John Wilkes, our Chief Executive for almost nine years, will be leaving in March to take on a new role as Head of Scotland for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
He says:
“It has been an honour and a privilege to have been chief executive of such a brilliant organisation. I will be leaving with countless happy memories and feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with so many fantastic staff, volunteers, board members and supporters during my nine years with the organisation. I feel incredibly proud of the many countless achievements of Scottish Refugee Council and that we have helped and continue to help thousands of people on a daily basis.
“During my time as chief executive Scottish Refugee Council has seen many highlights and many challenges reflecting the change that the refugee sector has experienced. Despite these many changes I am confident that Scottish Refugee Council will continue to maintain its rightful and trusted place as Scotland’s leading refugee charity.”
Sue Moody, our chair, said:
“Over the last nine years John has made a huge contribution not only to Scottish Refugee Council but also to wider work with asylum seekers and refugees. There have been many achievements and challenges and projects that were ground-breaking becoming accepted as mainstream and awards for excellent work. So much of this reflects John’s ability to bring out the best in people and to lead by example. Scottish Refugee Council’s Board of Trustees wish him well in his new post.”
We also say a fond farewell to our Women’s Policy Development Officer, Nina Murray who will leave us at the end of February to take up a post with our friends at the European Network on Statelessness.
Head of Policy and Communications Gary Christie said:
“It has been a privilege to work with Nina for the last six years. She has made a huge contribution to Scottish Refugee Council’s advocacy and campaigning work to improve the lives of refugees in Scotland in particular her work around gendering the asylum process with the Refugee Women’s Strategy Group. I know that the situation for stateless people in Europe will now have a worthy advocate and well-respected and talented champion.”
Meanwhile, we have some new members of staff – Katrina Allen joins us as Integration Development Officer, and Chris Waite and Rebecca Menzies join us as Scottish Refugee Integration Service advisers. We welcome them all on board.
Board members Humma Irum Wilson and Syed Rohullah Naqvi are stepping down and we wish them all the best, and thank them for their hard work and service to the governance of the organisation.
