The charity will see change at the top for the first time since 2015.
A Scottish mental health charity has announced the appointment of a new chair, replacing a nine-year incumbent.
Steve Dunlop will take up the position of chair of the board at SAMH, replacing Chris Creegan.
Steve will takes over as chair immediately and his appointment follows an impressive career spanning almost 40 years.
During his career Steve has held a wide range of roles; he started his working life as a teacher, before going on to hold several leadership roles at key Scottish and UK organisations, with the core mission throughout his professional career being the welfare of people and places.
He has operated as a senior executive leader and board member for over 20 years, leading a broad range of community services within Local Authorities with a particular focus on economic development and regeneration investment.
Steve moved on to lead Scottish Canals (formerly British Waterways) and was responsible for the transformation of Scotland’s waterways post investment in the Millennium Link. The Helix Park and the world famous Kelpies were delivered under Steve’s leadership and are a symbol of that transformation.
Leading Scottish Enterprise, which included Scottish Development International and the Scottish Investment Bank, was Steve’s last CEO role, and he now contributes to a portfolio of businesses in the technology and infrastructure sectors as a chair and non-executive director.
He said: “It is an enormous privilege to be given the opportunity to help SAMH at this time. The leading role that the organisation has played in the nation’s mental health and wellbeing over the last 99 years has been immensely important and, indeed, well recognised and valued.
“As the organisation moves into its centenary year in 2023, the need for SAMH’s contribution to Scotland’s mental health agenda has never been greater or more critical.
“I look forward to helping this outstanding organisation to continue to help people and communities across Scotland at a time of unprecedented challenge.”
Current Chair, Chris Creegan, steps down after nine years on the board.
He said: “It’s been my privilege to serve as a member of SAMH’s trustee board since 2013 and as Chair from 2015.
“As someone who has lived with depression and who survived attempted suicide 20 years ago, mental health is a deeply personal cause for me. Everything I have done as a trustee – from corporate governance to strategy oversight – has been informed by that experience.
“I am tremendously proud of the part SAMH has played in moving the conversation on mental health forward during the last decade – and of what our staff and volunteers do every day with the backing of our funders and supporters.
“But, as SAMH approaches its centenary year in 2023, I am also acutely aware of the scale of the task we face to restore and sustain our nation’s mental health.
“I am thrilled that Steve Dunlop is succeeding me as Chair and confident that he, along with our excellent board, and executive team led by Billy Watson, will continue to face that challenge with energy, ideas and determination.”
