Amnesty International has appointed Naomi McAuliffe as its Scotland office programme director. Naomi has worked for Amnesty for nearly 10 years and has previously been the priority campaign manager for Amnesty based in London. Before that she started with Amnesty in the Scotland Office running the Stop Violence Against Women campaign for Scotland as well as working at various times on campaigns including Respect Refugees. Naomi has a background in international and domestic health policy, Scottish parliamentary research, feminist and LGBT activism and writes regularly for the Guardian’s Comment is Free.

The Mental Welfare Commission has appointed two new members of staff. Graham Morgan (pictured), a campaigner for people with mental ill health in Scotland, has been appointed engagement and participation officer (lived experience) and Kathleen Taylor has been appointed engagement and participation officer (carer). Graham has spoken frankly many times about his own experience of mental ill health. He works with HUG, an organisation which campaigns to improve rights, services and treatment for people with mental health problems across the Highlands. He also manages Spirit advocacy and delivers awareness raising training to professionals. Kathleen brings experience from a family/unpaid carer point of view. She is a board member of Recovery Across Mental Health and is a member of her local carers' group and carers' forum.

Grandparents Plus has appointed Lucy Peake as its new chief executive. Lucy has a background in policy-making, fundraising, management and development in the voluntary sector. Grandparents Plus has grown considerably in recent years and Lucy has been tasked with further extending its reach, influence and services. She takes over from Sam Smethers. Sam left the charity in July after six and a half years and is now chief executive of the Fawcett Society.