A few months ago, we announced that GFS CEO, Laura Sercombe, will be stepping down from her role ahead of our 150th year.
Today, we’re delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO – Heather Smith. Heather comes to GFS with a wealth of experience working in the girls and young women’s sector, having worked at Plan International UK and Women in Sport.
Throughout the recruitment process, we met many outstanding candidates with something to offer GFS, and we feel confident that Heather will help lead GFS into a bright future.
Heather said:
“I am excited and honoured to becoming a part of GFS’s rich history and future especially with the upcoming landmark year for the charity. I have followed the work GFS has been doing for some time and have long admired how the voices of girls have been centred and prioritised.
I am hugely looking forward to being part of the next stage of the journey, meeting and working with the incredible people that make the work happen and deliver vitally important services for girls across the UK. I’d like to thank Laura for taking such good care of GFS and I hope I do her legacy justice.”
Heather will be joining the organisation on 19 August, with our current CEO, Laura, stepping down officially on 30 August.
As an organisation, we’re eternally grateful to Laura for all she has done for GFS over the last four and a half years. And while we’re sad to say goodbye, we’re excited to open the next chapter of GFS history for our 150th year, with Heather.
Laura said:
“I am so very proud of what we achieved together and will miss the incredible team of staff and volunteers and board. We work together in such a way that really lives up to our values of being girl-focussed, brave, ambitious, feminist and fun.
We are working up to our 150th and I want to be sure GFS has the right CEO for such an important year.
With Heather, I am confident that we will continue to build on all we have done together so that girls can be themselves and proud of who they are. Thank you for allowing me to be your CEO; I have loved it.”