Queen Elizabeth Trust appoints first CEO
The Queen Elizabeth Trust, established this year with a £40m donation from the government, has appointed Seb Elsworth as its first permanent chief executive.
Joining in September, Elsworth currently serves as the CEO of social investment foundation Access, where he has been since its creation in 2015.
Elsworth said: “It's a huge honour to be appointed as the first permanent CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Trust.
“Through her whole reign, Queen Elizabeth II championed the importance of shared spaces which bring communities together, something which we need more than ever.
“I am hugely excited to lead the trust in working with communities up and down the UK, along with a wide range of other funders and partners, to provide the targeted funding and support communities need.”
Neil Berry, Access’s director of programmes, will become interim CEO of the organisation from 1 September.
New CEO for Children in Need
BBC Children in Need has announced the permanent appointment of Claire Hoyle as chief executive, having served on an interim basis since December 2025.
Hoyle joined BBC Children in Need in 2018 and was previously chief campaigns and engagement officer
“It is an enormous privilege to lead BBC Children in Need,” she said.
“Over the past eight years, I have seen first-hand the remarkable difference our funding makes to children and young people across the UK – made possible by the unwavering generosity of the public, our partners and the BBC.”
Worldwide Cancer Research announces CEO
Worldwide Cancer Research has appointed Laura Brady as its chief executive.
Brady was previously director of marketing and fundraising at the charity and led its global rebrand.
Chair Sue Hunter said new leadership will help drive the next phase of organisational development.
Brady added: “I feel incredibly fortunate to be stepping into the role of CEO.”
Sigrid Rausing Trust hires CEO
The Sigrid Rausing Trust has appointed Celia Davies as its chief executive.
Davies, who has held senior communications roles across philanthropy and civil society, said she was delighted to join the organisation and support its work defending human rights.
She said: “I’m already so impressed with the team’s thoughtful, principled approach to supporting human rights and the environment.”
Davies was most recently director of data company Omanos Analytics, which she co-founded.
Team Domenica appoints CEO
Learning disability support charity Team Domenica has appointed Becki Jupp as its chief executive, beginning this month.
Jupp’s previous roles include senior leadership positions at Southern Hospice Group and Sightsavers, where she led strategic growth, income generation and programmes that delivered social impact.
“I am delighted to be joining Team Domenica at such an exciting moment in the charity’s journey,” she said.
“I strongly believe in the power of opportunity, inclusion and collaboration to create real change, and I look forward to working alongside the team, our partners and the incredible young people we support to build on the strong foundations already in place.”
New Horizon Youth Centre CEO steps down
New Horizon Youth Centre chief executive Phil Kerry has announced via LinkedIn that he will be stepping down after eight years in the role.
He will be replaced by the charity’s current chief operating officer, Meghan Roach, who will become interim CEO while a recruitment process for Kerry’s permanent successor begins.
Kerry did not announce his immediate plans for the future. He was previously director of programmes and partnerships at London Youth.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my working career to lead New Horizon Youth Centre,” he said. “It’s a truly unique place, steeped in history and sprinkled with just the right amount of rebellion and plenty of care.”
Green Alliance appoints CEO
Green Alliance has announced that Mike Davis will take up the post of CEO at the charitable think tank on 23 September 2026.
Until last month, Davis led the investigative campaigning organisation Global Witness, where he spent 23 years, the last six as CEO.
He succeeds Shaun Spiers, who led Green Alliance for eight years, and deputy executive director Blanche Shackleton, who is the interim executive director until September.
Davis said: “I’ve always been a great admirer of the organisation’s distinct blend of policy credibility, political acumen and powerful partnerships and I really look forward to leading its talented team, working right at the heart of the country’s most crucial environmental debates.”
New director for Barnardo’s Scotland
Michele Janes, who is already the director of Barnardo’s in Northern Ireland, will now also take over as director of the charity in Scotland.
She takes over from Martin Crewe, who has led the work of Barnardo’s in Scotland since 2007, and is retiring later this month.
“It’s a great privilege for me to have this opportunity to work with another group of amazing colleagues, volunteers and young people and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for his tireless work in Scotland for Barnardo’s over the course of the past two decades,” she said.
“I started my journey into social work in Edinburgh where I lived and worked before moving back to Belfast.”
British Red Cross appoints marketing director
The British Red Cross has appointed Stuart Beamish as its executive director for income generation and marketing.
Beamish has held senior roles at Saga, British Airways and Barclaycard and will join the charity on 22 June.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining the British Red Cross at such an important time,” he said.
“I’ve been struck by both the humanity and thoughtfulness of the team, and by the extraordinary impact of the organisation’s work in the UK and around the world.”
Stewardship installs chief financial officer
Christian charity Stewardship has appointed Art Russell as its chief financial officer.
Russell has worked for more than 30 years in international finance across listed companies, private‑equity environments and service organisations.
Janie Oliver, charity CEO, highlighted the importance of strengthened financial leadership at Stewardship upon Russell’s appointment.
Russell, who succeeds Felicity Griffiths who will continue as COO, said: “With its strong foundation and clear mission, there is significant potential to further strengthen financial stewardship, enhance governance and support sustainable growth.”
New Centre for Charity Effectiveness director
Bayes Business School has appointed Chris Dayson as director of its Centre for Charity Effectiveness.
Dayson joins from Sheffield Hallam University, where he led work on charity policy after prior roles in the civil service and across public and voluntary‑sector research.
He aims to strengthen the centre’s role in supporting charity leaders through “meaningful applied research”, knowledge mobilisation and sector partnerships, among other areas.
Professor Barbara Casu, deputy dean for research at Bayes, said: “We are delighted to welcome somebody of Chris’s expertise to lead the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at such an important time for the sector.”
Parkinson’s UK appoints chair elect
Parkinson’s UK has appointed Kristina Murrin as trustee and chair elect.
Murrin, formerly CEO of the King’s Foundation and a senior adviser in No 10 Downing Street, will join the board in September and take over from Gary Shaughnessy in October as chair.
Her appointment comes as Parkinson’s UK develops its next five‑year strategy and global vision.
Deputy chair Peter Miller said trustees look forward to working with Murrin as the charity builds on Shaughnessy’s governance legacy.
Arts Council England announces chair
Arts Council England has announced Dawn Airey as its chair.
Airey, whose executive career includes senior posts at Channel 5, Sky, ITV, Yahoo and Getty Images, will begin a four‑year term on 1 August and succeed Nicholas Serota after a decade in the role.
Her appointment follows an independent review that set out a new mandate for the Arts Council, with ministers highlighting her experience in organisational leadership and her non‑executive roles across youth arts, digital theatre and women’s football.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I am thrilled to announce Dawn Airey as the incoming chair of Arts Council England. She will take the helm at this incredibly important time.”
Bond appoints treasurer
Carrie Brownlee has joined the board of NGO membership body Bond’s board of trustees as treasurer, having taken up the role in April 2026.
Brownlee qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG almost 20 years ago, and has since dedicated her career to the international NGO sector in various roles.
She is currently chief operating officer at International Alert and was previously co-managing director at Women for Women International UK, director of finance and operations at Concern Worldwide UK and treasurer at AbleChildAfrica.
Maudsley Charity appoints trustees
Maudsley Charity has appointed two new trustees, Amanda Scott and Ray Ayivor, to its board. Both took up their appointments in March.
The mental health charity also recruited two additional trustees who will take up their appointments in March 2027 – Rochelle Burgess and Kieran Lewis.
Ayivor is an experienced director of finance and resources, while Scott is an experienced CEO and non-executive director.
Meanwhile, Burgess is professor of global mental health and social justice and deputy director of the UCL Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases while Lewis is the strategic partnerships lead at Wellcome Trust.
New trustees for NPC
Think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has appointed two trustees, Patricia Hamzahee and Alex Jarman, to its board.
Hamzahee is a former investment banker and financial communications specialist who also sits on the board of Responsible Finance and the investment committee of Better Society Capital.
Jarman was previously chief executive of the specialist impact investing advisory firm Investing for Good.
President named at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has appointed former secretary of state for Scotland Michael Moore as its president.
Moore, who succeeds former Thames Water chair Ian Marchant after his 10‑year tenure, has held senior roles across public life and the private sector, including serving as an MP and later leading financial services trade body UK Private Capital.
He said he was excited to join the charity while RZSS chief executive David Field praised Moore’s “wealth of experience”.
Adolescence TV creator and producer become Tender ambassadors
Tender has appointed Adolescence co‑creator Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson as charity ambassadors.
The pair have collaborated closely with the charity over the past year, including on guidance for parents and teachers linked to the Netflix series.
Thorne and Johnson said they were honoured to take on the role, highlighting Tender’s impact in shaping conversations around behaviour, safeguarding and relationships through education.
Tender CEO Susie McDonald said their appointment will help expand the charity’s reach.
