo Shiner - chief constable of Sussex Police, its first female chief constable.
- Phillip Seccombe – police and crime commissioner for Warwickshire.
- Marlena Stefańska - certified chartered accountant who holds a Masters degree in Finance and is currently a Masters student.
Sally Lines, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “We welcome Phillip, Jo and Marlena as new trustees and look forward to the expertise that they will be able to bring to the future of the Trust.”
Lamp appoints new CEO
Lamp (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project) has appointed Richard Kotulecki as its new CEO. He succeeds Sue Langley, who occupied the role for over five years before becoming CEO of the Bridge East Midlands, a homelessness charity.
Kotulecki brings 17 years of charity leadership to the role, with experience as a projects consultant at CABA charity, CEO of COPS and director of services at the Willow Foundation.
As well as being the CEO of Lamp, Kotulecki also works as an executive director at R A K Management, a consultancy firm.
Kotulecki said: “The combination of high-profile people addressing their own challenges and the realities of pandemic living has engendered a greater societal understanding and acceptance of mental health issues. Whilst this increased exposure is a positive development overall, it could also create a substantial challenge for smaller organisations such as Lamp, so I am committed to leading the team to address these challenges in evolving our successful and well-regarded services to reach a wider and more diverse audience.”
New CEO for Agenda
Agenda, a charity for women and girls at risk, has appointed Indy Cross as its new CEO. She succeeds Jemima Olchawski, who has left to be the CEO of Fawcett Society.
Cross is an expert in stakeholder relations, strategic planning, communications and fundraising. She is a trustee of Birthrights, and has held senior leadership positions with Spark Inside, The Peter Jones Foundation and Arts Council England.
Cross said:“I am thrilled to be joining Agenda at a time when the foundation and reputation is so strong; yet we are still young, with lots more vital work to do. With incredible support from the sector and beyond, we have the opportunity to grow our impact and make meaningful shifts in systems, services and perceptions. With a team of impressive women alongside me, I am excited to be a part of what our campaigns and projects will do for – and with – women and girls at risk.”
Tracey Fletcher will be the charity’s interim CEO until Cross takes over the role.
The English-Speaking Union welcomes new director of education
The English-Speaking Union (ESU), an international educational charity, has appointed Sue Riley as its new director of education.
She joins from non-profit organisation National Association for Abe Children in Education (NACE), where she acted as CEO. She has over 20 years’ experience in senior charity roles, including 15 as a CEO in education.
Jane Easton, director-general of ESU, said: “The ESU is delighted to welcome Sue Riley as its director of education.
“The access to oracy education that the ESU can offer will be strengthened further by Sue’s deep understanding of the needs of schools and teachers, and her commitment to partnership working”.
UK Community Foundations announces new president
UK Community Foundations (UKCF) has announced Lord Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick as its president with immediate effect. He succeeds Baroness Usha Prashar.
As well as serving as president for UKCF, he works as a professor of leadership at the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Centre at Huntsman Business School USA and on the Concordia Leadership Council. He is also a Vice-President at UNICEF UK and a trustee for the Africa Philanthropy Foundation and Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.
Hastings said: “It’s an honour to be appointed President of UKCF. I am really looking forward to using the skills and connections I have developed over the years to champion local philanthropy and to ensure that community foundations can continue to make a difference to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and communities across the UK”.
Homeless Network Scotland appoints head of policy & equality
Homeless Network Scotland has created the new post of head of policy and equality, and appointed Ruth Whatling to the role. She joins on a two-year secondment from the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Team, and has two decades worth of public sector experience.
Whatling said: “Having seen the work of Homeless Network Scotland from an external perspective, I am excited to see up close the collaborative way of working that the organisation is known and respected for - finding a way through those obstinate problems that get in the way of what works.
“One of the attributes Homeless Network Scotland possesses is credibility and trust, a reputation for delivering that incentivises partner organisations and others to engage and participate to find solutions. The leading role of lived experience in informing and guiding Homeless Network Scotland’s work also impressed me. It is clear that expertise by experience sits at the heart of everything we do in a really meaningful way.”
New CEO for Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans
Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Scotland’s largest visual impairment charity, has announced Craig Spalding will be its new CEO.
Spalding will take up the role in late January 2022 and joins from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service where he works as director.
Chair of the sister charities, Michael Craig, said: “We are delighted to have Craig join us as our new chief executive in the new year. Craig is a visionary leader, who will bring with him enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to help us towards our joint mission of reaching everyone in Scotland with sight loss – where and when they need us.”
Plan International UK appoints new directors & trustees
Global children’s charity Plan International UK has announced the appointment of two new directors.
- Director of international programmes – Tsungai Mahumucha, former head of programmes at Plan International’s Zimbabwe office.
- Director of finance and resources – John Lockett, who previously worked in senior leadership roles at Practical Action and WaterAid.
The charity also welcomes three new trustees:
- Girish Menon – CEO of STiR Education UK and former CEO of ActionAid UK.
- Salma Nims – Secretary general of the Jordanian National Commission for Women.
- Hope Mbuthi – 22-year-old activist, student and youth talk show host from Kenya.
Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, said: “I am so pleased to be welcoming Tsungai and John at such a critical time for Plan International UK and the wider development sector. I am also delighted that our board has recruited such talented new trustees, who will ensure diversity of thought and challenge, as well as the excellent oversight that our board provides.”
New director for Ambitious about Autism
Ambitious about Autism has appointed Louise Honeysett as its new director of finance and planning. She succeeds Louise Posocco, who held the role for almost 5 years.
She joins the role from Cystic Fibrosis Trust, where she acted as director of finance and resources. Prior to this, she worked as a financial controller for UNICEF. She is also a chartered accountant. Honeysett will take over the role in January 2022.
Honeysett said: “I am excited to be joining the Ambitious about Autism team and working to support autistic young people to lead fulfilling lives, with equal access to opportunities in education and employment”.
Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust appoints chair
Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust, a charity which supports young people after cancer, has appointed Dave Hobin as its new chair. He succeeds Richard Butcher, who has retired as a trustee after being chair for 4 years.
Dr Hobin is a consultant paediatric oncologist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
On his appointment, he said: “I feel hugely privileged to have the opportunity to work with a great organisation and a great team, as the Trust has gone from strength-to-strength over the past decade”.
Rethink Mental Illness welcomes new chair
Rethink Mental Illness has appointed Kathryn Tyson as its new chair of trustees. She takes over from Phillipa Lowe, who has stepped down after 6 years.
Previously, Tyson was a member of the board and vice chair of the finance committee and chair of the investment subcommittee. She brings 30 years of experience from the UK Department of Health to the role.
Mark Winstanley, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “We’re delighted to name Kathryn as our new chair of trustees. Serving on our board over the last three years she has already contributed to our success, with a strong commitment to our vision to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness. She will bring copious amounts of knowledge and expertise to the role”.
Hubbub appoints new chair
Hubbub, an environmental charity, has announced Catherine Brown as its new chair of trustees. She sat on the board of trustees for the charity since 2017. She succeeds Viki Cooke, who served as chair for eight years.
Brown is also the acting chair for the technology non-profit mySociety, vice president of the British Science Association and a board member for the Legal Services Board alongside other commitments.
On her appointment, Brown said: “Having been part of the Hubbub board for a while now, I am delighted to be appointed as chair. I am very much looking forward to working with the whole team at Hubbub and our partners to build on the successes of the last few years and increase our impact even further”.
The Co-op Foundation welcomes two young trustees
Co-op’s charity the Co-op Foundation has appointed two young trustees to its board – Hope Levy-Shepherd (27) and George Imafidon (24).
Shepherd is co-founder and director of the Black British City Group, a social enterprise for junior professionals, as well as a solicitor at Linklaters LLP.
Imafidon is founder and CEO of Motivez, an initiative that helps young people into STEM careers. He was also appointed to the board of the Lewis Hamilton Commission last year.
Jamie Ward-Smith, chair of the Co-op Foundation, said: “I am pleased we’ve taken the steps within our own organisation to deliver the commitments we’ve made to improving trustee diversity through funding organisations such as The Young Trustee Movement and Action for Trustee Racial Diversity (ATRD).
“It is a privilege to welcome such bright, young, talented people to our board. Our new trustees will be essential to bringing an authentic youth voice as we continue to fund youth-led organisations and look to our ‘new era’ as the Foundation through a brand-new strategy coming next year.”
Cancer Research UK announces new director of communications
Cancer Research UK has appointed Luke Robinson as director of its communications, who will comprise the role in February 2022.
He joins CRUK from the Ministry of Justice, where he oversees the department’s strategic communications, campaigns, digital and more. He has previously worked for the BBC.
Robinson said: “Cancer Research UK is one of the UK’s most revered charities and is respected around the world. I look forward to joining the team at this pivotal time, using our collective skill and expertise in communications to help create a new story for Cancer Research UK. I started my career researching a series for the BBC on killer diseases and over the years have worked with some impressive and talented leaders across the health and charity sectors. I look forward to joining the team and working towards achieving the charity’s critically important mission.”
YHA chief finance and IT director steps down
Youth Hostel's Association chief finance officer, William Howarth, has stepped down after “steering the organisation through one of the worst financial periods in the charity's 91-year-history”. Howarth has worked with YHA for 13 years, and has experience as a finance director at Ladybird Books and deputy head of production at the BBC.
Julie Lane takes on the role of finance director, which involves taking control of YHA's finances which encompasses many of Howarth's responsibilities. The wider responsibilities for IT and business systems he managed have moved to the property director Jake Chalmers, while Pete Harvey will take on the role of company secretary.
On his departure, Howarth said: “The last 19 months have been some of the most interesting, challenging and most rewarding of my career, but it is the right time to pass on the financial baton. YHA emerges from the pandemic financially stable and with a strong platform to grow and develop. This is the right time for me to step aside and hand over the reins to Julie to work with YHA’s board and executive to build next year’s budget and longer-term plans.”
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