YMCA Derbyshire has this month appointed member of the board Julian Smith as its new chair, succeeding the outgoing Mary Gordon.
Having worked with more than 150 SMEs in Derbyshire across multiple sectors for 11 years at The Alternative Board, Smith - who has sat on the YMCA Derbyshire board since 2020 - hopes to bring his real-world experience of owning and running businesses to a cause that he truly believes in.
Smith commented: “For me, it is about making a difference. Now I have the time, I am able to commit fully to this role.
“It’s really exciting because there are a huge number of opportunities for YMCA Derbyshire to increase the nature of support and number of lives we touch in a positive way. The organisation is well led and I believe my experience will add value to the team.”
This vision of YMCA Derbyshire is to enable young people and communities to thrive, which sits in line with Smith’s motivations for taking on his new position.
Smith explained: “I had been seeking a third sector organisation to be involved with that matches my values and genuinely changes lives.
“When the opportunity came up with YMCA Derbyshire, I had no hesitation. I wanted to be involved with a charity in which the Board has influence rather than simply representing the need to tick the box of good governance. This is absolutely the case at YMCA Derbyshire.
“I really look forward to seeing how we can work together to change lives.”
YMCA Derbyshire CEO, Gillian Sewell, was delighted to welcome Smith as the organisation’s new chair and believes that his experience will come as a vital asset to its future.
Sewell said: “We are thrilled to have Julian [Smith] as our new chair. The breadth of knowledge he has of our city and county alongside the passion to support our YMCA is phenomenal. We’ve got so much planned for the next few years and Julian will play an instrumental part in where YMCA Derbyshire is headed.”
Photo by Benjamin Rascoe on Unsplash
