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CFDG appoints high-profile trustees

Finance | Gareth Jones | 9 Jun 2009

Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten and broadcaster Kim Catcheside have been appointed as trustees to the Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) for their “media and lobbying” skills.

Oaten has been MP for Winchester since 1997, though he plans to stand down at the next election. He put himself forward for the leadership of the Liberal Democrat party in January 2006, before withdrawing due to insufficient support, and resigned his role as the party’s home affairs spokesperson later that month following a sex scandal.

He is also a trustee for Alcohol Concern, the Council for Administration and prison reform group Unlock.

Catcheside began as a radio reporter in Sheffield, before becoming lobby correspondent for ITN where she worked for the main news bulletins, including News at Ten.

She then moved to BBC Radio, reporting on programmes such as the Today programme and Five Live.

Meaty issues

The pair attended their first board meeting last week, which Oaten told Charity Finance had included “some really meaty issues to get our teeth into”.

He added: “I have Naomi House in my constituency, which lost £6m in Icelandic banks, so that had drawn my attention to charity finances and how to manage them.

“It was a nice fit really, they were specifically looking for someone for advice on communication, and I used to run a PR company so I should be able to help with media and communication issues, plus obviously I can advise on Whitehall.”

Skills gaps

CFDG’s policy and campaigns manager Ernese Skinner said the appointments follow a review of the body’s trustee skill matrix.

“This identified media, lobbying and marketing as skills gaps. Our first non-member trustee appointment was Gill Nunn in June 2008 with expertise in marketing.

“Mark Oaten and Kim Catcheside both bring specific skills in media and lobbying and complete our complement of non-member trustees.”

Six more trustee positions will be up for election in September, with Melvin Coleman (who is also retiring from his role as finance director at Amnesty International) and Tom Sterry, financial executive at The Henry Smith Charity, stepping down.

Rohan Hewavisenti, director of finance and business development at the British Red Cross Society, Charles Nall, corporate services director at the Childrens' Society, Fiona Young, head of resources at the Tudor Trust and Phil Brown, head of finance at the King's Fund are standing for re-election.

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