Senior charity and fundraising appointments: September 2026
Howard Lake | 20 September 2026 | News
Here’s our latest round-up of senior charity and fundraising appointments in the UK, covering Tree Aid, the Phoenix Community Trust, BBC Children in Need, Prostate Cancer UK, and Art of Wishes (for Make-A-Wish Foundation UK).
Tree Aid
Tree Aid has appointed conservationist and author Jane Madgwick as its new Chair, alongside four new trustees: Maura Barry Boyle (formerly of USAID), Mehdi Mahjour (founder of Sloop Impact Advisory, previously HSBC), Ian Robinson, and Amit Shah (executive director of Bridges Outcomes Partnerships).
Jane brings more than three decades of international leadership experience in conservation, as a specialist in wetlands and landscape restoration. She serves as an expert nominator for the Earthshot Prize and as a steering group member of the Planetary Health Alliance.
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She was previously CEO of Wetlands International for 19 years, a WWF regional director for Europe and Australia, and the first executive director of the Global Commons Alliance. She succeeds Elizabeth Davis OBE, who has chaired Tree Aid’s board since 2018 and held the chair role for the past two years.
Jane Madgwick said:
“Tree Aid… is a charity with a vital mission, a proven approach and a strong, grounded organisation behind it. Tree Aid’s work with communities across Africa, helping them to restore degraded land, rebuild productive landscapes and regenerate the natural systems that underpin their societies and economies, is exceptional.”
Tree Aid’s Chief Executive Officer, Tom Skirrow, said:
“As Tree Aid continues to grow and adapt in the face of global challenges, we are excited to welcome Jane Madgwick as our new chair alongside four highly experienced new trustees.”
The Phoenix Community Trust
The Phoenix Community Trust, a newly independent, Global Majority-led organisation working to dismantle structural racism and end funding inequity in the VCSE sector, has appointed Shane Ryan MBE as its first Chief Executive Officer.
The organisation, which operates across nine regions in England, was awarded £50 million from The National Lottery Community Fund in November 2024 to combine capacity building, direct financial investment and infrastructure development for the Global Majority and Black, Racialised and Minoritised (BRM) VCSE sector.
Ryan previously led the Trust’s transition team and developed the Phoenix Fund that preceded it, and brings more than 25 years’ experience including roles as Senior Adviser to The National Lottery Community Fund, Global Executive Director of the Avast Foundation, and CEO of Working with Men (Future Men). He was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours List for services to young people and charity.
Shane Ryan MBE said: “Six years ago, alongside 30 organisations, we set out with a vision. Today, watching that vision take shape is more than I could have hoped for. To lead this next chapter is a huge honour and responsibility.”
Amna Abdullatif, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: “Shane has been part of the Phoenix journey for many years, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, community partnerships and lived commitment to tackling structural racism in philanthropy.”
BBC Children in Need
BBC Children in Need has appointed Sarah Baker and Hannah Rignell as its new Chief Officer for Children, a role they will share as a job-share. Together they will oversee around £50 million of annual investment and shape the charity’s long-term strategy for funding, impact and change.
Baker and Rignell join from The National Lottery Community Fund, where they are jointly responsible for a grants portfolio worth more than £500 million a year in England and have led the development of a £3 billion long-term funding strategy. Both have held roles in the Cabinet Office’s Disability Unit, and between them bring experience from DCMS, the Office for Civil Society (including launching the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme during the pandemic) and local government.
Claire Hoyle, chief executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “This is a critically important role that will help shape how we create impact for children and young people for years to come. Their leadership will be vital in positioning the charity for the future, so that more children and young people can access the opportunities, relationships and support they need to thrive.”
Hannah Rignell said: “It is a privilege to be joining BBC Children in Need at a pivotal moment for the charity and the sector.” Sarah Baker added that she was “inspired by the charity’s commitment to inclusion, equity and ensuring that every voice is heard.”
Art of Wishes (for Make-A-Wish UK)
Art of Wishes, the fundraising initiative bringing together the art and creative communities in support of Make-A-Wish UK, has appointed Gia de Picciotto as Chair.
She has served as Interim Chair in recent months and has been closely involved with Art of Wishes since its founding in 2017 by philanthropist Batia Ofer, initially as a member of its founding committee.The appointment comes as Art of Wishes builds towards its tenth-anniversary gala in 2027. Since 2017 the initiative has raised more than £15 million for Make-A-Wish UK and helped the charity grant over 6,000 wishes for children living with critical illness.
Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate Cancer UK, the UK’s biggest public funder of prostate cancer research, has appointed Nick Hampton to its Board of Trustees for a three-year term. Nick is currently Chief Executive of Tate & Lyle PLC and previously spent twenty years at PepsiCo in senior finance and commercial roles, including Chief Financial Officer, Europe and President, West Europe Region. He is also Senior Independent Director of Severn Trent PLC. The charity also announced the reappointment of Trustee Henry Obi CBE, to July 2027.
Nick Hampton said:
“I am absolutely delighted to join the board of Prostate Cancer UK as a trustee. I have experienced first-hand the fear, uncertainty and challenges that a diagnosis can bring and I am excited to have the opportunity to use my experience to help make a difference for other men and their families.”
Laura Kerby, CEO of Prostate Cancer UK, said:
“Prostate Cancer UK is thrilled to welcome Nick to the Board of Trustees. His extensive commercial experience, as well as his own lived experience of a prostate cancer diagnosis, will add depth to Board discussions and will be invaluable in achieving our mission and delivering for men across the country.”
AFK
AFK, the charity supporting disabled children and young people with mobility equipment and into paid employment, has appointed Miriam Deakin as Chair of its Board of Trustees and Katie Cavanagh as Chief Executive Officer, forming the first all-woman Chair and CEO leadership duo in the charity’s 30-year history.
Miriam is the first woman to chair AFK since it was founded, and joined the board as a Trustee in 2022; she is currently Director of Strategy and Policy at FODO Group.
Katie becomes Chief Executive after nine months as interim Chief Executive, having previously been AFK’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, and brings thirty years’ experience in the voluntary sector including roles at the MS Society and Sense.
Katie Cavanagh said:
“I am delighted to be taking up this role in a charity I love, leading a caring, expert team to support disabled and neurodivergent children and young people with mobility equipment and into paid employment.”
Outgoing Chair Gurmeet Dhillon said: “After several years as Trustee and Chair of AFK, I’m delighted to hand over to Miriam, who alongside Katie will I’m sure successfully lead AFK to even greater success and ensure we can continue our vital work.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.