Scottish Community Alliance, an umbrella body for Scotland’s community sector networks, has appointed Elizabeth Docherty as its next director.
Docherty, who has spent the past seven years as director of the Glasgow Social Enterprise Network, succeeds Angus Hardie, who has been the SCA’s director since setting it up in 2010.
Hardie is retiring after spending more than 40 years in the voluntary sector.
Docherty, who will take up her new role in May, said she had been looking for the “right opportunity” to return to the third sector, having spent time working in the further education and private sectors.
She said: “Roles like these don’t come around very often and I am so excited at the prospect of joining SCA and building on all the excellent work that Angus has achieved over the years.”
Hardie, who trained as an accountant before moving to social work and getting involved in several community-led regeneration projects during the 1980s in Edinburgh, also established the Development Trusts Association and worked as its chief executive.
During the early 1990s, Hardie worked with schools to improve home-school relationships before moving to a post focused on children and family services across Edinburgh.
“I’ve been a community worker of one sort or another for a little over 40 years and have loved every minute of it,” he said.
“This job in particular has been such a fantastic experience, bringing me into contact with so many amazing people who are doing such great work in their communities.
“I’ll certainly miss it and just want to thank everyone for their support and friendship over the years”.