SCDC welcomes new Chair of the Board

SCDC has announced the appointment of Geoff Whittam as the new Chair of the Board for the organisation. Geoff will succeed Angela Morgan OBE who has stepped down after a six year term.

Geoff Whittam has been a member of the Board for six years and is Emeritus Professor at Glasgow University, as well as an elected trustee of Sunny Govan Community radio and an advisor to Linwood Community Development Trust and Beith Community Development Trust.

Commenting on her term as chair, Angela Morgan said:

"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to chair SCDC for the past 6 years. The work that the organisation does to support and promote community development in Scotland has never been more important than over the past two years. The staff team have, as always, more than risen to the challenges of the pandemic and I am grateful to them and the Board for their support. I am delighted to know that I am leaving SCDC in safe hands."

Geoff Whittam said: 

"It is a privilege and a honour to be elected chair of SCDC. I would like to thank my predecessor Angela for her dedicated service to SCDC over the last six years and Angela departs with SCDC in a healthy position. Having been on the Board of SCDC for six years I know, with the support of my Board members, and the hard work and professionalism of all the staff at SCDC, we can continue to prosper and serve communities across Scotland in the challenging times ahead."

SCDC Director, Fiona Garven, said:

“On behalf of the staff team, we would like to extend our thanks to Angela for all her support and hard work over her term as chair. She led the governance of SCDC in her usual style – with integrity, fairness and compassion. We are delighted to welcome Geoff as our new Chair. He has already contributed greatly to the organisation as a Board member and, with his research and community expertise, will support SCDC’s ongoing learning, development and delivery in supporting communities in Scotland to continue to play their critical role in improving outcomes for local people”.

Geoff Whittam biography

Geoff is Whittam is an elected trustee of Sunny Govan Community radio and has been an advisor to Linwood Community Development Trust and Beith Community Development Trust. He is an Emeritus Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Additionally, Geoff has undertaken research for many third sector and NGOs such as Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group, UNISON, UNITE, STUC and the Jimmy Reid Foundation. He has also been commissioned to undertake research projects for Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government and recently completed a project investigating the role of social innovation in improving community engagement, sponsored by the European Union.