The new representatives will bring diversity and experience to the role.
National mental health charity Change Mental Health has strengthened its Board of Trustees with seven new faces after a competitive external recruitment process.
Tracey Forbes, Holly Hendrie, Anthony Ho, Pamela Jenkins, Bjorn Spain, Lynne Thornhill and Brian Wright all join the charity, bringing a range of professional experience and personal perspectives on mental health.
Greg May, Chair of the Board at Change Mental Health, said: “I am thrilled to have so many talented individuals join our Board.
“We believe that good governance is a vital part of Change Mental Health being a modern, effective charity supporting individuals with their mental health.
“We have a Board which has the skills and experience to offer scrutiny and guidance to the vital work the charity undertakes but also a Board that better represents the communities we serve and seek to serve more than ever.
“I am excited about what the future holds for both the Board and the charity as a whole.”
Bjorn Spain currently works within the student welfare and liberation team at the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, leading on projects and initiatives aimed at improving the overall experience of students.
Bjorn helps to advocate for their rights, particularly within marginalised communities, looking to use expertise and experience to support the charity’s mission.
Holly Hendrie works at Citizens Advice Scotland, with experience in facilitation and training, youth work and knowledge of the advice landscape in Scotland.
Having graduated during the pandemic, Holly has first-hand seen the huge impact this had on young people’s mental health and is keen to use personal and professional experience in supporting the work of Change Mental Health.
Dr Brian Wright is CEO and Founder of his own technology consultancy, working across various regulated sectors. Brian’s experience of working with people from all walks of life has taught the value of diversity and creating inclusive environments.
Through academic and professional pursuits, Brian has been driven by desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives and joining Change Mental Health is an extension of this commitment – believing that the charity’s mission of providing accessible mental health services and support to communities aligns with his values and experience.
Lynne Thornhill is the Director of Justice at Sacro, which provides support to people in or touched by the justice system. With a background in law, Lynne has held a range of operational strategic leadership roles within the justice sector – public, private and voluntary – across the UK over the past 20 years.
Lynne is passionate about driving quality and impact through partnerships and relationships to improve the outcomes for people who are too often marginalised and stigmatised by society.
Her daily work means she recognises the prevalence of mental health challenges and the multiple barriers to accessing support.
Anthony Ho has a background in management consulting and grew up in an Asian household, witnessing first-hand the impact of stigma around mental health – understanding the growing need for accessible and inclusive support.
Anthony joins to help drive positive change in the mental health sector.
Tracey Forbes comes with 20 years’ experience in the commercial design industry, looking at innovative and creative design from brand strategy to commercial interiors.
With a passion for empathetic listening and the transformational positive impact a listening ear can have on people’s lives, Tracey joins to bring a focus on human-centred communication to the table at Change Mental Health.
Finally, Dr Pamela Jenkins is a public health researcher and broadcaster with a strong focus on mental health, public engagement and evidence-based interventions.
Currently working as a Health Services Researcher at Health Improvement Scotland, Pamela contributes to projects that drive meaningful improvements in healthcare policy and practice.
She ensures that the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of research and service delivery, leading to positive and sustainable change.
Nick Ward, CEO at Change Mental Health, said: “It’s a privilege to have a new suite of trustees at Change Mental Health coming from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to inform the work we do across Scotland.
“Mental health is intersectional and at Change Mental Health we like to do things a bit differently. For us, that means a Board diverse in background, age, gender, sexuality and professional experience.
“We are thrilled to have a Board that represents the diversity of our community and that will help us continue to work to achieve our vision of a future where no one needs to face mental illness alone.”
