She joins from Age Scotland, where she served as head of dementia

Stirling’s third sector interface has unveiled Dr Kainde Manji as its new deputy CEO.

Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) said she will collaborate closely with its team, including Anne Knox, the current deputy chief executive, who will retire later this year.

Kainde joins from Age Scotland, where she served as head of dementia. In this role, she guided strategic direction, ensuring the voices of those affected were reflected in policy and practice.

Under her leadership, Age Scotland pioneered new approaches to participatory grant making. Previously, she managed the About Dementia project at the charity.

With an impressive background in third sector leadership and academic research, Kainde is known for combining these experiences to make tangible changes in people’s lives.

She completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, researching the impacts of disability benefit reforms on disabled people in Scotland. Additionally, she spent three years at the University of Stirling researching dementia and neighbourhoods.

Kainde’s strong commitment to the third sector is demonstrated through her roles at NUS Scotland and Close the Gap, as well as trustee positions with several local and national charities. Having lived half her life in Stirling, she is devoted to the city, towns, and villages that make up the area, having seen first hand the amazing work of the charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups that SVE supports.

She said: “I am honoured to take on the role of deputy CEO at SVE. I look forward to working with our dedicated team and partners to continue making a positive impact in our communities.”