We are delighted to announce the appointment of Katie Roberts as SMK’s Interim CEO. Katie brings a wealth of valuable and diverse skills and experience.
Katie has over twenty years delivering community engagement programmes for social change across a range of social and environmental justice organisations. With an academic background in environmental science and international community development, her early career was spent working with grassroots organisations across the UK and overseas.
After initially leading on consultation, education and community co-design, Katie spent a further five years as Projects Director at Trees for Cities utilising community-led urban tree planting schemes to cultivate lasting change with diverse neighbourhoods. She then joined Christian Aid in 2014 to lead on church engagement in campaigning and fundraising in the South of England and overseeing key national partnerships and UK volunteering. Five years later Katie oversaw the creation and design of a new global Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns department, before moving into the CEO’s office as Head of Strategy and Development for Christian Aid.
Since 2022 Katie has been working as a consultant specialising in leadership, strategy and organisational development and working alongside organisations through periods of change and challenge. She is passionate about developing people and organisations to reach their potential and deliver with impact. Katie is also a life-long fan and serving trustee of the Greenbelt Arts Festival.
Katie says:
“I am really excited to be joining the SMK team and to have the chance to work alongside and support so many inspiring and courageous people committed to the common good. To even hope for a change can, feel like an act of resistance in light of current headlines. I am proud to be part of an organisation that still believes and invests in the individual and collective agency within our communities for lasting change. To quote Margaret Mead ‘Never Doubt That a Small Group of Thoughtful, Committed Citizens Can Change the World; Indeed, It’s the Only Thing That Ever Has.’”
Pete Moorey, Chair of SMK, added:
“Katie brings a passion for social change and the power of grassroots campaigning matched with great experience of supporting charities big and small to make change happen. We’re delighted to welcome her to the team at this important moment when civil society in the UK needs as much support as possible to be effective changemakers. We look forward to working with Katie on SMK’s fundraising strategy, this year’s National Campaigner Awards – as we mark SMK’s 20th anniversary, and in continuing to equip campaigners with great training and capacity building.”