He has spoken on global stages, including the UN General Assembly and the White House
Third sector leader John Loughton will take over at the helm of Young Scot in early 2026.
John is a social entrepreneur, leadership consultant and motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience, including previous engagement with Young Scot.
He is stepping down as chief executive of Dare2Lead, having previously served as CEO of Scran Academy.
Passionate about empowering young people, John brings deep expertise in third sector leadership, developing innovative education programmes and championing inclusion through youth empowerment.
He has spoken on global stages, including the UN General Assembly, TED Talks and the White House – and advised and engaged with successive governments.
John currently serves as a trustee of The Robertson Trust and has held senior leadership roles in charities including The Prince’s Trust, Relate and Fairbridge. He also chaired the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Announcing the appointment, Young Scot chair, Elma Murray CBE, said: “We’re excited to announce John Loughton as our new CEO. A passionate advocate for young people and a proven leader, John brings a wealth of experience that will strengthen our mission and deliver lasting impact for young people in Scotland.”
John said: “I am honoured to accept the role of becoming the next chief executive of Young Scot. Scotland’s young people deserve power, opportunity and respect, and I am absolutely committed to helping ensure their voices are heard and their rights upheld.
“Young Scot is an established and trusted change-maker – with a proud record of championing innovation, delivering social impact and inclusively serving all Scotland's children and young people. I have seen this impact first hand as a former volunteer, employee and youth worker myself for the organisation, as well as working extensively across Scottish civil society.
“Arm in arm with the brilliant Young Scot team, our trusted partners, and most importantly, young people themselves, I am excited to get to work, to listen and learn, and ensure we continue to be a positive presence and partner for young people."
