Susan Mallinder has been appointed as the inaugural chair of the board of social enterprise Thriving Survivors. Susan brings a wealth of experience to Thriving Survivors, having operated at board level of Victim Support Scotland for many years, and having extensive knowledge of communications, mindfulness, and leadership. Susan has worked as head of communications in a number of roles, including Virgin Money, RBS, and Lloyds. Susan was vice-chair of Victim Support Scotland and served on the board for 10 years. More recently Susan has completed a post-graduate diploma in Mindfulness and is working on her dissertation en​titled – Helping Victims of Crime Rebuild Their Lives. Thriving Survivors is a fast growing social enterprise that gives victims a path to recovery.

Barnardo’s Scotland has appointed Kirsten Hogg as its new head of policy. Kirsten joins Barnardo’s from Camphill Scotland, where she served for five years as co-director. Prior to this Kirsten was policy and development manager at the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland. As well as a strong background in social care services for adults and children, Kirsten brings extensive voluntary sector experience, having served as a trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and chair of Evaluation Support Scotland. Kirsten's appointment coincides with the launch of Barnardo’s 10 year corporate strategy, and her role will focus on its strategic influencing priorities around mental health and wellbeing, and child sexual exploitation.

The MS Society has appointed Nick Winser CBE as its chair of the board of trustees. Nick joined the board for the charity in 2015 and earlier this year became vice-chair. Nick is an engineer by profession and has dedicated his career to the energy sector. Nick said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed the next chair of the MS Society. MS has been a prominent and important factor in my life since my wife was diagnosed with the condition 17 years ago. As part of my new role I want to ensure the MS Society continues its vital funding of MS research to help find more effective ways to treat and manage MS. But it’s also important that many with MS have help now to deal with the daily effects of the condition. Access to the right information about treatments and services can make a huge difference and raising awareness of the condition will help us challenge social preconceptions about disability."

Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity has appointed Vicky Drysdale to its board of directors. She is a divisional director at investment management firm Brewin Dolphin and previously spent eight years at private bank Brown Shipley, where she played a key role in establishing its Edinburgh office. An expert in financial markets and understanding the economy, Vicky has strategic and hands on experience in brand development, marketing and client engagement, and is a fellow of the Securities Institute. She will use her financial expertise to help the charity, which has to date invested £9m to support the babies, children and young people treated at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.