Our Trustees

Clare Gibb

Chair

Clare originally started a professional career as an Architect, quickly moving into management and consultancy to broker solutions in construction, regeneration and real estate.

Clare is the former Chair of South Lanarkshire College’s Finance & Resources Committee and member of their Board of Management; working to deliver positive outcomes for learners.

Previously Clare has set up charities and procured capital and organisational development funding for both public and private sectors from grant agencies as well as commercial investors and equity funds.

Clare is the Owner / Director / Company Secretary of a boutique consultancy founded in 2004 which specialises in Contracts Management and Disputes Resolution, Management Consultancy, Development, Property, Real Estate and IT Software Design and Systems Architecture.

Claire is at the point in her career where she can “give back” and use 30 years + experience in delivering ethically commercial solutions to make a difference to people in the UK.

Keeley Hazelhurst

Vice Chair

Keeley is a qualified accountant working for charities and not for profit organisations and is Chair of Essex Wildlife Trust and Treasurer at Scotland’s International Development Alliance.  She is also a mentor with Santander’s Women in Business programme and has previously sat as a Justice of the Peace.

She has a keen interest in building resilient communities and wants to make a difference to the world we live in.

Keeley moved to Scotland in 2021 and says it’s one of the best decisions she has ever made.

George Finnie

Treasurer

George qualified as an Accountant and then started his career in the banking sector, working as a Corporate Director within a range of banks, specialising at different times, in relationship banking, corporate finance and real estate.

After some time working as a Finance Manager in the social housing sector, he spent three years at Strathclyde Pension Fund, running it’s direct impact portfolio which focused on social impact as well as commercial return.

For the last seven years, he has worked as a Consultant, enjoying non-executive roles in renewable energy and social housing companies.  He is currently on the Advisory Board of a supported accommodation fund, fundraising and working with one of the English pension pools as a Consultant.

He enjoys time with his family of four daughters and five grandchildren, as well as walking in the country with his wife and dog, playing golf (badly) and listening to rock music.

Grant Andrew

Trustee

Grant is a Strategic Client Director for a global software company.  He has extensive experience in helping business deliver on their outcomes.  Grant has had a wide range of roles throughout his career and brings a growth mindset to his role as trustee.

He has a particular interest in helping provide a better tomorrow by improving outcomes for vulnerable people and communities.

Christos Kolliatsas

Trustee

Christos is a mechanical and electrical engineer with a Masters degree from the University of Strathclyde in Energy systems and the Environment.  He has worked as a consultant, primarily in the renewables field, providing technical due diligence support to financial institutions and is regarded as one of the experts in the field having recently been voted twice in the top 100 people in wind.  Having worked for big corporate organisations, Christos was also responsible for managing multicultural teams spread globally as well as ensuring compliance with strict governance processes.

He lives in Glasgow with his family and enjoys sports, trying different cuisines and travelling to new places.

Dr Sara Diegoli

Trustee

Sara is an experienced technology and innovation executive, who has spent the last 15 years working at the interface of academia and business. In her current role as an innovation consultant, she supports SMEs, universities, funders, policymakers, and governmental bodies to maximise their innovation investments and achieve their strategic goals. She has a proven track record in management of large technology development programmes, research development, business development, marketing, and communication.

She is an advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion and the power of technology to change the world for the better. She is a business mentor for the Innovate UK Women in Innovation programme, serves on the steering committee of UK Quantum and as an Advisory Board Member for Unloc, an education non-profit devoted to inspire, and empower young people.

Jenny Paterson

Trustee

Jenny has worked in Scotland’s charity sector for over 25 years and during this time has held senior leadership and executive roles in some of the largest third sector service delivery organisations in the UK.  Her career started as a mental health support worker before moving to social care charity Carr Gomm, where she held a range of leadership roles spanning more than a decade.   A 4 year period as Director of the National Autistic Society Scotland followed before being appointed CEO in young persons’ mentoring charity Breakthrough.  Latterly Jenny was the Director of Services and Development with Victim Support Scotland before joining Venture Trust in January 2023 as their new CEO. Jenny also runs a coaching and mentoring consultancy, specialising in third sector leadership.

A strong advocate for social justice, equality and diversity, Jenny has lent her expertise to a number of boards and advisory committees in recent years including as trustee and Vice-Chair for the Association for Real Change UK (ARC).

During her time at the National Autistic Society, Jenny was a trustee of the Scottish Women’s Autism Network (SWAN) and held membership of the Equalities and Diversity Forum of the Judicial Institute and the Equality Advisory Groups of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service.

Jenny brings her professional experience in strategic and operational leadership and expertise across multiple service delivery and policy areas.

Above all, Jenny wants to use her knowledge and expertise to work with others to make a positive difference

Laura Steven

Trustee

Laura is a qualified accountant and is an experienced senior leader. During her career she undertaken a number of different roles across business, finance and transformational change. After spending over 20 years working in Financial Services across a number of different roles and organisations, Laura became Chief Operating Officer at Live Borders, the sports and leisure trust operating across the Scottish Borders. She is now currently Director of Finance & Corporate Services at Clyde Valley Group, which consists of a registered social landlord as well as a property trading subsidiary.

Laura is also a qualified Executive Coach & Mentor as well as being a volunteer coach for Smart Works, a female employment charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for interview and job success.