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New leadership for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Posted: 20th November 2018

A number of new Trustees have been appointed to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, joining the Board of Trustees led by longstanding Chairman David Blaikie and Vice Chair Doreen Graham. Their combined expertise includes government, finance, communications, law, education, property and architecture, covering public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Publicly announcing the new appointments during Trustee Week 2018, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home CEO Howard Bridges celebrated the diversity of the Board and their ongoing contribution to the evolution of the Home.

“We are very pleased to welcome our new Trustees to the team. Each of our Trustees brings a wealth of experience to the board and offers invaluable perspective from range of sectors,” he says.

“As a leading animal welfare charity in the UK, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home must remain at the forefront of first class animal care and rehabilitation, as well as influencing policy and delivering community education. Our Trustees play a vital role in shaping our work at all levels, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to our mission of rescuing, reuniting and rehoming lost and abandoned pets from across Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home’s Board of Trustees:

David Blaikie (Chair) – David is an award-winning architect, based in Stockbridge. As the current Chair, he has brought years of guidance and leadership to help deliver the Home’s mission.

Doreen Graham (Vice Chair) – Doreen has an impressive career in third sector communications and PR with organisations including the Scottish SPCA and Health in Mind.

Ian Muir OBE – Ian is a long-standing member of the Home’s board. Not only has he forged an impressive career at Ferranti Edinburgh, but he has held many positions in the education sector, including being a Director of the Association of Scottish Colleges.

Crawford Geddes – Crawford started his property consultancy and property development company, Keiller Edinburgh Ltd in 2002. He cycled to Paris twice to raise funds for charity.

Leanne Goold – Leanne became a Trustee in August 2018 having first volunteered at the Home while at school. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working at Ernst & Young in London, before joining Deutsche Bank. Leanne has worked for her current employer, Penfida, since March 2012, and brings a wealth of financial experience to the Board of Trustees.

Sue Stahly – Sue is a senior HR professional with extensive experience at strategic level gained within the drink and finance sectors. She loves animals and has owned a cat as well as dogs, and is currently mum to Stratford, a Hungarian Vizsla.

Catherine Brown – Born and raised in Dundee, Catherine is one of several communications team leaders in the Scottish Government. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home since adopting her terrier cross, Sadie, in 2015.

Peter Proud – Peter is the Founder and CEO of Cortex Worldwide, which has a strategic partnership with Microsoft. An advocate for digital technology, Peter is on both the ScotlandIS Board and Napier University’s Graduate Level Apprenticeship Advisory Board.

Murray Stewart – Murray is a solicitor and notary public, having qualified in Scotland in 2005, and is currently Head of Real Estate at Gilson Gray LLP, one of Scotland’s most prominent law firms. Murray’s family includes two rescue cats Stella and Sakara.

Susan McKenzie – Susan joined the Scottish Wildlife Trust in July 2014 as their Director of Finance and Resources and Company Secretary. Prior to this, she spent 20 years working in the not-for-profit sector. She also volunteers with St Columba’s Hospice and Project Scotland.

David Welsh – David joined the Home’s Trustees this year and is an advocate (Scottish barrister) and the owner of a lively young Westie. He is driven by a passion for animal welfare.

Julie MacDonald – Julie is a lifelong animal advocate with a passion, love, and dedication for animal welfare. Julie is the Senior Fundraising Manager at the Scottish Association for Mental Health, providing exception fundraising leadership to make mental health a priority in Scotland.

Sanjana Rae – In addition to being a solicitor, Sanjana also currently holds the post of Governance and Compliance Manager within Wheatley Housing Group. In her leisure time, she can be found hillwalking and running with her golden doodle Loki.

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