The Board of Trustees, led by the Chair, works with VSA's senior leadership team to provide strategic direction and guidance to the charity and ensure the charity is fulfilling its mission.
VSA's Board of Trustees is made up of a Chairperson, Treasurer and up to 18 Trustees.
All members of the Board of Trustees are volunteers who dedicate their time, experience and professional expertise to help govern and lead the charity.
The Board formally meets four times a year; each Trustee is allocated based on their skills and area of expertise to one of four sub committees which meet four times a year, plus feed directly into the overarching Board.
Kevin is an experienced senior manager/director with over 20 years of experience working within the industrial rental market. Kevin has also developed his own thriving storage business whilst simultaneously acting as MD of a multi-million portable and modular building hire company. Before becoming a Trustee at VSA, Kevin was Chair of Befriend a Child.
Jim has over 40 years’ experience working in local government across the North East of Scotland and prior to his retirement held the position of Head of Economic Development for Aberdeenshire Council.
Following his retirement James, has used his wealth of skills and knowledge to help raise over a million pounds for third sector organisations and uses his strong business and economic skills to mentor SMEs across Scotland.
Joining VSA in 2019, he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. As well as supporting VSA, Jim also holds the following positions at organisations across the North East: Vice Chair of AFCCT, Chair of Balmoral Road Races Ltd and Chairman of Langstane Housing Association.
Claire Wilkie is a qualified nurse and social worker that has experience working in the NHS, local authority, private and voluntary sectors. Claire has a great deal of expertise supporting and meeting the needs of people with mental health problems and substance misuse.
Graeme is a commercial property expert with more than 30 years’ experience in the sector and a focus on industrial property. Graeme has a broad range of experience and up until his recent retirement provided strategic advice to a wide cross selection of clients.
Margaret Gibson is a qualified lawyer, with over 30 years of experience in practice. Margaret has spent most of her professional life as a partner in the legal firm now known as Burness Paull LLP. Margaret has specialised in tribunal and other court advocacy with predominantly oil and gas sector clients. Margaret has also been the primary legal advisor to third sector organisations.
Professor John Harper recently retired from the role of Principal and Vice Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, following a career of over 40 years in the higher education sector. John has extensive senior leadership experience, experience of working at an executive level with a board of governance and considerable non-executive board membership experience in a range of contexts.
Since his retirement John has been appointed to the Court of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
John said: “ I hold VSA, in the highest regard for the critical and effective role it plays within the local community.”
Simone Barnett brings over three decades of experience in business development, marketing, communications, business strategy and leadership to her role as a Trustee of VSA. Her passion and commitment to creating positive change have been the driving forces behind her career. Simone holds an MBA and MSc in International Marketing and has worked in senior leadership roles across public and private sector organisations during her career, now running her own growth consultancy.
As a Trustee of VSA, Simone is committed to advancing the organisation's mission and amplifying its impact in the local community where she was born. She is particularly passionate about initiatives that address systemic inequalities and empower individuals to achieve their full potential.
Originally from the Huntly area of Aberdeenshire, Zoe’s early career began in education, teaching secondary school Geography in one of the most socio-economically underserved areas of London. Zoe later transitioned to financial services where she spent a decade in compliance and governance roles spanning sustainable finance, anti-financial crime, and corporate citizenship departments.
Having moved with her young family back to Aberdeenshire, Zoe recently joined Green Arch Consulting as Consulting partner, specialising in the integration of sustainability, ESG and Net Zero principles into business strategy and operations.
As a newly appointed Trustee, Zoe is committed to evolving the organisation's mission and impact as VSA continues to respond to the changing needs of the local community. She is particularly passionate about VSA’s work with Children and Families, supporting the belief that all children, regardless of need, should be given the support in order to realise their potential and lead happy and healthy lives.
Dr. Gupta is a local GP and educational supervisor with over 20 years of experience working for NHS. He brings valuable insights into health and social care and views joining VSA as a privilege to contribute meaningfully to the local community.
Joe Ochei an experienced Petroleum Engineer and a Chartered Manager with experience spanned over 25 years in multinational E&P and private businesses. This includes work with Shell Petroleum Development Company (both down and up stream operations).
Mr Ochei is the CEO of SeLoch Energy and a director in other companies - He is the Chairman of Grampian Credit Union and Community Councillor for Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber Community Council. He is also the Chair of Aberdeen Churches Together, Ecumenical and Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer.
He has twice opened Scottish Parliament Business with Time for Reflection as a Minister in Edinburgh – once via video link from his home during Covid, the first of it’s kind since the establishment of the Scottish parliament 25 years ago.
Joe is married and has two sons. He has travelled extensively, loves reading and playing chess.
Dr Angela Gall is an NHS Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine.
Angela has trained in Aberdeen and various other locations and spent 18 years as a Consultant in London before moving ”home” in 2019 where she joined NHS Grampian.
Having seen the challenges in health and social care, Angela is keen to try and help support the vital services VSA provide to those in need in Aberdeen.
VSA's day-to-day operations is led by a Chief Executive and a team of Directors who have strategic and functional responsibilities.
The Chief Executive reports directly to the Chair of the Board of Trustees; the Directors report directly to the Chief Executive.
Sue Freeth has a forty year long career serving in UK historic social care charities half spent in Boardroom leadership roles of large grant making care and support providing charities. She has held both executive and non-executive positions in small medium and large service providing charities working in Scotland and wider UK. Experienced in leading partnership working charity governance, service design, digital and property transformation activity. Sue became a trustee of Royal Society for the Support of Women of Scotland RSSWS in 2021 and serves as an advisory member of The Community Grant Committee of The Dunhill Medical Trust creating research for healthy ageing. Most recent executive roles were Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer for two Scottish charities: Victim Support Scotland and Lifecare Edinburgh rebuilding recoveries out of COVID.
Sue joined VSA in June 2023 as Chief Executive. Sue says “I am thrilled to be taking the reins of Scotland’s largest city charity supporting vulnerable young and older people which to its enormous credit successfully supported all the vulnerable people in their care and an amazing 650 strong workforce safe and well over the pandemic”.
Anna joined VSA in 2013 as a relief staff member whilst working as a social worker within the local authority.
As a qualified social worker, Anna has worked in various settings including adult learning disability and mental health services before settling in children and families.
Throughout her VSA journey, she has had various roles including Depute, Manager, General Manager, and Director positions within our children’s services.
Aimée Anderson is a seasoned C-suite advisor with two decades of experience in global communications and marketing. She has worked across a diverse range of industries, including film, television, theatre, gaming, FMCG, property, shipping, travel, space, automotive, healthcare, government, retail, fashion, third sector, and technology, advising some of the world's most prominent brands.
In 2016, Aimée founded Triple A - ACCESS ALL AREAS Ltd (TRIPLE A), a global agency that helps brands create innovative content through entertainment partnerships in film and television. One of the agency's standout achievements was facilitating a partnership between HP Inc and the movie MANTO, which premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and was later picked up by Netflix.
Before establishing TRIPLE A, Aimée spent eight years at the international PR agency DDA, where she became Managing Director and founded the company's first brands division. She worked with global consumer brands like The European Space Agency, Lexus, RedBull, and Swarovski, using film as a groundbreaking approach to consumer engagement.
Aimée's extensive career includes managing numerous festival and market campaigns, collaborating with A-list entertainment figures, and overseeing significant deals such as Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment partnership with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks. She has also worked on high-profile film campaigns and franchises, including ENDERS GAME, THE INFILTRATOR, TERMINATOR SALVATION, and JAMES BOND.
Aimée holds a BA Hons in Mass Media and Communications from Glasgow Caledonian University.
