Campaigning organisation 38 Degrees has appointed Sue Tibballs OBE as its chair.
Tibballs is CEO of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, a charity that trains and supports campaigning groups and organisations.
38 Degrees started recruiting for a new chair at the end of 2019, after Tibballs’ predecessor, Srabani Sen, announced she would step down to focus on her business.
Tibballs has been working in the social change sector for almost 30 years. She has been leading Sheila McKechnie Foundation since 2016 and was chief executive of Women in Sport between 2006 and 2013.
She started her career at the Women’s Environmental Network in the 1990s, where she worked on a “Bag ‘n’ Bin It” campaign urging women not to flush sanitary products. She went on to work for the Body Shop, where she managed women’s campaigns.
Last month, she was one of the 30 charity leaders who signed a letter to the Times asking the Queen to drop the word “empire” in the British honours system.
‘There has never been a more important time for people’s voices to be heard’
Tibballs will oversee the creation of 38 Degrees’ new five-year strategy.
She said: “I’m joining the organisation at an incredibly exciting time, but also at a time of huge change: the coronavirus crisis, fast technological progress, climate change and a future for the UK outside of the European Union. There has never been a more important time for people’s voices to be heard in decisions which will affect us for decades.
“Innovation has marked the story of 38 Degrees. Connecting more people with decision makers in new and interesting ways, if it’s done in the right way, can help strengthen our democracy and empower the public. That’s our task, and I’m incredibly proud to be joining to help the team meet the challenge.”
Zoe Whyatt, interim executive director at 38 Degrees, said: “Sue’s wealth of experience and track record for innovation will be invaluable as 38 Degrees charts its course for the next few years. We’re very excited to get to work.”
38 Degrees also appointed four new members to its board: social commentator and campaigner Patrick Vernon; Ellie Ereira, who co-founded Pivotal Act, an collaborative tech initiative working with non-profits; Sarah Sternberg, media and advocacy strategy at Movember; and Devin O’Shaughnessy, who works in international development.
