SCVO Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025

Chris Platt, Chief Executive - Montrose Community Trust

I am CEO of Montrose Community Trust and Development Officer of Brechin Cathedral Trust. I’m a Trustee of Montrose Playhouse and Sunnyside Community Group, as well as an Advisor to my local placed-based charity, Stracathro & Inchbare SCIO. I also sit on the Angus Sports & Recreation Steering Group and the University of Dundee’s Sport Directorship Programme Advisory Board. My experience spans health, sport, employability, climate and heritage. I bring governance, fundraising and partnership skills.

I want to strengthen the bridge between grassroots delivery and national strategy, ensuring rural and regional voices from the North East are heard. My motivation stems from a duty to influence beyond place-based initiatives, drawing on programmes I lead across sport, culture, health and climate. I aim to amplify the lived experience of communities, shaping SCVO’s national voice to support innovation, inclusion and sustainable growth across Scotland’s Voluntary Sector.

Colin W Anderson, Secretary - Fairmilehead Community Council

I am a retired solicitor. My experience is mainly in property law, company secretarial and governance. I have served on various Committees of the Law Society of Scotland, including the Governing Council. I have extensive experience of Board/Committee work in the legal and voluntary sectors. I am well used to dealing with confidential/sensitive matters. I adopt a collaborative approach when serving on Committees and am very willing to listen to views expressed by others.

I have always had a real interest in the voluntary sector. I have been a Member of Fairmilehead Community Council for several years, and Secretary for the past 3 years. I understand the challenges faced by the voluntary sector and feel my breadth of experience would enable me to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the SCVO Board. I have the time available to devote to this important role.

Dr Fatene Abakar Ismail, Trustee - Al-Bir

I am a health services researcher with a PhD in Biomedical Science and experience in clinical research, education, and community engagement. Alongside my academic career, I am a trustee with Al-Bir, supporting programmes that improve wellbeing and social inclusion. I bring analytical, leadership, and communication skills, driven by a genuine commitment to compassion and equitable impact. I’m passionate about supporting voluntary organisations to use evidence and innovation to deliver meaningful, community-driven impact across Scotland.

Throughout my career in health research, I have seen how compassion and collaboration can transform lives. I want to bring that same spirit to Scotland’s voluntary sector by helping organisations create lasting, equitable change. Serving on the Trustee Board would allow me to use my experience to strengthen inclusion, amplify community voices, and champion evidence-informed approaches that build trust, resilience, and opportunity for all, guided always by empathy, integrity, and shared purpose.

Dr Iain Goddard, Community Development Officer - Stow Community Trust

At Stow Community Trust, I coordinate volunteer-led projects in regeneration, youth, and sustainability, and support governance and policy development at board level, bringing practical and analytical perspectives to strategic decision-making. My PhD in sustainable shared transport examined reciprocity and trust within communities of practice, offering insight into how digital infrastructures shape collaboration and shared learning. I also bring lived experience as primary carer for my father, who has Parkinson’s Disease.

I believe in a fairer, more inclusive society built on reciprocity and kindness. I’ve seen firsthand how sharing spaces, journeys, meals and ideas can improve lives and give hope to those in need. Scotland’s voluntary sector embodies these values, supporting people to work together and make a difference. I want to help SCVO continue to strengthen and represent the sector, ensuring that collective experience shapes its strategy and vision through open, purposeful collaboration.

Ewan Ramsay, Director - International Resources and Recycling Institutes

I’ve had 35 years working in Business and Finance. I started with the Bank of Scotland progressing latterly to Head of International Trade for Chambers of Commerce. My own business in international recycling (IRRI) has included extensive travel and business opportunities in USA, Europe & Malawi.

My recovery following a stroke in 2019 has been long and slow, impacting my business career. I miss being involved in projects and the initiation of opportunities and developments.

I am experienced in business development and project planning. I am very analytical and like to pick out key strengths or weaknesses in project applications. I am vocal and reasoned and would be an asset to challenging the Board's accountability.

I have worked hard to regain confidence in myself, and this position will bring my previous expertise and a new challenge for me in an area I am passionate about.

Gillian Reid-McKee, Deputy Chief Executive - Routes to Work

Having served my first term on the Board, I bring extensive knowledge and experience of SCVO. I am a confident, skilled communicator who has developed strong relationships with trustees, executives and the wider staff team through being accessible and accountable in my role. I leverage my experience in charity leadership, finance, governance and strategy to support the Board to navigate challenges and identify opportunities for SCVO’s continued strength in pursuit of its mission.

I am committed to strengthening the impact of SCVO as the representative membership body for the diverse, essential, voluntary sector in Scotland. I have knowledge and relationships across the sector and am committed to representing SCVO with stakeholders; recognising the power of the sector as a whole and the importance of strategic relationships and membership growth. Ultimately my motivation is to strengthen SCVO’s mission and amplify its impact on, and for, the Scottish voluntary sector.

Graeme McAlister, Chief Executive - Scottish Childminding Association

25 years’ experience within Third Sector membership organisations (large and small, spanning the environment, health, mental health, childcare). Representing members, undertaking evidence-based advocacy, building consensus, creating partnerships, influencing change (legislative, policy, practice and thinking). Tackling inequalities, strategy, funding and governance. Previous Trustee of small (£250k turnover) and large charities (SAMH / £20m turnover). Currently changing the narrative: strategically elevated childminding to a national priority, delivering local services and national projects in 29 local authority areas.

The Third Sector plays a vital, under-valued, role nationally and locally in delivering services, supporting communities, providing constructive challenge and has the agility and expertise to innovate and lead change. But we are experiencing acute, increasing pressures threatening our existence. We need to change the narrative and support sustainability through fairer, longer-term funding. SCVO has an unrivalled position to represent the sector, set the agenda and lead change; if elected, I would contribute to this.

Kenny Steele, Chief Executive - Highland Hospice

Breadth of experience across a number of voluntary organisations covering, health, environment and sport. Incoming Chair of Highland Third Sector Interface. Senior leadership experience in one of Scotland’s larger charities (£8m turnover). Ability to think strategically and influence and transform wider system working alongside public and private sectors. As an experienced CEO and having held a number of voluntary sector trustee positions I have the skills and knowledge to support good governance.

A strong belief in the role that the voluntary sector has to play in building a better Scotland. We are at a pivotal moment of opportunity where trust in public service delivery is declining and the realisation that better societal and fiscal value can be achieved through closer partnerships between government and Scotland’s voluntary sector. I would like to be able to support SCVO on this journey to support the wider sector.

Kim Atkinson, Chief Executive - Scottish Sports Association

I’ve a broad sector knowledge, including through 15 years as CEO of the Scottish Sports Association, representing 50 Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs)/sports organisations. Collectively SGBs represent one-third of the voluntary sector, through 13,000 sports clubs. I’m a Trustee of Foundation Scotland and formerly the Chair/Vice Chair of ACOSVO, former SCVO Policy Committee member and Public Appointment on the sportscotland Board. These have ensured my sound understanding of the challenges, priorities and opportunities facing the sector.

I’m an authoritative and influential advocate of the power and importance of Scotland's voluntary sector. As a respected voice working routinely across the Scottish Government/Scottish Parliament sharing members’ voices in developing policy, shaping strategy, and informing priorities.

I’m passionate about SCVO and our members and hope to help to further our collective work in truly positioning the voluntary sector as Scotland's First Sector.

Marta Nowak, Chief Executive - Polish Family Support Centre

I’m CEO & Project Manager at the Polish Family Support Centre, with a Marketing & Management BA (Hons) degree from Edinburgh Napier University. Since 2006, I have ensured the organisation thrives, leading through 16 years of growth and stability. I’ve developed projects supporting families, youth, & integration, while securing funding and building strategic partnerships. Recognised for patriotic and community work, I combine strong leadership with practical delivery to achieve meaningful impact across Scotland’s diverse communities.

I aim to strengthen Scotland’s voluntary sector by contributing my expertise in charity leadership, funding, and community development. My focus is on amplifying the voices of migrant and minority communities, promoting inclusion, and supporting sustainable growth. Through the SCVO Board, I want to foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience, enabling organisations to address social challenges effectively. I am committed to ensuring the voluntary sector remains impactful, representative, and a driving force for positive change in Scotland.

Tariq Ali, Digital & IT Services Lead - One Parent Families Scotland

I offer over 20 years of strategic charity and social enterprise experience, coupled with specialist skills in digital transformation and non-profit management. As a Digital & IT Services lead, I enhance operational efficiency and deliver innovative solutions. Crucially, I bring a strong equalities background to ensure inclusive governance and sector strategy, building on my past engagement with SCVO.

To help give strategic direction to SCVO and to advocate for the benefit of its members and wider third sector. I offer a unique combination of third sector experience and a specialised focus on digital strategy and operational efficiency. I am eager to apply this expertise to the governance of SCVO, helping to ensure the organisation continues to be a powerful and modern voice advocating for Scotland's vital third sector.

Zainab Al Lawati, Secretary - Scottish Communities Climate Action Network

Being quite involved with SCCAN’s policy decisions for years, I’ve grown to see how the right support and guidance can help or -God forbid- even hinder the progress that an organisation makes. I am an excellent communicator, having facilitated, for years, SCCAN meetings, helping the team reach decisions that satisfy the parties involved while also making sure that the overall aims will be achieved. I am familiar with sociocratic methods.

Trustees can greatly influence the environment in which the organisations people work in, and I deeply care about having a fair, nourishing and supportive environment, in which people are heard and valued. I also value SCVO’s support of its members (including SCCAN), so I wish to help it and aim to have the support be as best as it can be, especially given the challenges that third sector organisations face.