Douglas Board has been appointed as the new Chair of the Refugee Council’s Board of Trustees and will take up the position in January 2007. Douglas is Deputy Chairman of Saxton Bampfylde Hever, one of the UK’s leading executive search firms, and for many years worked for the Treasury. He also has a strong track record in senior non-executive roles in the voluntary sector. He has been a Director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, and will stand down in March 2007. In addition, he has worked in several capacities, including Treasurer, at St Martins-in-the-Fields, which has a long tradition of caring for the homeless and other marginalised groups.

The acting Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, Anna Reisenberger, said “We are delighted that Douglas is joining us in this most important of positions. He brings to the role of Chair a wealth of experience and expertise from the worlds of government, business and the charity sector. He also has a strong personal commitment to refugee issues. He will play a crucial leadership role during another period of transition for the Refugee Council. Above all, I’m sure he will be a great champion of asylum seekers and refugees, who remain among the most marginalised, misunderstood and vulnerable groups in our society.”