Mike Whitlam CBE (Chairman)

Mike Whitlam is one of the best-known managers in the UK Voluntary Sector. He was awarded the first ever Charity Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to Charity.

Having joined NACRO in 1975 from having been a Governor in the Prison Service, Mike went on to work for a number of other Voluntary Organisations. He was Deputy UK Director and Director (UK) of Save the Children and CEO of the RNID before being appointed Director General of The British Red Cross. Through the 1990s he was Director General of the British Red Cross. Perhaps the most high profile campaign with which he was involved was the Anti-Personnel Landmines Campaign, which of Course involved Diana Princess of Wales.

From 1999 to 2001 Mike was the first Chief Executive of the Mentor Foundation, established as the only International Non Governmental Organisation concerned exclusively with Substance misuse and drug prevention. Following Mentor Mike established the VISION 2020 the Right to Sight Campaign as CEO.

Mike is now a Charity Consultant using his many years of experience to work with many voluntary organisations that need support to resolve particular issues such as growth, change management, mergers and many other management and programme difficulties including providing Interim managers.