The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has appointed an AI expert and the next chief executive of Sense to its board.
The membership body said Jude Sheeran, managing director, EMEA, at the generative AI company DataStax and James Watson-O’Neill had both become trustees.
Sheeran has held senior leadership roles at charities including the Shaw Trust and EduServ, while Watson-O’Neill, who has been chief executive of the deaf health charity Signhealth since 2016, will take up the top job at the disability charity Sense next month.
Sheeran succeeds Brian Seaton, trustee of Small Charity Support, who stepped down last summer, for personal reasons, after a year in the role.
Watson-O’Neill replaces Dan Sutch, whose term of office has ended. Sutch is director of Cast, which aims to support social impact organisations in the use of digital technologies.
The NCVO also said Ruth Marvel, chief executive of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, had joined the board as a member-elected trustee at its annual general meeting last month.
She replaces Red Godfrey Sagoo, chief executive of Rape Crisis South London, whose three-year term came to an end.
NCVO trustees are appointed for a term of three years, with a maximum of two terms permitted.
“These appointments mark an important step in NCVO’s upcoming year of transformation, as the organisation focuses on advancing digital innovation, strengthening governance across the sector and supporting charities in navigating a challenging economic landscape,” the NCVO said in a statement.
Priya Singh, chair of the NCVO, said of the new trustees: “Their insights will help us navigate a changing landscape and ensure that NCVO continues to provide robust support to charities and voluntary organisations across the UK.”
Sheeran said: “I know first-hand how difficult it can be for organisations to harness new technologies, so I look forward to working alongside the team to help the sector adapt to today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.”
Watson-O’Neill said: “The work of the voluntary sector has never been more important than it is today, so I am excited to see how NCVO can continue to support and strengthen all of our work.”