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Our Board of Governors are volunteers who give their time, adapt their skills and apply their experience to ensure proper governance of our charity. They offer invaluable advice and expertise, and each give significant amounts of time each year to help St Columba’s deliver the best in person-centred, palliative care.
I have over 35 years’ experience as a charity lawyer and first became involved when providing legal advice to St Columba’s Hospice Care. I was subsequently appointed as a Governor and it is a privilege to be able to use my skills and experience to support such a caring, creative and innovative organisation. It is a particular honour to now be Chair of the Board of Governors.
I became a Governor because I wanted to help St Columba’s continue to be a success and be part of its exciting plans for the future.
Nick joined Investec Wealth & Investment in 2017 and is a Senior Investment Director being responsible for managing the assets of Charities, Private Individuals, Corporates, Trusts and SIPP Pensions. Prior to this Nick was a Vice President/Investment Manager at Barclays for 12 years being responsible for managing the financial affairs of clients. Previously Nick was an Institutional Portfolio Manager at Macquarie Bank in London for 5 years and an Institutional Fund Manager at Merrill Lynch in London and New York for 7 years.
Nick is a fully qualified investment professional having passed the PCIAM diploma examination with distinction and having gained a Business Studies degree from Napier University in Edinburgh. Nick is also a Governor, Vice Chairman and Trustee of St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh and a Trustee of the Dame Margot Fonteyn Ballet Scholarship in London. Nick has also been a Board member at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society (the 4th oldest golf course in the world) and has won his division’s club championship twice, having been a finalist in 4 of the last 8 years.
I was appointed a Governor in 2017, shortly after retiring from a career in financial services. I qualified as an actuary in 1983 and then focused on various aspects of investment and investment advice.
It is a privilege to have the opportunity to apply my experience as a member of the Investment Committee to the oversight of St Columba’s investments.
I have been a consultant physician in Medicine of the Elderly and Stroke Medicine at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh for over 20 years and was honoured to be asked to join the Board of Governors of St Columba's Hospice Care.
Having worked alongside staff from the Hospice, I have seen the direct positive impact their compassionate and person-centred care has. I look forward to supporting them in any way I can as they continue to reach out to those in need.
I joined the board in 2017 and have over 30 years experience in business and retail. I recently retired from my role as General Manager at Harvey Nichols, a position I held for 10 years.
It's a privilege to advise on the board of an organisation that does such vital work in our community.
I have been a first level registered nurse for over 40 years. During that time I have held clinical, educational, senior managerial, regulatory, quality assurance and government advisory roles. I have also held corporate governance roles with the Scottish Social Services Council and the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
I became involved with the Hospice in 2017, initially as a volunteer within the clinical governance team. I then worked in operational support of the quality assurance function between 2019 and 2021, focusing on patient safety and quality. I was appointed as a Governor in 2021 and it is a privilege to be part of the corporate governance framework at St Columba’s Hospice Care.
I joined the Board of Governors in 2022 and also serve on the Trading Committee. I have worked in leadership and commercial roles for almost 30 years, beginning my career as a Royal Air Force officer and working in a range of senior business roles across a broad variety of industries and sectors. In addition to general trustee responsibilities, I advise the Board on commercial income generation activities. Like so many people, I have family experience of the incredible work of hospices, and it is my great privilege to be able to support the amazing team at St Columba’s Hospice Care.
As a Chartered Accountant I have worked in a variety of sectors including with several charities, all with social benefits as their focus, hence my interest in the Hospice. I became a Governor in 2022 and sit on both the Audit & Risk, and Investment committees as I have a wealth of experience in corporate finance, risk management and governance.
Almost all the work I advised on whilst with my previous firm was related to social improvement, whether that was financing new schools, hospitals or other infrastructure. I have always worked on projects and for companies where there were tangible benefits to society. I currently sit on the Boards of two grouped schools projects as their Independent Director and one as Chairman, so my commitment to social responsibility continues.
Since retiring as a professional accountant I have served on the Board of several charities, mainly in areas of health and social care. I became a Governor of the Hospice in 2015 and bring strong practical experience in public sector accounting, accountability, audit and risk.
I am also a non-voting citizen representative on Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board and a non executive Board Member of a number of other organisations.
I trained in medicine and practised as a consultant haematologist for a number of years before joining the Scottish Office (as was) in 1992. I was Deputy Chief Medical Officer from 1999-2014, Acting Chief Medical Officer from 2014-2015 and carried out a weekly clinic at the Royal Infirmary until 2017. In 2015 I was seconded to the University of Edinburgh to lead a programme ( Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme) focussed on making the best use of NHS data to improve health outcomes, starting with cancer data - IHDP is now embedded within Public Health Scotland.
I retired in early 2023 and was delighted to be asked to join St Columba’s Board in December 2023. It’s a great privilege to be contributing, in even a small way, to the hospice’s crucial, life enhancing work.
On graduating from St. Andrews University I embarked on a career in Financial Services. For over 30 years I managed investment portfoloios for a range clients including individuals, Trusts and Charities. At the time I retired I was a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.
It is a privilege to have been appointed a Governor in 2024 and I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to assist the charity to ensure that it continues to support the important work it does in the community.
My experience takes in professional practice at CT: Accountants and Advisers, where I acted as Managing and Finance Partner, and the charity sector, where I served as Non-Exec Chair and Board Member of the film charity CMI from 2011-19. I am currently the Chief Operating Officer of the charity the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.
I joined the Hospice Board of Governors in March 2024 and I am delighted to be part of an organisation that is dedicated to making such a positive impact to peoples lives.
As a Chartered Accountant (ICAS), I also sit on the Audit and Risk and Investment Committees for the Hospice.
I am proud to be part of the team that is driving the Hospice forward and I really enjoy working with the wonderful staff and volunteers who make such a difference to patients and their families at difficult times in their lives.
David Dunsire, Chair of the Board of Governors
Many volunteers may be put off by common assumptions about what a Hospice is like. Everyone who comes to the Hospice says it is bright and airy, welcoming, friendly … and nothing like they expected. Whether in our Hospice, our shops or out in the community, we want everyone to feel welcomed, heard and respected, and we’re looking for volunteers keen to be part of that.
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