Former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken OBE has been appointed Chair of Transaid. She takes over from BigChange Chief Operating Officer Jo Godsmark, who spent six years in the role and eight years as a board member.
Ms Aitken, a member of the routeone Awards judging panel, has been a long-time active supporter of the international development organisation and one of its trustees since March 2019. She becomes Transaid’s fourth Chair.
During Ms Godsmark’s tenure, Transaid significantly grew its programmes and fundraising income. It is currently involved in projects within nine countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Ms Aitken has good experience of that work, having taken part in two Transaid fundraising cycle challenges and visited projects in Uganda and Zambia.
In 2017, Ms Aitken cycled in her first Transaid event with a team of 40 riders on the Cycle South Africa tour, which raised over £200,000. Both she and Ms Godsmark will ride in October’s Cycle Malawi fundraiser. Ms Godsmark joins Transaid’s team of ambassadors after handing over the role of Chair.
Speaking about her appointment as Chair of Transaid, Joan Aitken says: “Transaid is the most incredible organisation and has earned a very special place in my heart. I have been privileged to have visited two projects in Zambia, one focused on access to healthcare and the other on road safety; plus, I contributed to the driver training activities in Uganda, which cemented my understanding of Transaid’s life-saving work.
“To be appointed Chair is an honour and a responsibility. I am excited by the opportunity to work even more closely with the wonderful Transaid team, which has demonstrated such incredible versatility during the challenges of the last two years.”
Ms Aitken, a solicitor by profession, retired in 2019 after a career that captured local government, private practice, tribunal chairing, UK public appointments and the senior civil service. She joined the routeone Awards judging panel in the same year – which was also when her OBE was awarded for services to transport in Scotland and to road safety.
