Pastures new after 18 years at the helm

Pat Armstrong is to leave the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations (Acosvo) this summer.

Armstrong, a regular contributor to TFN, has been in post for 18 years, starting in December 2003 when she was its only member of staff.

In 2018 she was awarded an OBE for services to voluntary organisations.

She said: “I feel hugely privileged to have grown and developed Acosvo over the years, and to have worked with so many amazing, inspiring sector leaders over that time. I’ve also been hugely supported by all those involved in team Acosvo, both board and staff, over the years. When I first started at Acosvo we had less than 50 members and now, almost 20 years later, we support almost 650 leaders within the Scottish voluntary sector.

“I am incredibly proud of the work Acosvo has done over the years and now it is in a great place to embrace its own new adventures with a new leader at the helm”.

Pat plans to complete her doctoral studies - An Exploration of Resilience in Third Sector Leadership - in the latter half of the year, and then take a well-deserved break before considering her next move.

Kim Atkinson, interim chair at Acosvo, said: “what Pat has achieved, and has enabled Acosvo to achieve, is nothing short of remarkable. However, it is not only what Pat has done for Acosvo, our members and the sector that is so impressive, it is how Pat has done this.

“I’m sure every one of our nearly 650 members has a personal story about how Pat has helped them, provided that much needed confidential space, or just made them feel more connected to someone and to something. Pat embodies the values of Acosvo and the sector - an authentic and collaborative leader who leads with kindness, patience, integrity and humour.

“Acosvo, our members, our strategic partners and the wider sector owe Pat an enormous debt of gratitude; while she wears her achievements lightly, the sector is undoubtedly a stronger, more connected and more resilient place due to Pat’s vision, empathy and absolute commitment. To the sector, Pat is more than a colleague, she is a friend and an inspiration to leaders and leadership. We wish her all the luck in the world for her new adventures”.

The Acosvo board said it will be starting recruitment imminently.