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Our Trustees

The CHAS Trustees, also the Board of Directors, have many years of experience in a number of fields covering both the public and private sectors. They’re passionate, committed and responsible for the general governance and oversight of CHAS’s work.

Directors are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association and are recruited for their skills and experience in areas relevant to the activities of CHAS. Our current board come from backgrounds such as parenting, nursing, paediatrics, social services, finance, business, investment management, legal, risk management and PR/communications.

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Peta Hay

Peta was elected as Chair of CHAS in September 2021.

Five years ago Peta joined Saxton Bampfylde and now works with clients such as Harrods and the V&A Dundee on projects from leadership development to executive recruitment.

Peta Hay
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Deirdre McCormick

Deirdre is currently the Chief Nurse – Head of Service - Public Protection at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Deirdre provides strategic leadership and is responsible for ensuring the delivery of person centred, safe and effective nursing services and clinical practice.

Deirdre McCormick
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Donald Macdonald

Donald advises the board on legal matters. He is a member of the Corporate Governance and Risk Committee.

Since leaving University in 1990 and qualifying as a solicitor Donald has been employed in a range of roles within the legal function of The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest group of companies.

Donald Macdonald
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Edward Doyle

Dr Edward Doyle brings expert clinical knowledge to the board.

Edward trained in Oxford, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow before settling in Edinburgh.

Edward Doyle
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Jacquie Pepper

Jacquie Pepper is Depute Director (Education and Children’s Services) and Chief Social Work Officer for Perth and Kinross Council.

Jacquie has responsibility for cross cutting work across education and children’s services as well as responsibility for Criminal Justice.

Jacquie Pepper
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Nicola Connelly

Nicola brings a wealth of experience in senior finance roles to the board.

Nicola has worked for ScottishPower in a variety of senior finance roles for more than 20 years and is also a Trustee Director of the SP Manweb Pension Scheme.

Nicola Connelly
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Peter Smyth

Peter brings vast experience and knowledge of Public Affairs to the Board. He is a member of the Corporate Governance and Risk Committee.

Peter is Director of Public Affairs and Deputy Managing Director at independent communications agency Indigo, where he's worked for more than eight years.

Peter Smyth
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Stephen Reid

Stephen joined the Board of CHAS in March 2017.

Stephen is a partner with the global accountancy firm Ernst & Young LLP and is responsible for leading their Scottish Government, Public Sector and not-for-profit assurance practice.

Stephen Reid
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Gillian Donald

Gillian’s precious son Fin was supported by CHAS in the last few years of his life.

Gillian grew up in Northern Ireland, but Aberdeen became her home after she studied law at the University of Aberdeen. She qualified as a solicitor in 2001, specialising in employment law. Most of her career was spent in a prominent Aberdeen law firm where she was partner and head of employment.

Gillian Donald
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Sophia Salim

Being the parent of a young person with disabilities Sophia has first hand experience of the challenges and issues children with complex needs and their families face.

Sophia graduated in 2005 in Accountancy and has been a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) since 2015.

Sophia Salim
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Faraz Hussain

Faraz was elected as a trustee of CHAS in September 2022.

In 2017 Faraz obtained his Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Accountancy from Glasgow Caledonian University. Since graduating, he has worked with multiple prestigious financial institutions such as Santander, Deloitte and Morgan Stanley.

Faraz Hussain
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Nigel Barry

Nigel is a retired investment manager with a 30-year career specialising in equity markets for institutional clients.

Bringing a wealth of experience to the table, Nigel possesses a keen ability to engage with and oversee CHAS's two investment managers responsible for managing the organisation's charitable assets.

Nigel Barry

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