Who’s Moving: Stonewall, WWF, London’s Air Ambulance and more 

11 May 2020 News

Chairs and trustees 

WWF has appointed Tesco’s chief executive Dave Lewis as chair of its board of trustees.

Lewis will take over from Andrew Cahn, who has been chair since April 2014, in June. Lewis is due to leave Tesco in October 2020 after over six years.

Lewis said: “I’m delighted to be joining WWF in its vital mission. We need to change the systems that are destroying our natural world and ensure that, as the world recovers from the pandemic, we are rebuilding in a way that protects nature and the climate.

“I know firsthand the particular challenge of making the food system truly sustainable, but these are challenges that we must and will tackle head on.”   

War Child UK has appointed John Fallon as its new chair. Since 2013 Fallon has been chief executive of Pearson, the FTSE 100 learning company.

He succeeds Sacha Deshmukh, who is stepping down as chair after completing six years of service. During his tenure War Child UK has seen rapid growth in annual income, from £6m to £21m.

Fallon said: “In these uncertain times, the work to give every child the best possible start in life – especially those growing up in countries in conflict – is more important than ever. I’m impressed by the purpose, people and ambition of War Child and I’m looking forward to taking on this role.”

Citizens Advice has appointed two new trustees.

Finola McDonnell joined the Citizens Advice trustee board on 31 March, replacing Fran Keene who stepped down in October. McDonnell is chief communications and marketing officer for the Financial Times and is also a member of the FT Group executive board.

Jabbar Sardar will join the trustee board on 29 April, replacing Lucy Inmonger. Sardar is global HR director for BBC Studios.

London’s Air Ambulance has welcomed four new trustees.

The new trustees, Gemma Sherrington, Brigadier Tim Hodgetts, Dr Margot Gosney and James Thomas together bring different experiences from across the charity, military, technology and medical research sectors.

Mark Vickers, chair, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming our four new trustees onto the board. They bring with them exceptional knowledge and expertise, enhancing even further the long-term stability of the charity in these challenging times.

“It is already apparent that they share, with a passion, our vision to end preventable deaths in London from critical injury, through our rapid response, specialist trauma teams.”

Stonewall has appointed a new chair of trustees, Sheldon Mills.

Mills succeeds Jan Gooding, who stepped down from her role as chair at the board meeting on Tuesday 28 April after completing six years of service. She will be staying on the board as a trustee.

Mills has become the first person of colour appointed to this role. He is also Stonewall’s longest-standing trustee, having first joined the board in January 2013.

Mills said: ‘I’m hugely excited and proud to be appointed chair. Jan has shown tremendous leadership through her tenure as chair and I’m grateful she’ll be staying on the board as we enter a new chapter in Stonewall’s history.

"Right now, we’re all living through extraordinarily challenging times, but we know minority communities are often the hardest hit in a crisis, so the need for Stonewall has arguably never been greater.

“If the history of our movement teaches us anything, it’s that the LGBT community is at its strongest and most resilient when we stick together and look out for one another.”

Five new trustees have been appointed to support Volunteering Matters.

They are Emmanuel Ayoola, Simon Judge, Katerina Lambert, Sue Maskrey and Zara Todd.

Three of the new trustees were specifically recruited to ensure young people’s views and experiences are represented.

Volunteering Matters chief executive Paul Reddish said: “It was key we recruited trustees with an understanding of the positive impact volunteering has on communities. Each of our new trustees brings something new, and we’ll really benefit from their impressive range of experience, perspectives and backgrounds.  

“The need for strong governance is more important than ever as we tackle the current challenges the sectors faces, and start to look ahead to a post-Covid-19 world so we can help support communities to rebuild following Covid-19.”

Chief Executive 

Advocate has appointed Rebecca Wilkie as its new chief executive. Wilkie will take up the post at the beginning of July.

Wilkie was previously the chief executive of Advocate from 2007 to 2015. Most recently, she has been the programme director for the Litigant in Person Support Strategy, where she facilitated the work of a key partnership of charities working across the sector and with support from the Ministry of Justice. She will continue to be involved with the partnership as chief executive of Advocate.

Sir Robin Knowles, chair of the Advocate board, said: "The access to justice that Advocate strives to enable is needed more than ever, as the public faces the pandemic and then its aftermath.

"Advocate could not be more fortunate with this appointment at this time. Rebecca and Advocate are a proven combination. Both have gone on to develop hugely since Rebecca’s last term as Advocate’s chief executive – the combination was strong then, but it promises to be even stronger now.”

Fundraising 

Depaul UK has appointed Kevin Clements as its new executive director for fundraising and communications.

Clements is currently director of fundraising and marketing at Animal Health Trust. He previously worked for St Nicholas Hospice Care, Suffolk Mind and Sue Ryder Care, and has spent the past 15 years building fundraising and marketing teams for causes including hospices, neurological care, mental health and scientific research.

He said: “With the obvious increase and strain on the most vulnerable people in our society, I am honoured to be joining this dynamic team.

“Depaul is a truly inspiring charity with the strongest values I have encountered in my career. I look forward to working with the team, who are clearly focused on helping as many vulnerable people as possible.”

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