Milne replaces outgoing chair Dr Derek Casey who filled the role for four years
Youth Scotland has confirmed NHS consultant in public health Dona Milne has been appointed its new chair for the next three years.
Dona, of Edinburgh, replaces Dr Derek Casey who had served the charity for the past four years.
Youth Scotland is a national membership organisation which supports charities carrying out community based youth work.
Youth Scotland holds a unique position within the voluntary youth work sector
Dona is a consultant at NHS Lothian and works in the area of children and young people’s wellbeing and in the broader area of reducing inequalities. Her key interests also include school attendance, children’s rights and community engagement, particularly youth work.
She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health.
She originally trained in community education specialising in young people and health followed by a period working in the voluntary sector and local government. Since then, her career has taken her to YWCA Scotland as depute director (Scotland) and for seven years from 2001 she led the ‘Healthy Respect’ National Demonstration Project.
In 2008, Dona was seconded to the Scottish Government Public Health Division, returning to NHS Lothian in 2010.
In a voluntary capacity, she is currently chair of the Children’s Parliament.
Speaking following her appointment, Dona said: “I have a strong commitment to youth work demonstrated through my continued involvement since I began as a local volunteer almost 30 years ago.
“I have a particular interest in community based youth work, which is universal and open to all.
“I have seen the difference that youth work can make to the lives of children and young people and I would like to see it receive the same recognition that the formal education sector receives.
“Youth Scotland holds a unique position within the voluntary youth work sector as the largest youth work membership organisation in Scotland.
“I would like to support Youth Scotland to strengthen this position and provide support for youth work through a clear focus on growing community based youth work and developing the Youth Scotland Network.”
