Louise Hunter will take over as chief executive of Who Cares? Scotland in December
A Scottish care charity has named its new chief executive.
Louise Hunter has been revealed as the new boss of Who Cares? Scotland and will take up the role in December.
She replaces Duncan Dunlop, who left the charity last month after nine years at the helm.
Hunter joins from Visibility Scotland and before that was director of operations at Ypeople. She also serves on the board of the Scottish Refugee Council, chairing the finance and audit committee, and is a member of Police Scotland’s National Independent Strategic Advisory Group (NISAG), where she provides advice on equality and diversity issues.
“I am delighted to be appointed as the new chief executive of Who Cares? Scotland,” she said. “Statutory ‘care’ for children and young people has featured in my life for some time now through supporting people throughout my career and more recently as an adoptive parent.
“I care deeply about the inequalities faced by some care experienced people and I know that these inequalities are not inevitable. We shouldn’t accept a system which puts bureaucratic processes and a fear of risk before trying to keep families together; or creating an environment where carers can genuinely provide loving relationships; and allowing children and young people to thrive. Who Cares? Scotland has led significant change and provides excellent support and advocacy to care experienced people guided by lived experience.
“In Scotland we have ‘The Promise’ – a culmination of a three year review of care that has become the mandate to make all of this change a reality. It will be my role to ensure that care experienced people have the platform to continue to drive this change for both themselves and future generations. We will achieve our vision of a lifetime of equality, respect and love for all care experienced people.”
Ryan McCuaig, chair of the charity, said Hunter had championed the rights of young people throughout her career.
He said: “In a recruitment process where the standard was incredibly high, Louise demonstrated that she has the experience, skills and values across the board to lead this organisation on the next stage of our journey.
“We look forward to welcoming Louise to the team in December and we know that our staff and members can’t wait to meet her too. We are at a crucial moment in history for our organisation and for care experienced people, with Louise’s leadership, we can work together to make sure that the transformation outlined by The Promise is delivered for care experienced people across Scotland.”
