RSPCA appoints CEO
The RSPCA has appointed senior civil servant Joanna Rowland, from the Home Office, as its new chief executive.
The current director general for the customer services group, Rowland will be joining the animal welfare charity on 3 December.
Rowland takes over from interim CEO Shān Nicholas, who has been in post since January after former chief executive Chris Sherwood left to lead children’s charity NSPCC.
With a career in the civil service, Rowland has held key positions in the Home Office, HMRC, Justice and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Rowland said: said: “As a lifelong animal lover, I am thrilled to be joining this vital organisation which has delivered so much for animals through its long history.
“I have spent my career as a public servant, leading large-scale organisations each dedicated to the important mission of improving people’s lives and I am looking forward to bringing my expertise to an organisation that transforms the lives of animals.”
Parkrun hires CEO
Elizabeth Duggan has been appointed as the new CEO of parkrun “following a competitive open recruitment process”, the charity has said.
Duggan joined parkrun following a decade at Active Surrey and has been serving as interim CEO since 30 April 2025.
Under her interim leadership parkrun has experienced record-breaking growth both in the UK and internationally
Duggan said on her permanent appointment: “I’m so excited and honoured to be stepping into the role of permanent CEO at parkrun. Leading in the interim has shown me just how much potential we have — not just to grow, but to deepen our impact.
“There’s an incredible opportunity ahead to bring even more people into the global parkrun community, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
New CEO for RNIB
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has announced new CEO Simon Antrobus, who will take over from Matt Stringer and will be joining the charity in early 2026.
Antrobus joins RNIB, having been chief executive of BBC Children in Need since November 2016 and has worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years.
Prior to joining Children in Need, Antrobus was chief executive of With You, before which he was chief executive of Clubs for Young People. Antrobus also held senior roles at Parkinson’s UK and Scope.
Anna Tylor, RNIB’s chair, said: “I’m delighted that Simon is joining RNIB in early 2026 as our new CEO. Simon brings a huge wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having worked in the third sector for over 25 years.
“Simon is a warm and experienced communicator who will be an influential leader for RNIB and a strong ally for blind and partially sighted people.”
National Garden Scheme announces new CEO
Richard Claxton began his new role as chief executive of the National Garden Scheme.
Claxton, who worked as a GP in Tonbridge for 23 years, has been a longstanding advocate of nature-based therapies for his patients.
As well as his GP work, Claxton has written for Gardens Illustrated and Hortus Journal, worked in Garden Design and been a volunteer guide at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, and a trustee of Greenfingers Charity.
Claxton said: "I'm so delighted to be starting my new role with the National Garden Scheme. I've had a brilliant induction and handover from George Plumptre, who has been incredibly kind and thoughtful in helping me to understand the nuts and bolts of the role.”
Interim CEO for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation-Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust group has appointed Shān Nicholas as interim group CEO.
The decision follows the departure of Paul Kissack, who stepped down in September to take on the role of permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Nicholas joins the group, having led numerous social change organisations over two decades. These include the Child Poverty Action Group, the Children’s Society, the Refugee Council, the Rayne Foundation and most recently, the RSPCA.
She said: “Having worked in the voluntary sector for many years and almost entirely in fields focusing on poverty and social and economic exclusion, I have long since admired the work of the JRF-JRHT group.”
New chief executive at Black Cultural Archives
Black Cultural Archives has announced the appointment of Wanda Wyporska as its new chief executive.
Wyporska is an activist, historian and author, who previously led the Equality Trust, the Society of Genealogists, Black Equity Organisation and Safe Passage International.
She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled, as a historian and activist, to be leading the Black Cultural Archives, in its mission to collect, preserve, and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities, and society.
“At this crucial time for our communities, I am looking forward to using our fantastic archival collections, museum objects and excellent training and educational programmes and resources to bring people together to ignite and inspire pride and activism in the fight for racial justice.”
I Can & I Am appoints CEO
Rebecca Burton has been appointed as CEO of Bath-based charity I Can & I Am to lead the organisation into its second decade.
Burton will build on the charity’s “wellbeing bus” programme, which has supported more than 30,000 young people to date, and deliver its 2030 vision to build on the support its experts provide for young people, teachers and parents across the south of England.
Burton joined I Can & I Am 18 months after it was founded, following a career in educational marketing; she has played a role in the charity’s development, overseeing marketing, communications, governance, HR, and operations over the past nine years.
Burton said: “Every young person should be given the tools and support they need to believe in themselves so they can become who they want to be.
“That’s why we’re looking to enhance and expand our hugely successful bus programme to ensure an even greater impact and more reach.”
Sepsis charity appoints first ever CEO
Sepsis Research FEAT has appointed its first chief executive, Stephen Moore.
Moore has built five companies as founder and CEO and advised more than 40 others as chairman and senior advisor.
He said: “I am honoured to become Sepsis Research FEAT’s first CEO. Sepsis is one of the UK’s most urgent health challenges, yet awareness remains too low.
“My focus will be on strengthening the charity’s income, expanding our reach, and ensuring every pound we invest delivers maximum impact for patients and families.”
Framework announces new CEO
Framework, the East Midlands charity working to tackle homelessness, has appointed a new chief executive, Claire McGonigle.
McGonigle succeeds Andrew Redfern, who will retire at the end of 2025 after 29 years' involvement in homelessness services in the East Midlands.
McGonigle is currently Framework’s deputy chief executive. She joined Framework in 2019 as corporate services director, becoming operations director in 2020 and deputy chief executive in 2023.
Before joining Framework, McGonigle was with Action Housing and Support in South Yorkshire for ten years, nearly five of which were as chief executive.
McGonigle said: “I’m honoured to be taking on the role, and to be following in Andrew’s footsteps. I’m very proud of the work that our staff and volunteers do.”
New chair for POhWER
Advocacy charity POhWER has appointed former trustee Robert Templeton as chair.
Templeton joined the POhWER board in July 2024. He has a 30-year career in the health and social care sector, and has held senior roles across local government, the NHS, and national charities.
The advocacy charity POhWER also thanked its outgoing chair of trustees, Antony Kildare, for his contribution and announced the appointment of a new chair from 30 September 2025.
Fair For You chair steps down
Tom Levitt, who helped set up the social lender Fair for You, is stepping down from its board after 10 years of service.
Levitt became involved in what would become Fair for You in 2013, when former banker Angela Clements proposed a model of affordable credit to help lift people on low incomes out of poverty in a sustainable manner.
Fair for You is owned by a charity now known as the Fair Credit Charity, which oversees the work of the lending subsidiary.
Levitt has chaired that charity since its creation, as well as sitting on the board of Fair for You itself. He steps down from both posts on 30 September 2025
The Fair Credit Charity will now be chaired by Jonathan Moore, who is the former chief executive and board member at two different credit unions.
New honorary president for Young Citizens
Citizenship education charity Young Citizens has appointed former schools minister Lord Knight of Weymouth as its new honorary president.
Knight succeeds Baroness D’Souza, who steps down as honorary president of the charity after four years in post.
Knight was the Labour MP for South Dorset from 1997 to 2010, serving as a minister in Gordon Brown’s Cabinet from 2009 until 2010, when he was appointed to the House of Lords.
Ex-CFG boss becomes growth and sector solutions lead
Caron Bradshaw has been appointed as the new growth and sector solutions lead at Charity Finance Group.
Bradshaw was the group’s chief executive until this month; she also serves as a charity SORP committee member.
Bradshaw’s previous roles include serving as chair of the Director of Social Change; serving as a trustee at Charitable Together Foundation and non-executive director at Origin Housing and later the Lending Standards Board.
Citizens Advice appoints new executive director of client and member services
Steve Hughes is joining national charity Citizens Advice as an executive director of client and member services in January 2026.
Hughes was recently assistant director of strategy and transformation at Oldham Council and is a non-executive director at South Lakes Housing.
He said: “After many rewarding years in local government and the local Citizens Advice service, it’s a privilege to return to the Citizens Advice family and play a part in its long history of supporting people in innovative ways.”
New trustees for Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support has announced that it has appointed two new trustees to its board, David Bennett and Ron Kerr.
Bennett is the chair of Virgin Money UK, while Kerr is a senior NHS leader. Bennett will take on the role of chair of the board, and Kerr will take on the role of chair of the Charitable Expenditure Committee, both from April 2026.
Bennett said: “I am delighted to join the board and bring my experience to help Macmillan reach even more people affected by cancer in the years to come.”
New non-executive director for National Equine Welfare Council board
Dawn Vincent, director of fundraising and communications at horse charity the Mare and Foal Sanctuary been appointed to the governance team of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC).
Vincent was elected to the board as a non-executive director at NEWC’s recent annual general meeting in September.
She said: “I first became aware of this remarkable organisation nearly 20 years ago while working at the Donkey Sanctuary on a joint campaign addressing the dangers of ragwort to equines across the UK.
“It was then that I realised the vital role NEWC plays in uniting the nation’s most dedicated charities and organisations, advocating for the welfare and well-being of all equine species, and providing a strong, collective voice on their behalf.”
Ygam announces new patron
Ygam, a charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people, has announced Baroness Rosie Winterton as a patron.
Baroness Winterton served as the MP for Doncaster Central from 1997 to 2024. During her parliamentary career, she served under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in several ministerial roles.
She was Labour chief whip for six years from 2010 and, most recently, served as a deputy speaker of the House of Commons from 2017 until she announced her intention to stand down as an MP at the 2024 general election.
Four new trustees for WaterAid
WaterAid has announced four new trustees who have joined its board, following their appointment on 16 September.
Richard Morris, Ruth Jefferson, Hind Khatib-Othman and Osward Chanda will be volunteering their time over a four-year term.
Morris is a global marketing and media professional, currently serving as chief executive, UK and EMEA of IPG Mediabrands.
Jefferson held numerous senior positions at Wessex Water before being appointed as the chief executive in October 2024.
Khatib-Othman has chaired the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, promoting sanitation and hygiene as essential components of global health equity.
Chanda served as director of water development and sanitation at the Africa Development Bank until July 2024.
New trustees for the Seafarers Charity
Simon Gillespie and Guy Platten will be officially appointed trustees at the Seafarers’ Charity’s 2026 annual meeting.
Gillespie is a former Royal Navy Commander who commanded the frigate HMS Sheffield. He went on to hold senior positions across the charity sector, including four years as director of operations at the Charity Commission, eight years as chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, and seven years as chief executive of the British Heart Foundation.
Platten began his career as a seafarer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. He was later a boat inspector with the RNLI before becoming director of operations at the Northern Lighthouse Board. He spent five years as chief executive of the UK Chamber of Shipping and recently served seven years as secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping.
New trustees for Nordoff & Robbins
Nordoff and Robbins, the music therapy charity, has announced the appointment of Selina Emeny, Kate Reilly, and Giles Wilmore to its board of trustees.
Emeny is international group counsel for Live Nation while Reilly is PPL’s chief membership and people officer.
Meanwhile, Wilmore is director of community at orchestral charity Manchester Camerata.
