New CEO for the Young Foundation
Community research and social innovation not-for-profit the Young Foundation has appointed Susan Griffiths as the organisation’s new chief executive, effective from March 2026.
She joins from Social Development Direct, a social enterprise delivering innovative international development consultancy and research, focused on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, where she has been managing director since 2020.
Griffiths said: “I am thrilled to join the Young Foundation, leading an organisation I have long admired as it embarks on the next phase of its journey.
“That means embracing the inspiring vision of founder Michael Young and building on the achievements of the many talented staff who work here, and the innovative and ground-breaking CEOs before me.”
Ygam appoints CEO
Emily Tofield has been the appointed as the new chief executive officer of Ygam, a charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among children and young people. She will officially join the charity on the 6 January 2026.
Tofield joins the charity following a 20-year career in leadership roles across UK government, local government, higher education and research, the media, and the not-for-profit sector.
Her previous roles include posts in the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the University of Sussex, and at the City of London Corporation.
Interim CEO and new trustees for OSCR
Quentin Fisher has been appointed as tnterim CEO of the Scottish charity regulator for an initial three-month period.
Fisher joins OSCR from the Scottish government. He will cover the role of Katriona Carmichael, CEO, during an extended period of absence.
Since joining the Scottish government in 1999, Fisher has spent most of his civil service career in the Justice Directorate, working in a number of roles across a range of policy areas. He joins OSCR from the Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission where he was the head of the secretariat.
Lynn Bradley, Neil Mackay, and Robin Strang have also been announced as members of the board of the OSCR.
Bradley is a chartered accountant; Mackay has spent the majority of his career in the financial services sector and Strang has been chief executive of charities in Scotland and England with the purpose of improving people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. He is currently a trustee of EPIC Assist Scotland and a board member of Scottish Canals.
New CEO for the British Asian Trust
Hitan Mehta is succeeding CEO Richard Hawkes as chief executive of the British Asian Trust.
Mehta was the British Asian Trust’s first ever employee and is a long-standing staff member of the charity’s senior leadership team.
He has led the trust’s efforts to deepen engagement with the global South Asian diaspora, building networks across philanthropy, finance and business to strengthen the trust's mission worldwide.
Mehta said: “It is an honour to step into this role at such a pivotal moment for the British Asian Trust.
“As we enter an important period of global and UK diaspora engagement, I am deeply grateful to our trustees, our royal founding Patron, and our valued partners and supporters for their continued confidence in our mission.”
Royal Pharmaceutical Society appoints first chair
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has appointed Joe Irvin as its chair.
Irvin has previously held trustee and chair roles at ACEVO and CEO roles at national charities including NAVCA and Living Streets.
He said: “I’m delighted and honoured to become the Royal College of Pharmacy’s first chair of trustees, helping the new college to deliver on its huge ambitions for the future and become the highly regarded royal college that pharmacy deserves.”
New chair for STAND
Daniel Valentine has been appointed as chair of the board of trustees for STAND, the amputee charity founded as Legs4Africa in 2014.
Valentine takes up the role immediately, succeeding Steve Whitlock who served as chair from June 2022 to April 2025.
He commented: “STAND is a wonderful charity and I am deeply honoured to be joining the team as chair.
“I look forward to working with our CEO, my fellow trustees, and the wider organisation to deliver STAND’s mission of changing the lives of amputees in sub-Saharan Africa.”
ESBF announces executive director
Education leader Miranda Thomas has joined Engineers and Scientists in Business Fellowship (ESBF) in the newly created role of executive director.
Miranda joins ESBF – which promotes business education for engineers and scientists – with over 20 years’ experience in higher education.
Her previous roles include director of the Chevening Secretariat at the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
On her appointment, Thomas said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the ESBF community. I’ve already been inspired by the ideas, energy and ingenuity of the young people ESBF supports.
New general manager for Friends for Leisure
Friends for Leisure, a Cheshire East charity supporting disabled children and young people, has announced the appointment of Amanda Hunt as its new general manager.
Hunt, who has worked with Friends for Leisure since 2023, will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the charity and leading its comprehensive programme of activities.
She said of her new role: “My children have attended Friends for Leisure groups for many years, so I’ve experienced first hand, as both a parent and an employee, the impact the charity has.
“When I was offered the opportunity to take on the role of general manager, it was something I was incredibly passionate about pursuing.”
British Heart Foundation appoints chief technology officer
Chris Brocklesby has been confirmed as the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) chief technology officer on a permanent basis, after starting in an interim role.
Brocklesby joined BHF in July 2025 to lead the charity’s digital transformation projects that include introducing cloud-based technology, greater use of AI and the connection and streamlining of multiple systems.
He was formerly chief technology officer at the Post Office until October 2024.
Brocklesby said: “I love that BHF is hugely ambitious with its technology agenda and how we can use it to drive supporter engagement and the donations that fund our vital heart research. BHF’s mission is clearly so important to everyone who works here.”
Cycling UK welcomes director of finance and operations
Cycling UK has welcomed Jo Woolley as its new director of finance and operations. Beginning her role on 15 December, Woolley has experience from both the charity and commercial sectors, with expertise in governance and operational change.
Trained as a professional accountant, Woolley spent her early career in retail and financial services, before moving to the Woodland Trust in 2008 and remaining there for 13 years before joining Earthwatch.
Woolley said: “I intend to help Cycling UK increase its impact and income and I'm looking forward to working with the team to build on its successes, finding new ways to make our reserves go further.”
New fundraising lead for NSPCC
The NSPCC has appointed Tracey Pritchard to lead its new engagement and fundraising directorate.
Pritchard will build on the work of her predecessor, interim director of income generation Tim Hunter, to boost the charity’s efforts to grow its income and supporter base.
Pritchard began her career as a fundraiser and has since held senior roles focused on engagement and fundraising for a variety of causes, including serving as executive director of engagement at Prostate Cancer UK and director of engagement at Friends of the Earth.
Oxfam announces trustee changes and appointments
Oxfam has confirmed several changes to its board of trustees as part of its cycle of governance renewal.
Charles Gurassa (chair) and Mitesh Patel (trustee) completed their terms of office and have now stepped down as trustees, while deputy chairs Nana Afadzinu and Annie Hudson have been appointed acting chairs of the Oxfam GB board.
Two new trustees also joined the board: Andrew Tivey, who is a trustee of the Police Federation and until recently, chair of victim support and a non-executive board member and chair of audit and risk at the National Crime Agency, and Gemma Sherrington, who is current CEO of Refuge and a trustee of London’s Air Ambulance Charity.
Disability Rights UK trustee steps down
Disability Rights UK trustee Clenton Farquharson has stepped down from the charity’s board of trustees with immediate effect.
In a statement, the charity said: “This follows constructive discussions regarding the organisation’s need to maintain its independence and ability to speak freely on the government’s current review of Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit.
“After reflecting on the governance safeguards the board would have required, Clenton has chosen to resign from his trustee role.”
