Our people
How we're structured
Our Chief Executive, Kate Wallace, together with the Executive Leadership and the Senior Management Team, provide leadership of Victim Support Scotland and guide our daily operations. This is overseen by our Board of Trustees who provide valuable input and guidance on the governance of the charity.
This Board, comprising up to 12 trustees, provides strategic leadership, governance, and accountability. Two committees, the People, Quality, and Innovation, and the Finance and Audit, work in tandem under the Board. Our committed staff and volunteers, coordinated from our Head Office in Edinburgh, operate across Scotland to deliver our services.
Executive leadership team
Kate Wallace
Chief Executive Officer
In 2017, Kate Wallace assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at Victim Support Scotland. With thirteen years of extensive leadership experience in executive and non-executive positions within the public and voluntary sectors,
Kate previously led Visualise Scotland—a service delivery charity supporting individuals with disabilities and complex needs across Scotland. Before her tenure at VSS, she served as the UK Programme Director for Barnardo's.
Alasdair MacKinnon
Director of Corporate Services
An adept leader in corporate services and operational management, Alasdair joined VSS at the beginning of 2023. With a twenty-year career in senior management within the Scottish broadcasting sector and nine years overseeing accountability for corporate services and governance at a public body, he is a seasoned corporate services specialist.
Alasdair, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), also boasts strategic development expertise in corporate services, having spent the last two years contributing to the NHS before joining VSS.
Jacqueline Cassidy
Director of Service Delivery
Jacqueline Cassidy joined VSS as Director for Service Delivery in 2024. She has dedicated her career to ensuring services meet the needs of users. With a background in leadership roles at organisations like The Fostering Network and Place2Be, she brings a wealth of experience to VSS.
Jacqueline holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, is a Churchill Fellow, and serves as a trustee at Includem and Ready Generations, embodying a commitment to community support and service excellence.
Debbie Adams
Director of External Affairs & Development
Debbie has over 15 years in senior management roles in the charity and private sectors. Prior to VSS, Debbie held Director roles in The Conservation Volunteers and Children First. She was the first employee Director of a consultancy company leading on evaluation and improvement in health, youth and community fields.
She started her career in youth and community work and remains a lifelong volunteer, currently as a Trustee for SCVO. She holds an MBA from the University of Glasgow.
Our trustees
James Angus Pow
Chair
James Angus Pow has a career spanning more than 45 years in many of the world’s most recognised consumer brands. He is a renowned expert in complex turnaround/growth projects, combining strategic thinking with a track record of effective operational improvement and implementation within demanding timescales and budgets. He has worked closely with the PM’s office on three separate occasions, and has been involved with the Royal Family in various previous roles.
Flora Henderson
Vice Chair
With nearly two decades in the non-profit sector, Flora has diverse experience in international development, health, and social care. A trustee for multiple charities, she currently serves on the boards of Scottish Women’s Aid and Auld Reekie Roller Derby. As the Alliance Manager for Future Pathways, Scotland's inaugural alliance, Flora excels in project management, business development, and initiating new programmes.
Paul J Okroj
Trustee
As Director of People Driven Development at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Paul is dedicated to involving individuals with lived experiences in shaping service delivery support. Actively engaged in Scottish Government and Third Sector groups, he advocates for the removal of barriers to participation and access to support. With a focus on isolation, loneliness, and volunteering frameworks, Paul ensures the Third Sector's inclusion in strategic decision-making. A passionate advocate, he emphasises the significance of recognising volunteering participation throughout Scotland.
Rob Donnelly
Trustee
With 35 years of leadership, including roles in the NHS and British Army, Rob has spent the past 28 years in commercial positions within the steel and energy sectors. Having recently returned to Scotland after nearly two decades overseas, he brings diverse experience. A consultant Occupational Physician, Rob has broadened his expertise to include government and corporate relations, navigating major reputational incidents. His active involvement in third sector organisations in Scotland reflects extensive board and executive leadership, with a focus on corporate social responsibility, particularly in health and humanitarian aid in Africa.
Amanda Coulthard
Trustee
Amanda has led the Strategy and Performance function of the Scottish Police Authority since February 2021, previously serving as a performance advisor in Local Government. She specialises in Strategic Planning, Performance Management & Analytics, Consultation & Engagement, Partnership & Collaboration, and Equalities. Amanda's career spans Local Government, NHS, and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. She has held non-executive roles, including Non-Executive Director of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Margaret Blackwood Housing Association. Currently, she chairs her local Community Council and is a council member of the Scottish Association for the Study of Offending.
Gill Imery
Trustee
With 36 years of public service, Gill Imery's extensive criminal justice career includes 32 years as a police officer. As a Detective Chief Superintendent, she provided national leadership in Specialist Crime Division, focusing on public protection areas. Gill's impactful secondment to HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland triggered a Scottish Government taskforce, leading to legislative changes in forensic medical services for victims. Serving as HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland from 2018 to 2022, she offered independent scrutiny and advice to government bodies. Since April 2022, Gill has chaired the implementation of recommendations for prison custody deaths, prioritising family perspectives.
Stephen McCafferty
Trustee
Stephen, an Occupational Psychologist with over 40 years' experience, specialises in people-oriented approaches for business development. Collaborating with Boards and executive teams, he has led HR professionals in implementing human capital strategies for transformative change in international organizations, including the European Investment Bank, Bank of America, and Standard Life. His non-executive roles encompass governance positions at Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Glasgow, as well as serving on the Appointments Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Stephen remains dedicated to executive coaching for senior-level clients.
Kim Patullo
Trustee
Our governance
Victim Support Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), regulated solely by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). As an SCIO, we operate under a modern and efficient governance structure, focusing on reducing distress for victims and witnesses of crime, and promoting public education and awareness about the impact of crime. Our constitution reflects our commitment to these charitable purposes, ensuring that all our activities align with our mission.
Our president
Princess Anne The Princess Royal became Patron of Victim Support Scotland in 1995 and has been our President since 2005. With a keen interest in our work, she actively participates in both national and local events. Most recently, Princess Anne visited our Glasgow national office in October 2023. She engaged with individuals bereaved by crime, met volunteers, and discussed the development of our Support for Families Bereaved by Crime service.
Work with us
Head of Service Delivery
As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) and reporting directly to the Director of Service Delivery,…
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