Parenting charity NCT has made two major appointments. Helen Stephenson CBE (left) has been appointed chair and Seána Talbot (right) has been elected president. Both will make up a new leadership team alongside chief executive Nick Wilkie, who was appointed in July. Helen has held high-profile positions in government, including the Cabinet Office and is currently responsible for the government’s early years education and childcare policy. Seána has a long history of volunteering with NCT and has been an NCT board member, trustee and non-executive director since 2009. She has served as NCT chair and vice-chair.

Museums Galleries Scotland has appointed Jaqueline Hay as head of strategic marketing. Jaqueline has previously worked as a marketing planning manager at Velux and marketing consultant with Amplify Marketing Consultancy Ltd. The role within Museums Galleries Scotland is a new one created to increase the financial sustainability of the organisation and the sector. Joanne Orr, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland board, said: “Jaqueline’s commercial background and experience boosts our capacity to undertake and deliver our business goals.”

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has appointed David Craig as its new chief executive. The 41 year old from Livingston spent eight years as a press officer for Stakis/Hilton Group before taking a position with The Anthony Nolan Trust. He is also a former trustee and chair of the fundraising committee of Bliss, the UK charity for premature and sick babies, and during his five years in office helped to establish Bliss Scotland. SCAA is in its third year of operation and relies exclusively on donated funds to stay operational. Craig said: “I am delighted to take up the reins at SCAA and help build on all the good work of the past two years. It’s an exciting time to join the charity as we prepare to upgrade our aircraft allowing us to provide a further enhanced life-saving service.”

Kate Lee is to be the new chief executive of children and young people’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent. She will take up the post from current chief executive Lorraine Clifton, who is to retire after leading the charity for more than six years. Kate, who will take up the post on 30 November, has been head of of Myton Hospice Group, a charity that provides specialist palliative care services across Coventry and Warwickshire, since December 2010. Prior to that she held board-level positions at British Red Cross as director of UK operations and then director of strategy. She is a Clore Social Leadership Fellow and is passionate about the role and development of the third sector. Kate is also a member of ACEVO’s ImpACT Coalition Steering group and a trustee of young people’s breast cancer charity Coppafeel.

Cancer Research UK has appointed Catherine Brown as a trustee. Her most recent role has been group strategy director of Lloyds Banking Group. Previously she was executive director HR at the Bank of England and chief operating officer of Apax Partners. Catherine holds a law degree and a bachelor of commerce. Beginning her career in banking, she worked extensively in emerging economies before joining management consultancy firm McKinsey. Catherine left to run her own consultancy for five years before moving into private equity at Apax Partners. Catherine is also a trustee at Blue Cross and chair of The Plastic Economy, a manufacturer of low-cost prosthetic limbs from recycled plastic, in addition to her charity projects across the Himalayan regions.