The organisation has paid tribute to the outgoing acting chief executive after 25 years' service

A third sector boss has announced she is stepping down to focus on her academic career.

Lucy McTernan, acting chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), is leaving the organisation after 25 years.

“I have had a fantastic time at SCVO, it really doesn't seem like 25 years,” she said. “Now, after finishing my Masters degree last year, I have a great opportunity to turn that into a PhD, and shift gear to become a fulltime academic.

“And as my research is all about civil society, SCVO and other friends and colleagues in the sector will still be seeing a lot of me. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the journey of SCVO and the third sector during a time when we have achieved so much positive social change.”

"Lucy has done an outstanding job for SCVO in a variety of senior roles, since joining the organisation almost 25 years ago," said Andrew Burns, convener of SCVO.

“Across many years, Lucy has made an immense contribution to both the development of SCVO as an organisation, and also to the wider development of the third sector throughout Scotland.

“The many successes of SCVO, over these last few decades would not have been achieved without Lucy and she leaves the organisation with the thanks and best wishes of all SCVO's trustees and staff.”