Business Breakfast | Could You Be a Charity Trustee?
About this Event
What if the skills and experience you have built throughout your career could help shape the future of a charity?
Join us at Edinburgh Remakery for our monthly Business Breakfast, where businesses and organisations come together for meaningful conversations, fresh ideas and practical insights, all over coffee and pastries in a relaxed, welcoming space.
Spotlight Session
We are delighted to welcome Debbie Shields, an experienced Board Chair, Trustee, executive search adviser and governance specialist, for a practical and insightful conversation about an opportunity that more professionals should consider: becoming a charity trustee.
Throughout her career, Debbie has worked closely with boards and executive teams across the private, public and third sectors, supporting senior leadership appointments, board development and succession planning. Through her extensive experience in executive search and governance, including her work with AVIIA, she understands what makes an effective board and the value that different skills, perspectives and experiences can bring to an organisation.
Alongside her professional expertise, Debbie brings first-hand experience of charity governance. She currently Chairs the Ambassador Group for The Connect Hub, a Simon Community Scotland service supporting women to find pathways away from homelessness through connection, community and practical support.
In this session, Could You Be a Charity Trustee?, Debbie will explore why becoming a trustee could be one of the most rewarding ways to use your professional skills, develop as a leader and contribute to something bigger than your day-to-day work.
Whether you are an experienced leader, an emerging professional or simply someone who wants to give back, this session will help you understand what's involved and how to get started.
Drawing on her experience of working with boards, appointing leaders and serving as a trustee, Debbie will share:
- What does a charity trustee actually do? – Understand the role trustees play in shaping an organisation's direction, making decisions and ensuring charities deliver on their purpose.
- What's in it for you? – Explore how trusteeship can strengthen your leadership skills, broaden your perspectives, expand your professional network and offer valuable board-level experience.
- Your skills could make a difference – Discover why charities need people with diverse professional backgrounds and how your existing knowledge and experience could bring real value to a board.
- How do you become a trustee? – Learn where to find opportunities, how to approach applications and what organisations look for when recruiting new board members.
- The commitment behind the opportunity – Get a realistic understanding of the time involved, key legal duties, responsibilities and what to consider before joining a board.
- Finding the right fit – Explore how to identify a charity whose mission aligns with your values, interests and skills, creating a rewarding experience for both you and the organisation.
You don't need to be a CEO, have decades of experience or know everything about charity governance to become a trustee. What matters is your willingness to contribute, ask questions, bring a fresh perspective and help an organisation achieve its mission.
This isn't just a session about volunteering your time. It's about recognising how your skills could help create meaningful change while opening doors to new experiences, connections and professional growth.
You will leave with a clearer understanding of what it takes to become a charity trustee, what you could gain from the experience and the practical steps you can take to find an opportunity that's right for you.
What to Expect
1) Networking & Connections
Meet like-minded businesses, explore collaborations, and build meaningful relationships in an informal setting.
2) SIXTY SECONDS | OVER TO YOU!
Take the stage for 60 seconds to introduce yourself and your business – a brilliant way to connect, share ideas, and spark opportunities.
3) BUSINESS BANTER
After the spotlight session, grab another coffee and continue the conversations, because great connections don’t happen in a rush.
4) TECH DONATIONS
Have unused or old personal tech? Bring it along and drop it into our Tech Donation Box. We will refurbish what we can, support people facing digital exclusion, and responsibly recycle the rest.
Every Pound Makes a Difference
This is not just networking. Every ticket helps us continue our mission to reduce waste and tackle digital exclusion. From gifting refurbished devices to those in need to running free Repair Cafés, your support creates real, lasting impact.
Your next opportunity to grow as a leader might not be another job title. It might be a seat at a charity's board table.
Come along to discover how your skills and experience could make a difference, what trusteeship could offer you in return and why now might be the time to take that first step.
Book your place now and join us on Thursday 26 November, 9:00–10:30am at Edinburgh Remakery.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 6.13 to GBP 11.55
