Meet the Team — Our Board of (Volunteer) Directors

Please note that you can contact our Directors via our Chief Executive, David Maxwell, on david.maxwell@volunteerglasgow.org

• Tom Berry

  Chair

  Glasgow has been my home city all my life. I’m a graduate of the University of Glasgow and previously worked in the NHS as a General & Breast Disease Surgeon. Alongside my clinical career I held several senior representative and negotiating roles within the British Medical Association. This medico-political work led to appearances on TV including BBC News and Channel 4 Dispatches, as well as print media and national radio such as BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 4 You & Yours programme. Since leaving the NHS I’ve held roles in the Third Sector and was previously Head of Scotland for Breast Cancer Now.

  As a volunteer I have delivered the Medics Against Violence (MAV) content for over a decade in schools and community projects, such as The Prince’s Trust, and became a director on the MAV Board in 2017. In association with our partners, especially the Violence Reduction Unit of Police Scotland, we have helped foster real change in Scotland; and we continue to work to improve things whilst advising and working with partners outside Scotland.

  I understand the benefits of volunteering for the individual and the community. It is a privilege to be a volunteer panel member for Children’s Hearings Scotland and a mentor for MCR Pathways. Through Skype A Scientist I get the opportunity to discuss medicine and healthcare with classrooms around the world and tell lots of gruesome anecdotes!

  It is an honour to be Chair of Volunteer Glasgow who lead in making Glasgow the city where everyone is passionate about volunteering their skills, abilities, talents, experience and knowledge.

• Sean Reid

  Treasurer

  I am Compliance & Risk Manager at a local government pension scheme. I’ve spent over 17 years in financial services across a number of roles in governance, risk, change, and project management.

  I currently volunteer as a business mentor for sports clubs & organisations with Sported, and as a walk leader with Good Move Glasgow. I applied to join the VG board after seeing first hand how useful their services are for connecting organisations and volunteers.

  I’ve lived and worked in Glasgow my entire adult life – I’m hugely passionate about the city and the people in it. In my spare time I’m a keen runner, and perform guided running tours around Glasgow – it’s amazing getting to show visitors (and locals!) how vibrant and interesting our city‘s culture and heritage is. I’m proud to support Volunteer Glasgow’s work in bringing benefits to individuals and communities across the city.

• Valerie Kaye

  Company Secretary

  I formerly worked as a Clinical Psychologist and in general management of Mental Health and Learning Disability Services and community care implementation in Renfrewshire, before leaving to take up the post of Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Care at what is now Leeds Beckett University.

  Having retired from the university I returned to my original career as a Clinical Psychologist and developed a portfolio of work in therapy, assessment and consultancy and was also a director of a therapy agency. In addition, I had several public service roles. I was a Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair (and briefly Interim Chair) of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. I was a Magistrate on the Leeds Bench, and was a member of two First Tier Tribunals, for Criminal Injuries Compensation and Mental Health respectively. I also sat on a committee of the National Institute for Health Research assessing health service research proposals for funding.

  In the voluntary sector I was a Trustee of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation (now Leeds Cares) and an Ambassador for St Gemma’s Hospice. At the request of the then Lord Mayor of Leeds I took the lead in organising a large-scale event in Leeds Town Hall with the dual aims of celebrating diversity in Leeds and raising funds for the Lord Mayor’s charity.

  I returned to live in Glasgow a year ago having spent the previous 24 years in Leeds. My plan to become actively involved in voluntary work here was unfortunately delayed because of the lockdown and I am delighted to have been appointed as a Trustee for Volunteer Glasgow.

• Aaron Fernandez

  Director

  I am a first year postgraduate medical student at the University of Dundee, a volunteer Event First Aider with St Andrew’s First Aid, and a Youth Volunteering Ambassador with Volunteer Glasgow.

  It is my utmost belief that volunteering can have a pivotal influence in a person’s life, the same way that it has opened up a wealth of opportunities contributing to my own personal development and career goals. I am excited to give back to the volunteering community as a director with Volunteer Glasgow where I am learning about the issues faced by volunteer-involving organisations, their staff and volunteers. With this knowledge, I hope to help guide the organisation and, indeed, volunteering activities in the city towards a flourishing and sustainable future.
  My interests lie in promoting youth volunteering, empowering young people to have a voice in decision-making, and breaking down barriers to access opportunities.

  In my spare time, I enjoy playing the guitar, singing, playing video games, and attempting new cooking recipes from YouTube.

• Allan Kirkwood

  Director

  Originally from Paisley I now live in North Lanarkshire. I am the Volunteer Development Manager at Diabetes Scotland. I have been a volunteer for all my adult life through working with the Scout Association, Parent – Teacher Association and school board whilst my daughter was at school. I volunteer for my own charity and have recently signed up to volunteer for a local community group which has been set up in response to the ongoing pandemic. In my work role I support volunteers in local groups and communities helping them to raise awareness of diabetes and the challenges of living with diabetes.

  Since March last year I have been working from home helping Diabetes Scotland to deliver online Peer Support to individuals, online events alongside Health Care professionals on how to manage diabetes during the pandemic.

  I joined the Board of Volunteer Glasgow to offer my service as a volunteer and share my knowledge of volunteer management.

• Carole Anderson

  Director

  I am an NHS Senior Manager, working as Associate Director leading on Performance, Planning and Programmes in a specialist NHS Board. Having started my career in the NHS as a Physiotherapist, I have also developed a keen interest in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. This has led to me becoming a volunteer Schools Role Model for Stonewall Scotland, the LGBT charity, where I work with young people to build confidence in dealing with LGBT issues at school and in the workplace.

  I have been volunteering since attending University in Glasgow, and specifically have been a Volunteer Befriender with the Young Persons Befriending Service for around 13 years. I very much enjoy being part of work to make a real difference to a young person’s life. I’m proud to serve on the Board of Volunteer Glasgow to support the important services they deliver for so many in our great city of Glasgow.

  In my remaining spare time, I am a keen football fan, a samba drummer and Chair of SWAN, a charity which supports networking and inclusion for LGBT people in Scotland

• David Petrie

  Director

  I am a PR and Corporate Communications consultant working mainly with Public Sector organisations. I’ve held a number of senior communications roles in my career, managing both projects and people. I’ve devised a wide range of communications strategies, including civic pride campaigns and community safety initiatives.

  I am a longstanding member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and sit on the committee of the CIPR Not for Profit group.

  I have volunteered with a number of organisations over the years, including Borderline which helps to support homeless Scots in London. I am currently a Trustee of the road safety charity Aftermath Support. I volunteer through Glasgow Caledonian University as a Literacy Mentor to help young children improve their reading skills and develop a love of books.

  I am proud to serve as a Director of Volunteer Glasgow and make a contribution to the vital work in our communities.

• Sarah Burgess

  Director

  I’ve been involved in volunteering since I was a teenager, starting with the good old charity shop and have worked in volunteering, mainly in volunteering infrastructure for over 20 years now. Most of that time has been spent in two very different volunteer centres, one in Swindon, Wiltshire, the other in Dún Laoghaire, south county Dublin, doing everything from suggesting placements to potential volunteers to training volunteer managers in best practice. In between times I worked for Volunteering England in a regional role, supporting all the volunteer centres across the south west of England. Since moving to Glasgow in 2015 I’ve gained some experience managing volunteers and joined the VG board in 2017 to continue to get my volunteer centre fix.

  Currently I work as a green health volunteering development officer, supporting organisations that offer outdoor volunteering opportunities.

• Siân Parkinson

  Director

  I work as Senior Policy Officer on financial inclusion for the Civil Service, with a particular emphasis on supporting vulnerable groups and gender equality.

  I have over 15 years of experience volunteering and working in the public sector on behalf of charities, educational institutions, the UN and the UK Civil Service. My responsibilities have included strategic and policy development, programme administration and partnership building to promote employment rights, non-discrimination, and youth empowerment. I have volunteered in a variety of capacities working with children and adults, including as a charity shop assistant, a Boccia coach, a mentor and language teacher, as well as supporting campaigning and fundraising. I am particularly interested in inclusion and diversity and I believe that these, as well as awareness of mental health, are fundamental to individual and community wellbeing.

  I moved to Glasgow in 2018 and the friendliness and community spirt made me quickly feel at home. I am proud to join Volunteer Glasgow and support high quality volunteering opportunities, so important to communities across the city.

  In my spare time I can be found enjoying Glasgow’s wonderful parks and natural beauty: hiking, cycling or strolling with coffee in hand!

• Ross Bovill

  Director

  I am an apprentice software engineer, combining studying at the University of Glasgow with work-based learning in industry. In my spare time, I volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) and the British Red Cross. As a cadet in the RAFAC for 5 years, I developed lots of skills and undertook several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Through my experiences, I have seen first-hand the power of volunteering and how much it can impact people’s lives. This insight led me to begin formal volunteering, which I have been doing in various different ways since I was 16.

  I am particularly interested in encouraging young people to undertake meaningful and rewarding volunteering opportunities, as they are often not told about the benefits of volunteering or the large variety of opportunities available. I am also interested in removing misconceptions surrounding what volunteering is, and raising awareness of the benefits it has for communities and volunteers. As Volunteer Glasgow’s Youth Representative, I am looking forward to learning more about the voluntary sector, ensuring that young people’s interests are considered by the Board, and ultimately making a difference to volunteering in Glasgow.