New CEO for Refugee Council
Refugee Council has announced the appointment of Katie Ghose as its new chief executive, effective from this autumn.
Ghose is joining Refugee Council from disabled children’s charity Kids, where she has served as CEO since 2019.
She has also worked as an immigration caseworker and asylum barrister, chaired refugee charities Asylum Aid and Bail for Immigration Detainees, and served as a commissioner on the Independent Asylum Commission.
Ghose said: “I am honoured to be joining the Refugee Council at such an important moment. This is an organisation with a powerful legacy and an exceptional team, delivering vital support to people rebuilding their lives in the UK.”
She takes over from interim CEO Belinda Phipps, who replaced the Refugee Council’s last permanent leader Enver Solomon.
Tinnitus UK appoints interim CEO
Tinnitus UK has appointed Chris Easton as its interim chief executive.
Easton will join for an initial period of three months, while the charity’s board continues the recruitment process for a permanent CEO.
“I’m excited to join Tinnitus UK at such an important time,” Easton said.
“There is a real opportunity to strengthen support, improve access to care, and ensure tinnitus and its impact on people is taken seriously across the health system and that we can work collaboratively to ensure people living with tinnitus get the support they need.”
Forever Manchester appoints CEO
Greater Manchester community foundation Forever Manchester has appointed Rachel Hirst as its new CEO, effective from 12 June.
Hirst previously led the charity’s complex grants programs, community-building initiatives, and engagement with national partners such as the National Emergency Trust and the NHS.
Chair of Forever Manchester, Rebecca Durrant, said: “Rachel’s track record, deep understanding of our mission and her ability to lead with both clarity and compassion make her the right person to guide us into the future.
“Alongside stability, Rachel brings a clear vision for future growth, driving the evolution of grantmaking, expanding community programs and championing staff development and wellbeing.”
Chief executive hired at TCPA
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has announced Katy Lock as its chief executive.
Lock, who has been serving as interim chief executive since April, said she was honoured to take on the role.
Her previous work at the TCPA included directing programmes on renewed communities and leading campaigns promoting garden city principles across policy, legislation, education and the arts.
Chair Andrew Pritchard said the board had unanimously agreed to her selection following a rigorous process.
Buttle UK brings in CEO
Grantmaker Buttle UK has appointed Kevin Munday, currently chief executive of the KPMG Foundation, as its chief executive.
Munday’s previous roles include leading the KPMG Foundation’s national grantmaking programme and serving as chief executive of City Year UK and ThinkForward.
“I am delighted to be joining Buttle, an organisation with a powerful history of supporting children and young people at times of real need,” he said.
“Its focus on removing barriers and enabling opportunity aligns closely with my own commitment to improving outcomes for those facing the toughest challenges.
“I look forward to working with our team and partners to implement Buttle’s new strategy and extend our impact even further.”
St Martins Housing Trust announces CEO
St Martins Housing Trust has appointed David Powles as its chief executive.
Powles is a long-standing supporter of the charity and has served on its advisory board.
He was also previously chief executive of the Norfolk Community Law Service.
Chair Colin Bland said: “David has been a great supporter of St Martins for many years; he has excellent local knowledge and well-established relationships across Norwich and Norfolk.”
Powles takes over from Jan Sheldon who is retiring after eight years in the job.
Pennies adds to leadership team
Microdonations charity Pennies has announced a series of senior leadership appointments.
Marian Duxbury, as chief finance officer, and Jim Dolan, as chief transformation and technology officer, have been appointed.
The hires follow the planned retirement later this year of co‑founder and finance director Peter Nugent, who will remain involved as a trustee.
Alison Hutchinson, CEO of Pennies, said: “Marian and Jim bring exceptional experience that will support the next stage of Pennies’ growth and innovation.”
Asthma + Lung UK appoints clinical leads
Asthma + Lung UK has appointed Matthew Swallow and Nazir Hussain as clinical leads.
Swallow previously served as one of the charity’s “respiratory champions” and Hussain was a member of its Council of Health Care Professionals.
Their appointments follow the departure of clinical lead Andrew Whittamore, who held the role for more than a decade.
Asthma + Lung UK said the hires will support its work to improve care for people with lung conditions and strengthen the clinical evidence behind its services and advice.
Mates in Mind appoints chair
Nicola Hodkinson has been appointed chair of the workplace mental health charity Mates in Mind.
Hodkinson, owner and director of construction company Seddon, has served as a trustee of the charity for the past five years and takes over as chair from Kevin Myers.
Hodkinson said of her appointment: “Having seen first-hand the impact workplace culture can have on mental health, I joined Mates in Mind as a trustee five years ago because I knew our industry was not doing enough.
“Poor wellbeing and suicide are wider societal issues, but in construction, those challenges can be amplified by the nature of the work.”
Glaucoma UK appoints chair
Glaucoma UK has appointed Cecilia Fenerty as its chair following the charity’s annual general meeting in March.
Fenerty succeeds Anthony King, who stepped down after completing four years as chair and nine years in total as a trustee, and brings more than 25 years’ experience as a consultant ophthalmologist.
“It is a real privilege to take on the role of chair at Glaucoma UK,” she said.
“Ophthalmology services are under sustained pressure, and glaucoma care needs to continue evolving to meet patient need.
“One of the charity’s most important roles is ensuring that patient experience sits alongside clinical evidence in shaping services, policy and practice.”
Royal Society of Biology appoints president
The Royal Society of Biology has appointed Melanie Welham as its new president.
Welham, who takes over from Ian Boyd after four years in post, was the former executive chair at Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council from 2018-2023, and was the first female professor at the University of Bath.
“I am excited to take on the role of president of the RSB and want to thank Sir Ian Boyd for the excellent leadership he has provided over the past four years,” she said.
Co-chair of coalition appointed
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has appointed Ed Beveridge as the co-chair of a coalition it coordinates called the Mental Health and Smoking Partnership.
Beveridge, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ lead on physical health, succeeds Ann McNeill, who has co-led the partnership for the past decade.
ASH said Beveridge’s clinical expertise and leadership in tobacco control will support efforts to reduce smoking rates and improve health outcomes for people with mental health conditions.
The partnership brings together organisations and experts to address the intersection of smoking and mental health.
Royal Voluntary Service welcomes trustees
Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) has appointed five trustees: Robin Mills, John O’Brien, Lynne Peabody, Joe Seddon and Brigid Sutcliffe.
RVS has also set up its next-generation board for volunteers younger than 30: Juhie Radia has been appointed as its chair.
Mills is chief executive of Compass Group UK & Ireland, a catering and support services company, O’Brien founded business-leadership organisation Anthropy, Peabody is CEO of the EY Foundation, and Seddon is chief executive of technology platform Zero Gravity.
Sutcliffe, also a trustee at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “This is a very exciting time to be joining Royal Voluntary Service, and I look forward to being a part of its exciting ambitions.”
New trustees for Imperial Health Charity
Imperial Health Charity has welcomed three new trustees to its board, with experience across healthcare, research, finance and governance.
Joining the board are Bob Klaber, Jazz Thind, and Kamini Shah. Klaber and Thind will join the board from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, while Shah is joining as an independent trustee.
Shah is head of research funding at Diabetes UK, where she leads strategic investment in research and funding governance, Kalber is consultant general paediatrician and director of strategy, research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Thind is chief financial officer at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Patron named at the Principle Trust Children’s Charity
The Principle Trust Children’s Charity has appointed Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar as patron and children’s mental health ambassador.
Shaheen-Zaffar, a neurodivergent BACP-accredited trauma counsellor and founder of Watoto Play, is experienced in supporting families experiencing communication challenges.
The charity said her expertise will support its preventative approach to children’s wellbeing.
Shaheen-Zaffar said: “Having quietly supported the charity over the past couple of years, officially becoming a patron feels deeply aligned with the work I do every day.”
New patron for National AIDs Trust
HIV rights charity, the National AIDs Trust, has announced Lord Chris Smith as its patron.
A former MP, Smith made history as the first MP in the UK to voluntarily come out as gay, and in 2005 became the first MP openly to declare his HIV‑positive status.
Smith was elected chancellor of the University of Cambridge in July 2025, having previously served as master of Pembroke College, Cambridge.
“I’m honoured to have been invited to become patron of National AIDS Trust,” he said.
“The advocacy and policy work the charity does in helping to shape the UK’s response to HIV is exceptionally important, and I look forward to working with the trust to make further progress.”
