Could you help us achieve our mission: to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma in Scotland, by funding, supporting, and influencing solutions to drive social change?
Thank you very much for your interest in becoming our new Chair of the Board at The Robertson Trust.
I joined the Board of Trustees of The Robertson Trust in 2017, and then became Chair of the Board in 2021. During these six years, we have seen increasing pressures on the charities we fund and the people they work with. Throughout the years, my Board colleagues have been motivated by the resilience of these charities in navigating these pressures and risks, and by the impact they continue to make in addressing poverty and trauma in Scotland, despite these headwinds. It is something we never take for granted.
In December 2024, it will be time for me to step down as Chair of the Board. I am delighted to initiate this search for my replacement.
We are ambitious in how we go about delivering on our mission. We are open to new ideas, perspectives, and challenge. We know that we will only achieve lasting solutions to poverty and trauma by getting closer to those who are experts by experience as well as those who seek to serve them.
We are the major shareholder of the Edrington Group Limited, a highly successful global drinks company. With the shares originally donated by the family owners, the dividends are the major source of our annual income. This brings legal responsibilities for all our Trustees, and maintaining good relationships with the Edrington Chair, Managing Director and other key stakeholders is an important role for our Chair.
We recognise we have the greatest chance of success if our board and staff teams draw upon a wide range of experience and knowledge. Having a more diverse Board is a key priority for us. We want to enrich the range of experience we currently have on the board by encouraging applications from a variety of cultural or ethnic backgrounds and life experiences that will enrich the diversity of board decision making as part of our commitment to increase visible diversity on the board.
As well as a strong understanding of the third sector, we particularly welcome applications for interested people with experience of working with senior business executives in the private sector.
If you feel your skills can help us and you share our commitment to build lasting solutions to poverty and trauma in Scotland, we would love to hear from you. Please take a look at my short welcome video below.
Mark Batho
Chair