Kezia Dugdale appointed as new Chair of Stonewall
Stonewall’s Board of Trustees have appointed Kezia Dugdale as their new Chair. Kezia will formally take up the position in September when she finishes her tenure as Chair of Shelter in Scotland.
"I'm thrilled and honoured to be joining Stonewall at such a critical turning point in its story," she says. "Stonewall has been central to delivering so many rights that I have the privilege to enjoy. Yet there's nothing inevitable about progress. There are too many stories both here and across the globe of rights being rolled back and progress reversed for us to rest easy. That's why I'm choosing to volunteer my time as Chair, to support the brilliant and inspiring leadership of Simon Blake and his wider team."
She adds:
Stonewall is fit for the future. Ready to navigate these turbulent times, influence policy and create more safe and inclusive places for our community to feel safe and thrive in. We won't stop until everyone, everywhere has equal rights.
Kezia works as the Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy. Having served as an MSP, Leader of Scottish Labour and more recently as Director of the John Smith Centre, she brings with her a wealth of experience in law-making and public policy. She leads the Centre’s external engagement activity, providing an important bridge between the University, policy makers and the communities they serve.
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with Kezia,’ says Stonewall’s CEO Simon Blake OBE. "She has a deep commitment to public service and a long history of advocating for LGBTQ+ equality. Her skills and experience across academia, politics and welfare will be an asset to Stonewall as we deliver on our purpose to create a safe and equal world for LGBTQ+ people to live, work and thrive."
"It is a joy to hand over to Kezia as the new Chair of Stonewall," says outgoing Chair Ayla Holdom. "Serving in this role has been a profound privilege, made all the more meaningful by the remarkable trustees I’ve served alongside. I step down proud of the strong foundations Stonewall has built, guided by clarity of purpose and strategy to navigate the turbulence of our times. We are right where we need to be: at the heart of civic society, driving the change that makes life safer and fairer for every LGBTQ+ person. Kezia is the perfect leader for our next chapter, and she has my full support and best wishes."
