New beginning at the organisation
Scottish Huntington’s Association has appointed Alistair Haw as its new chief executive .
He takes over from John Eden who has retired after serving 11 years in the post.
Haw - who has been with the charity for five years in the role of National Care Framework lead - has been at the forefront of moves to improve the lives of families impacted by Huntington’s disease (HD).
Working closely with families and health and social care professionals, he led the development of the world’s first National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease.
Prior to joining SHA Haw worked as a political and media advisor at both the UK and Scottish parliaments and account director and devolved nations lead at PR agency Kindred.
He led award-winning teams as campaigns and media manager, then head of media and PR at Prostate Cancer UK.
He is also company captain and trustee of Glasgow 278 (Netherlee) Boys’ Brigade, and has been appointed to the executive of the Neurological Alliance of Scotland.
He takes up his new role as the HD community continues the search for novel therapies and treatments for families impacted by Huntington’s disease.
Haw said: “It has been an honour to have worked for SHA for the past five years - meeting and working with HD families, seeking to understand the challenges they face and fighting for solutions, both with them and on their behalf.
“I am hugely grateful to the board for putting its faith in me to lead the charity and look forward to working with it, our amazing staff and our inspirational HD family members and supporters at what is an extremely exciting time for the community as new potential treatments appear on the horizon.”
Catherine Martin, chair of Scottish Huntington’s Association, said: “Many of our families know Alistair through his work to develop the National Care Framework, which has been a huge success for the HD community in Scotland. During a full external recruitment process the Board was greatly excited by the vision Alistair set out for the future of the charity, and we look forward to working with him and all staff and supporters on this in the years ahead.”
It is the only charity in Scotland exclusively dedicated to supporting the HD community which it does via a network of specialists, youth advisors and financial wellbeing officers. This support provides a lifeline for families impacted by Huntington’s disease and its complex symptoms, which include mental illness and declining control over movement and thinking processes.
Over time the incurable disease can rob people of the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink, make rational decision and care for themselves.
