Our People
Thrive, Connect and Fit for Purpose
Our staff structure is based on a common framework through which we report to our members and funders and the Scottish Government. We categorise all our activities into 3 broad agendas – Thrive, Connect and Fit for Purpose (Chief Executive team & Board).
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive team is responsible for ensuring that GCVS is ‘Fit for Purpose’. This agenda reflects the internal activity we undertake to ensure that as an employer and lead Third Sector organisation we have strong, effective governance, leadership and management and robust financial and organisational systems and processes.
Connect
Through our Connect agenda we seek to support the sector’s collective voice and improve collaborative working by co-ordinating and linking organisations together, providing opportunities for networking and joint working, and finding common cause in the best interest of their wider community.
Susan Clark
Community Connectors Practitioner (North West)
Jane Monan
Community Connectors Practitioner (North East – Maternity Cover)
Emma Hodge
Community Connectors Practitioner (Southside)
Katherine Nicol
Community Connectors Practitioner (North West)
Michelle Higgins
Community Connectors Admin & Client Liaison Officer
Fiona Mowat
Community Connectors Admin & Client Liaison Officer
Thrive
Our ‘Thrive’ agenda reflects the extensive work we do with Third Sector organisations, providing them with an expanding range of practical and technical support services, to improve their management, governance and sustainability.
GCVS Board
GCVS is a registered charity and is voluntary-managed by board representatives from our member organisations and partner organisations.
Shona Stephen
Chair
Organisation: Queens Cross Housing Association
Shona joined our board in 2012 and was elected Chairperson at our AGM in December 2014. Shona took up post as Chief Executive of Queens Cross Housing Association in February 2011 after seven years as a senior Civil Servant. Within Scottish Government she advised Ministers on a wide range of policy areas including Homelessness, Fuel Poverty, Older People’s Housing and Housing Support amongst others and oversaw the introduction of The Home Owners and Debtor Protection Act 2010.
Prior to this she held the posts of Director for Glasgow and then Director of Regeneration within Communities Scotland as a member of its Corporate Management Team. Before that spent 5 years as Director for Policy and Development with The Prince’s Trust and was responsible for amongst other programmes the national roll out of XL aimed at those at risk of exclusion from school. This post also saw her delivering a number of national projects for Scottish Government.
Her career in housing began 25 years ago in the Woodlands area of Glasgow where she worked for the Woodlands Community Development Trust providing low cost housing for sale. She then spent 11 years setting up, and working for, a range of Housing Associations in Easterhouse, latterly as Director of Lochfield Park Housing Co-operative.
Shona is passionate about community regeneration and community control and has particular interest and experience in arts and regeneration and issues facing excluded and vulnerable young people.
Janis McDonald
Member Director
Organisation: Scottish Council on Deafness
Sandy Farquharson
Member Director
Organisation: Marie Trust
Sandy has recently retired from his post as the Director of the Marie Trust in Glasgow having been appointed in 2008. He was previously a General Manager Scotland for Age Concern, Enterprises Scotland having joined them in 2000 after a long career in business namely with Nationwide eventually becoming Scottish Manager. He has been involved in the voluntary sector for over 40 years mainly as a volunteer and through his activities as a Rotarian. He is also currently a Director/Treasurer (Voluntary Position) of Plus in Stirling, a children and young people’s charity providing social activities for both mentally and disabled children and young adults. He is also a Board Member of ACOSVO (Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations). He was awarded a Civic Award for contributions to the voluntary sector in Stirling at a function in Stirling Castle in 2008.
Eddie Kane
Member Director
Organisation: Barnardo’s Scotland
Peter Kelly
Member Director
Organisation: Poverty Alliance
Peter Kelly has been active in campaigns for social justice for more than 25 years, both as a worker and activist. He joined the Poverty Alliance, Scotland’s anti-poverty network in 2002, and has been Director since 2004. He is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the organisation, as well as leading on the policy and campaigning goals of the network. He has a strong interest in issues around labour market inequality, including in-work poverty and low pay, and civic and community activism.
Peter also represents the Alliance in a variety of forums and networks including the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Scottish International Development Alliance and others. He was Vice President of the European Anti-Poverty Network from 2012-2018.
Antony Kozlowski
Member Director
Organisation: West of Scotland Regional Equality Council
Jill MacKay
Member Director
Organisation: North United Communities
Raza Sadiq
Member Director
Organisation: Active Life Club
Julie Fox
Member Director
Organisation: Annex Communities