Meet the Turn2us Edinburgh Trust Committee
Umar Ansari - Chair of Edinburgh Trust Committee
I am a seasoned senior executive with over 25 years of experience in community work and the voluntary sector. Currently serving as the Director of Support for Families and National Programmes at One Parent Families Scotland, I lead strategic and operational responsibility of services supporting single-parent families across Scotland.
My expertise spans leadership, partnership development, service evaluation, and policy advocacy, with a strong focus on diversity, people development, and social justice. I am a Clore Social Fellow, an Olympic Games Legacy Leadership Exchange participant and a passionate advocate for whole-family support, driven by values and purpose.
The Rt Hon Robert Aldridge - The Lord Provost – Ex Officio
Robert Aldridge is elected to the City of Edinburgh Council representing the Drum Brae/Gyle ward. Appointed Lord Provost in 2022, he is Edinburgh’s civic head, promoting Edinburgh at home and abroad.
The Lord Provost is also Lord-Lieutenant and greets members of the Royal Family and visiting heads of state. He represents the Council on numerous bodies and organisations including the Edinburgh International Festival Council, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust.
John Loughton - Trustee
I am the Chief Executive of the leadership training company Dare2Lead, which has trained over 75,000 people across 125 clients. I am also the Founder of Scran Academy, a social enterprise that produced over 200,000 meals during lockdown for thousands of vulnerable families and supported over 1,000 learners through alternative education since 2018. I serve as a trustee of The Robertson Trust, Scotland’s largest independent anti-poverty funder, and the Children’s Parliament.
I ran my first campaign at the age of 11, despite a challenging childhood, and have since gone on to speak to over one million people, work across 65 countries, and help raise over £15 million for good causes. I have addressed the Scottish Parliament Chamber, The White House, the UN General Assembly, TED Talk events and the European Commission. I was appointed by the Prime Minister to serve on the Calman Commission, and I am also a member of the National Literacy Commission.
My background in the voluntary sector includes policy work for leading charities such as Relate and The Prince’s Trust. I was also elected Prime Minister of the Youth Diplomatic Service at the G8 and G20 Summits in Washington D.C.
Named Outstanding Youth of the World 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Honours List 2020, I now act as a World Peace Tartan Global Ambassador and World Ambassador for Junior Chamber International. I studied Comparative Human Rights on a UNESCO programme at the University of Connecticut, and I am a regular guest lecturer. In 2024 I received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland for services to young people and social enterprise.
Sandy MacDonald - Trustee
Sandy has a professional background in Corporate Affairs, Responsible Business, Sustainability and Marketing. He has focused on working within and across sectors to drive social and environmental change, inclusion and wellbeing.
Previously Global Head of Corporate Sustainability at Standard Life Aberdeen plc, Sandy was appointed as Director of Public Policy & Communications at Scottish Financial Enterprise in May 2021.
Sandy’s strong, active interest in social justice and tackling inequalities is also reflected in his voluntary and non-executive career. He is a former trustee of charities including Children 1st and Venture Scotland, a former Chair of the Living Wage Scotland leadership group and was an Independent Commissioner on the Edinburgh Poverty Commission. He is a founding trustee of Everyone’s Edinburgh and sits on the Nominations Committee of the National Trust for Scotland.
Jane Meagher - City of Edinburgh Council member
Jane is the leader of the Council (as of December 2024) and former Convener of Housing, Homelessness, and Fair Work. Throughout her time in office, she has been actively involved in housing and anti-poverty initiatives within the city.
Gillian Russell - External Member
Gillian is Director of NHS Health Workforce in Scottish Government with responsibility for all national aspects of that workforce. She sits on the senior management Board for the Health and Social Care System. Prior to this Gillian was responsible for making communities safer in Scotland including policy responsibility for the Police and Fire Service in Scotland.
She has chaired the Justice Board, worked on a range of social policy response to reduce crime and victimisation and led national security and emergency resilience arrangements. She is a lawyer by background and moved from senior legal roles through social policy and public service reform to her current strategy/ operational delivery role.
Throughout her career Gillian has had a focus on tackling inequality, developing place-based approaches and supporting the most vulnerable. She has lived and worked in Edinburgh for most of her life and has been active in her local community particularly when working with others to get her local High School built.
Gillian is looking forward to using her skills and experience to support the advisory work of the committee with its focus on addressing poverty in her home city.