First female CEO appointed at ZSL
International conservation charity Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has appointed its first female chief executive, Kathryn England.
England has worked for more than a decade at ZSL, and recently served as interim CEO.
“It is an honour to be appointed to lead an organisation I care about deeply,” she said.
“ZSL’s people, its science, and its mission are genuinely world-class, and I am determined that we use this milestone year as a springboard to grow the impact we have in our conservation work, for the communities we engage, and for the wildlife we are to protect and restore.”
Co-CEOs appointed at Artswork
National youth arts charity Artswork has announced a co-CEO leadership model, which will take effect from 1 April 2026.
Under the new structure, Louise Govier and Annabel Cook will jointly lead the organisation.
In a joint statement on the announcement, Govier and Cook said: “We are excited to move to this new model of leadership for Artswork.
“We’ve been working closely together for more than five years and really enjoy pooling our strengths and talents to innovate, find solutions and make the most of opportunities.”
Joseph Rowntree Foundation announces CEO
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) have announced that Julian Hartley has been appointed their new group chief executive.
Most recently, Hartley led the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the regulator of health and social care in England, and before that NHS Providers, the membership organisation for hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services.
Hartley said of his new role: “As a long-standing believer in the importance of the two organisations' work, I am thrilled to be joining the JRF and JRHT group at a time when it has never been more ambitious about the difference it hopes to make.
“I have spent my career in the NHS, but a consistent theme throughout has been building coalitions with other forces in the public, private and civil society sectors to improve outcomes for the communities we all serve.
“I hope to bring a similar approach to this role as we seek to shift the structural drivers of poverty and inequality.”
New CEO for Pancreatic Cancer Action
Pancreatic Cancer Action has appointed Paula Hanford as its new chief executive.
Hanford has more than three years of chief executive level experience at her previous organisation, PSC Support.
“Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most underfunded and under-researched cancers, and that has to change,” she said.
“I’m determined that Pancreatic Cancer Action will continue to put patients at the heart of everything we do, campaigning for earlier diagnosis, greater awareness, and better outcomes for everyone affected.”
St Basils announces new CEO
West Midlands-based young people’s charity, St Basils, has appointed Marsha Blake as its new chief executive, effective from 1 May.
Blake has been with the charity since 1999 and will succeed outgoing CEO Jean Templeton, who is stepping down after 26 years.
Blake has had a variety of roles at St Basils and has led on many initiatives, including developing the youth hub and transition hub.
“It is an honour to take on the role of chief executive at St Basils, an organisation that has been such an important part of my professional life,” she said.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved under Jean’s leadership and look forward to building on that strong foundation.”
Chief executive appointed at Creative Lives
Creative Lives, which champions community-led creative groups across the UK and Ireland, has appointed Max May as its new chief executive.
May will take on the role in April, succeeding Robin Simpson, who is retiring after two decades as CEO.
May was previously chief officer of HEY Creative (the ACE/DCMS Cultural Compact for Hull and East Yorkshire) and simultaneously served as strategic director at North Yorkshire Together.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Creative Lives at this important time in our nation’s stories,” he said.
“I’m excited to work with the phenomenal team, board and community groups across the UK and Ireland to be the loudest voice possible for everyday creativity.”
New CEO for Northorpe Hall Child + Family Trust
Children’s and families’ charity Northorpe Hall Child + Family Trust has appointed Chris Rowe as its new CEO.
Rowe has more than 20 years’ experience at public, private, and third-sector organisations and is a CIMA-qualified accountant and a qualified psychotherapist specialising in addiction, ADHD, and anxiety.
“Northorpe Hall has a long and proud history of supporting children, young people and families in the Kirklees area — the place I was born,” he said.
“Having the opportunity to positively impact the lives of people in that community feels incredibly meaningful.”
New executive director and trustees at Crisis
National homelessness charity Crisis has announced Tamsin Baxter as its new director of brand, marketing and fundraising.
Baxter has over 20 years of experience in fundraising and marketing, including senior positions at Refugee Council, Scope and Fight for Sight.
Crisis has also appointed two new trustees: Kirsty MacDonald and Jan Oldfield.
MacDonald has held senior positions in educational and cultural institutions in both the UK and Canada for over 30 years. Since 2016, she has been deputy principal at the Royal Academy of Music.
Oldfield has led supporter engagement efforts for charities including Save the Children International, Greenpeace International and Oxfam GB. Most recently, she also joined Amnesty International UK as its director of mass market fundraising.
Executive director departing Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage Foundation has announced that Katherine Chapman will depart as executive director after 10 years to take up a new role as chief executive of Investors in People at the end of April.
Chapman joined the Living Wage Foundation in 2016. During her tenure, the Living Wage movement expanded to over 16,000 employers and the foundation grew from a small team into a nationally recognised organisation.
Graham Griffiths, deputy director at the Living Wage Foundation, will step in as interim director following Chapman’s departure. A recruitment process for Chapman’s successor will begin shortly.
New co-leader and director of transformation for Buglife
Conservation charity Buglife has appointed Christie Gregg as co-leader and director of transformation.
Gregg previously worked at IKEA, where she led the organisation's transformation roadmap to 2028.
She also previously served as strategic advisor to the Stormont executive in Northern Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic and has an academic background in Archaeology and Palaeoecology from Queen's University Belfast.
Gregg said of her new role: “I was drawn to Buglife because the work is both joyful and urgent, practical conservation that makes a real difference.”
Director of health appointed by British Heart Foundation
Tim Chico has been appointed as the new director of health at the British Heart Foundation.
Chico is a clinician and scientist as well as a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Sheffield.
He was until recently associate director of the British Heart Foundation data science centre, where he led on smartphone and wearable data.
New head of investment partnerships at Social Investment Scotland
Social Investment Scotland (SIS) has appointed Chris Jamieson to the newly created role of head of investment partnerships, while also welcoming Louisa Shanks as investment manager.
Jamieson joined SIS in 2016. His responsibilities in his new role will include securing new co-investment opportunities, building relationships with existing and new investors, and leading the implementation of new funds aligned with the SIS strategy and action plan.
Shanks has previous experience in social investment and programme management. Most recently, Shanks worked as a freelance programme consultant with Nesta Challenge Works.
Two new trustees for Jo Cox Foundation
The Jo Cox Foundation has announced the appointment of two new members to its board of trustees: Tracey Crouch and Seema Kennedy, both former Conservative MPs who played roles in placing loneliness on the national agenda.
As an MP, Crouch was previously appointed the world’s first loneliness minister in 2018, while also serving as sports and civil society minister.
Kennedy established the cross-party National Commission on Loneliness with Jo Cox when both were MPs, and continued to campaign as one of the co-chairs of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness following Cox’s death.
New trustee for Wild Welfare board
Wildlife conservation charity Wild Welfare has announced the appointment of Liz Sproston and Stephanie Lawless to its board of trustees.
Sproston is a UK-qualified commercial lawyer with over 25 years of experience. She is currently head of legal at John Lewis Partnership.
Lawless joins the team with a career in the voluntary sector spanning two decades and is currently the director of fundraising and marketing at Katharine House Hospice.
