National mental health charity Support in Mind Scotland has appointed Maqsood Ahmed, 34, as its youngest ever chairperson. Dr Ahmed, a medical research scientist who lives and works in Edinburgh, joined the board earlier this year and fills the post of chair vacated in June by Carolyn Little, who was awarded an MBE for her contribution to mental health services. Support in Mind Scotland provides support and services to more than 1,300 people each week across the country and Dr Ahmed is looking forward to leading the board.

Disability music charity Drake Music Scotland has announced Elizabeth Humphreys as its new chair. Elizabeth has more than 30 years of public and third sector experience, leading at board level for the last ten years in a wide range of strategic roles. Her areas of specialism include championing equality and diversity, collaborating within complex stakeholder environments, leading change and corporate governance, including business strategy, resilience and risk management. In addition to her role as chair of Drake Music Scotland, she is currently vice-chair of Independent Living Fund Scotland and works with three befriending charities. She believes passionately in the value of creativity and the arts to enhance all our lives and has had a life-long involvement with music, originally as a performer and latterly as a writer.

CLIC Sargent, the charity for young cancer patients and their families, has announced that Karen Eccles has been appointed to its Board of Trustees. Karen is currently director, commercial innovation at The Telegraph, previously holding the role of director of digital sales and innovation. Her career in advertising has spanned over 20 years across digital media, ad tech, business, consumer and national press, radio, events, and video, including management roles at Centaur Communications, DMG Media, and Classic FM.

Scotland’s largest vision impairment charity, Royal Blind, has revealed six additions to its Board of Trustees, filling pre-existing vacancies and replacing retiring trustees. Former chief executive of Poppyscotland, Ian McGregor (pictured), former chief executive of Deaf Action, Aidan McCorry and Jay Hogarty, director of retail at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland have been appointed. Stephanie Phillips, director of service delivery for NHS24, Graeme Bold, director of operational strategy & Insights for M&G Prudential and Baljean Dhillon, professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh, will also be bringing their expertise to the board. The new members of the Board of Trustees were announced at Royal Blind’s Annual General Meeting. They were also automatically appointed as trustees of Royal Blind’s sister organisation, Scottish War Blinded.