New Chair appointed to Board of Trustees
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has officially announced Donald Macdonald as the new Chair of its Board.
After serving as a dedicated CHAS Board member for six years, Donald was appointed at the charity’s AGM last week. He takes over from Peta Hay who served as Chair for over three years and as a Board member for six.
Donald enjoyed a successful career as a solicitor working for 33 years at RBS before dedicating himself to serving as a trustee. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 2023 Scottish Legal Awards, marking both his retirement and the end of his legal career.
During his time at RBS he took on different roles, from being a trainee solicitor though to leading legal teams and helping guide the company through major events like the NatWest takeover. His greatest joy however came from nurturing and seeing the people around him grow and championing diversity and fairness within the workplace.
Throughout his career Donald enjoyed participating in volunteering both through the Bank and The Law Society, including helping legal education programmes in schools, assisting with food banks, tree planting and gardening at respite centres and schools.
As the new Chair of CHAS’s Board of Trustees, Donald will provide guidance and direction to the Board and its committees. His exceptional experience and skills from his banking career will help make a difference in the lives of the children and families supported by CHAS.
Donald said: “I am honoured to take up the role of Chair at CHAS. This is one of the most important charities in Scotland. We provide unwavering care to children who may die young, and their families, at every step on the hardest of journeys. We deliver care in our hospices, in children’s own homes, and in hospitals.
“As Chair, I look forward to working with our Chief Executive Rami Okasha, our senior team, and all of our 1200 staff and volunteers who support families right across Scotland. I’d like to thank Peta Hay for her exceptional contribution to CHAS over the last six years, both as our Chair and as a trustee.”
CHAS CEO Rami Okasha said: “I am delighted to welcome Donald as the new Chair. Demand for children’s hospice is care is going up and we are embarking on delivering our new strategic plan, which aims to provide unwavering care to families from diagnosis to bereavement. Our Board plays a vital role in setting the strategic direction and delivering effective governance for the charity.”