Changes to the Charity Digital Board of Trustees

A New Chair

The most prominent change is Claire Tavernier taking over as Chair. Claire has been a trustee for some time, and will now be assuming a wider role, overseeing the general operations of the board.

Charity Digital will continue to benefit from Claire’s over twenty years’ experience building and growing successful content and digital businesses. This include’s Claire’s time as the Interim CEO of Girl Effect, a media and digital organisation founded by the Nike Foundation, as well as her time as Managing Director of ChannelFlip, one of the original UK-based YouTube multi-channel networks, and her eleven years as Global Head of Digital for international television producer Fremantle, working on TV formats including Idol, Got Talent, The X Factor and The Price is Right.

Charity Digital would like to thank outgoing Chair Charles Mindenhall. A founding partner at Blenheim Chalcot, Charles’ digital expertise has guided Charity Digital through most of our history.

Charles steps down after almost fifteen years of exemplary service, after originally taking on the role on a six-month interim basis in 2006. It is under Charles’ stewardship that we have enjoyed our most prominent accomplishments, including:

1. In excess of £260m of savings and discounts for the charity sector on their software and hardware purchases
   
   
2. Over 68,000 charities supported and helped with our discount and donations services
   
   
3. Over 60,000 charities accessing our news and advice services on a regular basis to improve what they do and how they do it

Incoming trustees

We are also delighted to announce several trustees who have joined our board over the past nine months.

Emily Mackenzie is one of four recent additions to the board. Emily has worked with Charity Digital this year to help define and execute our digital strategy. Charity Digital will continue to benefit from Emily’s nearly 20 years’ experience in the sector, gained through roles at Haymarket, Euromoney and Contentive. Over this time, she has led the commercial strategy for a wide range of media and event brands, in sectors as diverse as horticulture, town-planning, healthcare, energy and financial technology.

Mairi Brewis is a senior leader at Hotels.com. As well as leading the Content team, she leads a number of strategic initiatives for the business, including setting the brand’s value proposition. Prior to joining the Expedia group, Mairi was Head of Strategy for BBC Television, and worked at the Boston Consulting Group. Mairi is also Trustee for Polka Theatre, the UK’s leading theatre for children.

Rob George has worked in the charity sector for over twenty years, most recently as Head of Governance and Risk at the RSPB. While his current focus is on accountability and assurance, he has been closely involved in developing data analytics and digital ways of working. Rob is currently also a trustee of the Society of Genealogists and is involved in several initiatives with colleagues across the charity sector.

Most recently, the board welcomes Richard Taylor. Richard is a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft in Cambridge, leading a team that designs and delivers technologies to enable the Internet of Things (IoT). His previous voluntary roles include six years as one of the trustees for Oxfam GB, responsible for overseeing strategic direction, risk management and operational effectiveness.

Charity Digital would like to thank all of our trustees, past and present, for their diligent work and valued guidance. We look forward to working with our new board as we continue our commitment to a digital, sustainable and equitable future for the UK charity sector.