Third Force News took a look back at those who started a new role in the voluntary sector in 2014 and selected 13 of the most influential
1. James Jopling – Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Campaign merger
James Jopling was appointed director of Scotland for a new cancer charity which is to be formed in Spring 2015 out of the merger of BreakthroughBreast Cancer and the BreastCancer Campaign. At the time of the merger’s announcement Jopling was director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer. He previously worked at ShelterScotland, Cancer Research UK and Oxfam.
2. Fiona Duncan – Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland appointed Fiona Duncan as its new chief executive in November. Her new role sees her lead the organisation as it moves away from financial reliance on an almost 30 year old covenant with Lloyds Banking Group to refocusing its core objectives.
3. Roslyn Neely – Sick Kids Friends Foundation
TheSick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) appointed Roslyn Neely as its new chief executive and she will take up her role in the New Year. Currently director of fundraising and communications at Children’s Hospice AssociationScotland (CHAS), Neely will replace Maureen Harrison.
4. Oonagh Aitken – Community Service Volunteers
CommunityService Volunteers (CSV) appointed Oonagh Aitken as its new chief executive in October. Aitken who had been with CSV since 2012 as director of social action, volunteering, policy and fundraising replaced Lucy de Groot CBE.
5. Stuart Hay – Living Streets Scotland
Stuart Hay became head of Living Streets in Scotland in August. He is responsible for expanding the funding base of Living Streets in Scotland and promoting its vision and objectives to key policy makers and communities.
6. Alice Drife – Quarrriers
Care charity Quarriers appointed Alice Drife as its new chief executive to replace Paul Moore. Moore left in February to “pursue other opportunities” and Drife was given the role initially on a temporary basis before being made permanent. The week before his departure Moore wrote in TFN defending a controversial move by the charity that appeared to bring the axe down on Seafield School in Ardrossan, Ayrshire as well as two children’s homes in the area.
7. Ruth Hunt – Stonewall UK
Ruth Hunt became the new chief executive of Stonewall UK, the lesbian, gayand bisexual charity on a permanent basis after initially taking up the role on a temporary basis in February. The former deputy chief executive, she joined the charity in 2005 as a senior policy officer.
8. SallyAnn Kelly – Aberlour
Aberlour appointed SallyAnn Kelly as its new chief executive in July. At the time of her appointment Kelly said she has huge respect for the work of Aberlour and shared the charity’s ambition, passion and commitment to support vulnerable children and families across Scotland.
9. Alistair Dutton – The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) appointed Alistair Dutton as its new director in August. He joined SCIAF from Caritas Internationalis, the global confederation of 164 Catholic aid agencies, where he served as humanitarian director.
10. Jamie Livingstone – Oxfam Scotland
Jamie Livingstone became the new head of OxfamScotland in April at the age of just 34. He replaced Judith Robertson, who held the post for nine years. Prior to his appointment, he worked for two years as Oxfam Scotland’s campaigns and communications manager, having joined the organisation after a nearly decade-long career in journalism.
11. Ewan Aitken – Edinburgh Cyrenians
The former City of Edinburgh Council leader was been appointed chief executive of EdinburghCyrenians in May. He took over the role following the death of Des Ryan in 2013. Chair of the Cyrenians’ board Ian Macmillan described Aitken as an “accomplished and gifted leader”.
12. Maree Aldam – International Network of Street Papers
Glasgow-based charity InternationalNetwork of Street Papers (INSP) appointed Maree Aldam in March as its chief executive, after her seven-month interim position. The decision to make her role permanent was made by INSP’s international board of directors at their annual strategy meeting.
13. Jonathan Hughes – The Scottish Wildlife Trust
TheScottish Wildlife Trust appointed Jonathan Hughes as chief executive in March following the departure of Simon Milne. Milne left in February to take up the post of chief executive of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh after 10 years at the trust.
