Trustees
Trustees
The CHAS Trustees, also form the Board of Directors
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.
Donald Macdonald
Donald was appointed as Chair of CHAS in September 2024. More recently, he has chaired the Rachel House Redesign Committee. After leaving University in 1990 and qualifying as a solicitor Donald was employed in a range of roles within the legal function of The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest group of companies
Donald Macdonald
Deirdre McCormick
Deirdre is Chief Nurse Head of Public Protection Service in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Deirdre has held a range of clinical, managerial and professional advisory roles in both the acute and primary care setting, and within the Chief Nursing Officer Patient, Public and Health Professionals Directorate - Scottish Government.
Deirdre McCormick
Edward Doyle
Dr Edward Doyle is convenor of the Rachel House Redesign Committee. Edward trained in Oxford, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow before settling in Edinburgh and brings expert clinical knowledge to the board.
Edward Doyle
Jacquie Pepper
Jacquie Pepper is Chief Officer for Health & Social Care in Perth & Kinross Jacquie has responsibility for leading the delivery of integrated health and care services in Perth & Kinross and in this role is a Director of both NHS Tayside and Perth & Kinross Council.
Jacquie Pepper
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 External Affairs Director at communication consultancy Aspect, where he works with leaders, mostly in energy, decarbonisation and sustainability, to cut through complexity and shape clear, effective external relations strategies.
Peter Smyth
Gillian Donald
Gillian’s precious son Fin was supported by CHAS in the last few years of his life. Gillian is convenor of the Corporate Governance and Risk Committee. She is an experienced employment lawyer, and a partner with Blackadders LLP, in their Aberdeen office.
Gillian Donald
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
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
Antony Clark
Antony retired from Audit Scotland in late 2024. As well as becoming a CHAS Trustee, Antony is also a visiting fellow of Northumbria University in Newcastle - a city he lived in for 12 years - and is the independent member of Midlothian Integration Joint Board (IJB), Audit and Risk Committee.
Antony Clark
Nicola Buchanan
Nicola is the Senior Financial Control and Treasury Manager for a global law firm, CMS. Nicola works in a fast paced, challenging environment where no two days are the same. Nicola collaborates with the CMS Finance teams and most other teams within the firm, as well as being the key contact for their external banks and regulatory auditor. Nicola is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Nicola Buchanan
Sean Fitzgerald
Sean has recently retired as Chief Financial Officer of a large Investment Management Company, having spent over 30 years in that industry. Sean is married to Brenda who runs a coffee shop in East Lothian. They have 3 children, 2 in their teens and one of 23, who is a trainee teacher.
Sean Fitzgerald
