POhWER appoints interim CEO
Advocacy charity POhWER has appointed former ACEVO chief executive Vicky Browning as its interim CEO for an initial period of six months. It comes after Helen Moulinos stepped down after leading the charity for three years.
Browning’s most recent role was as interim CEO at the Whitehall and Industry Group for nine months. Before that, she was chief executive of ACEVO for five and a half years. She has previously been a director at CharityComms and a publishing director at Haymarket Media.
Antony Kildare, chair of POhWER’s board of trustees said: “Vicky brings extensive charity sector and commercial experience and has an enviable reputation as an honest, collaborative and humble leader.”
New CEO for housing charity
Housing Justice has announced Bonnie Williams as its new CEO, who will take over from Kathy Mohan in April. Mohan is retiring after seven years of leading the charity.
Williams is set to be promoted from director for Wales at the £2.26m charity, a role she has held since 2020. Before that, she worked as the lead for housing at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner. She worked at South Wales Police for over 11 years and was previously a government policy advisor.
Bonnie Williams said: “I am excited to be taking on this role and following in the footsteps of Kathy and her fantastic leadership. We know that now, more than ever, our unique, person-centred services are needed to help the increasing number of people facing homelessness. I look forward to working with everyone involved to shape the next chapter of Housing Justice.”
Homeless charity hires CEO
The Clock Tower Sanctuary, a Brighton and Hove-based charity that supports young homeless people, has announced Fabia Bates as its chief executive. Bates replaces Frances Duncan, who leaves the role after six and a half years.
Bates has over 20 years’ experience in Brighton's community and voluntary sector including at Survivors' Network and Community Works.
On her appointment, she said: “I'm delighted to be joining the wonderful team at Clock Tower Sanctuary. I've lived in Brighton for nearly 25 years and am acutely aware of the impact of their work, and how vital it has become in recent years.
“I’m looking forward to working with the staff, volunteers, partners and of course the young people, to continue to ensure a safe, supportive and positive space for the young homeless community in the city.”
RSPCA appoints chair
The RSPCA has appointed former Battersea chief executive Claire Horton as its chair to lead its board of 12 trustees. She takes over from René Olivieri who held the role for five years.
Horton led Battersea as its CEO for over 10 years before becoming its vice president in 2021, a role she still holds today. She is also a visiting lecturer at a university and director general of Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Chris Sherwood, CEO of RSPCA, said: “We have been working hard to transform and modernise the RSPCA, and in our 200th year we will be encouraging record numbers of people to join, inspiring everyone to create a better world for all animals.
“Claire has a proven track record of developing charitable services, growing income, profile and raising awareness and increasing the number of supporters and volunteers in the organisations with which she has worked, so her experience and insight is so valuable.”
New chair for Royal Voluntary Service
Patrick Dunne has been appointed as chair of Royal Voluntary Service (RVS). He replaces Stephen Dunmore.
Dunne is chair of Boardelta, Education Sub Saharan Africa and outgoing chair of the EY Foundation.
Catherine Johnstone, CEO of RVS, said: “It has been a privilege to work in partnership with Stephen over recent years. I thank him for the dedication and skill with which he has led our charity through an important period for Royal Voluntary Service.
“I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to Patrick and our new trustees who bring with them impressive leadership experience across corporate and charity spheres. I’m looking forward to working together.”
The Land Trust recruits chair
Janet Haddock-Fraser has been a member of the Land Trust’s board of trustees for six years. She succeeds William Hiscocks, who served as chair for four years and was on the board for nine.
Haddock-Fraser is also the chair of National Trust’s regional advisory group and a professor at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Alan Carter, CEO at the Land Trust commented: “I am delighted Janet has accepted the position of chair. Over the past six years, Janet’s contribution to the trust has already been incredibly valuable and going forward I know there is so much more she will help us strive to achieve.
Royal Star & Garter hires director
Veterans’ charity Royal Star & Garter has appointed Shirley Hall as its new director of care and wellbeing. She replaces Pauline Shaw, who worked at the charity for 22 years.
Hall is a registered nurse who worked for 10 years in the NHS specialising in cardiology. After that, she joined the British Heart Foundation. She has held senior roles in the Retirement Villages Group and ExtraCare Framework.
On her appointment, she said: “It’s an honour to be part of a team doing such great things for our armed forces community.”
Brain Tumour Charity recruits scientific officer
Simon Newman has been appointed as the charity’s new chief scientific officer. He succeeds David Jenkinson, who held the role for over seven years.
Newman has a PhD in Biochemistry and 30 years’ experience in life sciences research. He will join the charity in February from University College London’s translational research office. He was previously director of research at Target Ovarian Cancer.
On his appointment, he said: “I am now inspired to be part of the team tasked with delivering the Brain Tumour Charity’s ambitious goals of doubling survival and halving the harm brain tumours cause and I look forward to working with the whole community to deliver this.”
The Perfume Shop director joins charity board
Gill Smith, managing director of the Perfume Shop, has joined the board of the cancer charity Look Good Feel Better, which helps people combat the visible effects of cancer treatment.
The charity hosts free confidence-boosting workshops across the UK. The Perfume Shop has a partnership with the charity and raised £100,000 for it in 2023.
Gill Smith, managing director at the Perfume Shop commented, “Look Good Feel Better is a charity that’s close to my heart having supported them personally but also working together on initiatives through the Perfume Shop most recently this year being an event sponsor at the annual Evening of Festive Celebration.
New trustee for debt charity
Janet Pope has been appointed as a trustee of StepChange Debt Charity and joined the board on 1 January.
Pope is an economist and recently stepped down from her role of chief of staff and group director of sustainable business at Lloyds Banking Group.
She is also chair of CAF Bank. Until recently, she was a member of the Banking Standards Board.
Lloyds Bank Foundation appoints three trustees
Lloyds Banking Foundation for England and Wales has appointed three new trustees to its board.
Ajneet Jassey is a solicitor and a general counsel at Lloyds Banking Group. She leads LBG’s legal and secretariat teams and founded its finance and legal ethnicity community.
Laura Needham is a group chief internal auditor and has more than 20 years’ experience in risk, governance, and control.
Jayne Opperman works as CEO of consumer relationships. She has more than 25 years of experience in the financial sector.
