Royal Osteoporosis Society announces new CEO
The Royal Osteoporosis Society has appointed Tracey Bleakley as its new chief executive, effective 30 November.
Bleakley has senior leadership experience across the health and charity sectors, having held senior NHS roles, including chief executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, and led national charities including Hospice UK and Dying Matters.
Most recently, Bleakley served as interim chief executive of SafeLives.
She said: “I am delighted to be joining the Royal Osteoporosis Society. For 40 years, ROS has worked with people affected by osteoporosis, healthcare professionals, supporters and decision-makers to improve bone health across the UK.”
St Catherine’s Hospice appoints new chief executive
St Catherine's Hospice has announced the appointment of Natalie Blunt as its next chief executive effective from 5 January.
Blunt is succeeding Giles Tomsett, who is retiring after 13 years of leading the charity.
She has over 20 years' experience working across the NHS, charity and social enterprise sectors, and will join St Catherine's from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), where she is currently chief operating officer.
Blunt said: “I am delighted to be joining St. Catherine's, having been drawn to the organisation by its purpose and deep commitment to making a real difference to people at some of the most important moments in their lives.
“St Catherine's has such a strong reputation and an extraordinary community of support. I would like to recognise the incredible contribution of Giles, who has led [the charity] so well for many years.”
New CEO for the Wallich
Sian Aldridge has been appointed as the new CEO of Welsh homelessness charity, the Wallich.
A former solicitor, Aldridge’s career at the Wallich began in 2008 as a member of its Bridgend rough sleeper team.
Aldridge later developed innovative homelessness services and co-production through roles such as head of participation and progression, director of operations, and interim CEO in her 18 years at the charity, a statement from the Wallich said.
Oliver Townsend, chair of its board of trustees, said: “Sian comes with huge experience delivering homelessness services and support. She knows what we do inside out, and there is no better guardian of our values than she is.
“Her commitment to partnership working, quality of service, demonstrating impact on people we support and organisational sustainability are a clear indicator that she will propel the Wallich into an exciting new era.”
Brunelcare appoints new chair
Brunelcare has appointed Bruce Moore as its new chair of trustees, effective from 1 November.
Moore succeeds Graham Russell, who has held the position since July 2023 and is stepping down for health reasons.
Moore is currently chief executive of Housing 21, a leading national not-for-profit provider of retirement living and extra-care housing, a position he has held since 2013.
He previously served as a trustee of Brunelcare almost 20 years ago.
Moore said: “I am thrilled to be joining Brunelcare to help lead the organisation through its next chapter as chair. Having previously served as a trustee for the charity almost 20 years ago, I am looking forward to returning in this new role.”
New head of centre for Big Noise Douglas
Music education charity Big Noise Douglas has announced Lorenzo Sánchez Pérez as its new head of centre.
Sánchez Pérez started out as a volunteer at Big Noise Govanhill in 2017 and joined its Douglas centre, in Dundee, in 2019.
David Munn, director of music and curriculum at Big Noise, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lorenzo into his new role as head of centre in Douglas.
“He is well known to the team, and I am excited to work alongside him to further embed Big Noise as part of the community in Douglas.”
Two new governors for Wellcome
Wellcome has made two new additions to its board this month: Professor Molly Stevens and Dr Jean-Philippe Vert.
Stevens is John Black Professor of bionanoscience as well as deputy director of the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at the University of Oxford.
She is also a part-time professor of biomedical materials and regenerative medicine at both Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London.
Vert is co-founder and CEO of Bioptimus, the AI-powered biomedical drug discovery platform working to refine a universal world model of biology.
New trustees for Cats Protection
Cats Protection has appointed two new trustees: Dr Mandisa Greene and Steve Coppin.
Greene will serve as chair designate, succeeding current chair Kit Sturgess who will complete his term of office next year.
Greene is a veterinary surgeon who has served as president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and, until recently, was executive medical director at Vets Now.
Greene will formally take over as chair at Cats Protection's annual general meeting in June 2027.
Coppin brings expertise in technology and digital transformation, having held senior chief information officer and technology leadership roles across a range of organisations.
