Responsible finance provider Social Investment Scotland (SIS) has announced five new additions to its board of directors, bringing fresh expertise in HR, philanthropy, community finance, fund management and ethical investment as the organisation enters the final phase of its ten-year ‘Building an Impact Economy’ strategy.
The appointments of Alison Campbell, Ian Walker, Leah Black, Lindsay Cockburn and Lesley Duncan come as SIS marks 25 years of delivering social and economic impact through responsible finance across Scotland and the UK. Current board member Sam Bett has also been appointed Vice Chair, joining a board led by Chair George Walker.
Alison Campbell, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, has built an extensive career in HR across both public and private sectors, with roles at Scottish Power, RBS/NatWest and Police Scotland. More recently, she has held interim HR positions at the University of the West of Scotland, the University of Stirling and Peter Vardy Ltd, and is currently developing her own consultancy focused on people and culture in scaling organisations.
Ian Walker spent the majority of his career at Johnson & Johnson, most recently in a global leadership role at the J&J Foundation, where he led philanthropic funding programmes. Since stepping back, he has taken on a number of board roles, including with Prosper (formerly SCDI) and the International Advisory Board at the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Leah Black is the founder and co-head of the Regenerative Futures Fund in Edinburgh, an innovative pooled fund hosted by Foundation Scotland that delivers place-based grants with a focus on participatory grant-making and equitable funding. She previously served as CEO of WHALE Arts and has held roles at Creative Scotland, alongside a range of trustee positions.
Lindsay Cockburn brings more than 20 years’ experience in regulated financial services as a senior investment operations leader and Chartered Accountant. He is currently Director of Investment Operations at Baillie Gifford, where he chairs the firm’s Valuation and Lending Oversight committees and sits on the Group Audit Committee. Prior to this, he spent a decade at PwC specialising in financial services.
Lesley Duncan, who joins as a co-opted board member ahead of taking up a full position in March 2027, is an investment professional with a background in ethical and ESG fund management at Abrdn. She played a key role in developing a partnership with Big Issue Invest to create an impact investment proposition. Duncan also volunteers with Blythswood Care SE Edinburgh Food Bank and sits on the board of bereavement charity Richmond’s Hope.
The appointments coincide with the departure of Carol-Ann Boyter and Claire Treacy from the board.
In Case You Missed It:
Commenting on the new appointments, George Walker, Chair of Social Investment Scotland, said: “These appointments come at a pivotal moment for SIS. As we enter the final five years of our ‘Building an Impact Economy’ strategy, our priorities are clear: expanding access to fair finance, driving innovation in areas like childcare and nature-based financing, and continuing to grow the infrastructure for a fairer, more inclusive economy across Scotland.
“The breadth of experience our five new board members bring is exactly what this next chapter requires. From Ian’s international philanthropy and impact investment background to Lesley’s expertise in ethical fund management, Leah’s work in community-led grant-making, Lindsay’s fund governance experience and Alison’s depth in people and culture, together they significantly strengthen our ability to deliver on those ambitions.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Carol-Ann and Claire for their valued contribution to SIS during their time on the board.”
