Thank you and farewell to Jim Gibson – Chair of the Board of Trustees (2018-2022)

A thank you tribute to Jim Gibson, Chair of the Board of Trustees (2018-2022)

The last few years have been challenging ones, yet, as we look forward to 2023, we are preparing to deliver our services to more people affected by chest, heart and stroke conditions than ever before.

Jim Gibson, who has chaired our board for the last four years, puts this down to two things: “the people who make up the CHSS organisation as well as an unknown factor – the glue that holds CHSS together”.

If CHSS has an X factor, Jim is the man who can understand it like few others. He joined us at a time of great change in 2018, as the charity underwent a transformation in line with the launch of our No Life Half Lived strategy.

Four years, a global pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis later, he leaves a much larger and more capable organisation.

Unsurprisingly, the pandemic shapes Jim’s memory of both his time at CHSS and his thoughts on the organisation.

“The thing that strikes me the most over the period has been how resilient the organisation has been over the time. We take the challenge on, and we come out of it stronger than we went in, that is a real credit to everyone in the organisation”

Whilst uncertain times still lay ahead, Jim believes his time as chair of the board has come to a natural conclusion. He feels the organisation is now in a place where, even if the external climate remains hostile, a chair who really understands the core function the charity – service delivery – can thrive.

“Now it’s time to work on a better and broader delivery of services to the people we support. The charity needs someone more suited to this role, and I’m sure that the new Chair of the Board, Amy Anderson, will be able to deliver this.”

As he leaves us, he passes on his “sincere appreciation for the support of Jane-Claire, the Executive Team, the board and all CHSS staff”, for their support during his time as chair. He also urges everyone in the CHSS community to keep that X factor and to remain: “ambitious about the expansion and growth of our service delivery” whilst “being innovative and challenging of the people around you and above you – for the benefit of our service users”.

What’s next for Jim? Well, he’s eagerly looking forward to his retirement, with plans of travelling the east coast of the USA and then the Far East with his wife now well-formed. But there’s no time to put his feet up just yet because he is taking on an interim role at the Engineering Construction Industry Association in Westminster.

From all at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and in the CHSS family, we thank Jim for all he has given to our organisation over the last four years and wish him the very best in retirement, whenever that comes.

Find out more about our Board of Trustees.