About ACVO:
Meet our team
Find out more about the team at ACVO and how we work to support and develop the third sector in Aberdeen – if you have a question or want to get in touch you can find contact details below!
Maggie Hepburn
Chief Executive
Maggie has been Chief Executive at ACVO since 2019. She is a passionate supporter of the third sector and believes strongly in the potential that exists in everyone, having seen it in action through out her working life. Maggie works with the ACVO team and Board to continue to promote the voice and work of the third sector in Aberdeen.
Mike Melvin
Volunteering Services Manager
Mike is mainly responsible for managing ACVO’s work promoting, supporting and developing volunteering. He also facilitates the Aberdeen Volunteer Co-ordinators Network, is the TSI Local Assessor for the Volunteer Friendly Award in Aberdeen, co-ordinates the Saltire Awards locally and presents ‘So Why Don’t You…?’ on SHMUfm
Jane Russell
Partnership Manager
Jane’s experience within partnership working, managing high end projects as well as their delivery, has been based on a career in many types of organisations within the 3rd sector. Jane has worked in universities to conservation charities over a 30 year period, including studying for an MBA (Marketing) and teaching in 3 UK business schools in between.
Paul Dixon
Finance Manager
Paul oversees the financial management of ACVO, provides financial support to colleagues and leads the provision of finance services to other TSI’s on a commercial basis. Paul was previously Finance Partner with Aberdeen City Council and spent many years supporting the Social Care service, playing a pivotal role in setting up the Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership.
Sandy Mathers
Development Officer
Sandy provides support to start-up organisations including assistance and advice with charitable applications as well as advising existing organisations on matters relating to the governance, management and control of Third Sector Organisations. Sandy was the first secondee from the Third Sector to OSCR and is a contributing author to OSCR’s Guidance on Incorporation.
Susan Morrison
Development Officer (Community Planning Partnership)
Susan has been with ACVO since 2014. As of December 2023 she moved to a new role within ACVO focused on Community Planning. This is to be an active role that will encourage, develop and ensure effective equitable representation and involvement of the Third Sector in all aspects of community and locality planning.
Claire Shaw
Funding Officer
Claire provides organisations with funding support, including identifying potential sources of funds as well as helping with funding applications. She is also committed to building strong relationships with funders and seases opportunities to collaborate and facilitate partnership working across the third sector that effectively respond to the needs of people and communities within the city.
Andrew Davidson
Communications Officer
Andrew has been with ACVO since 2020 and works with organisations in Aberdeen to promote and highlight the impact of the work they do. He has an interest in, and working knowledge of, the processes of digital storytelling and uses these techniques, including the production of short films, to raise the profile of ACVO and the wider third sector in the city.
Alasdair Ross
Policy and Consultations Officer
As well as helping strengthen ACVO’s policy influencing role, Alasdair facilitates third sector engagement in local, regional and national debates about public sector policies that affect organisations and their service users. This means studying new legislation, policies and procedures (and changes to current ones) in detail and relating it to real life situations.Â
Georgette Cobban
Senior Development Officer (The Promise)
Gette has worked within the third sector for over 20 years, firstly at Aberdeen Cyrenians, 18 years with Home-Start Aberdeen and 4 years with Aberlour delivering a variety of safeguarding training to multi-agency groups across the city. Her role at ACVO aims to provide support for third sector organisations working with children, young people and their families to help deliver on The Promise.Â
Emily Shepherd
Digital Media Assistant
Since starting in April 2022, Emily has helped with the creation of the monthly ACVO newsletters, webpages, social media posts, audio pieces and films featuring Aberdeen’s vibrant third sector. Emily graduated from RGU with a degree in Media, her role is perfect to utilise all the skills and knowledge she learnt throughout her years in higher education.
Cristina GarcÃa-Sánchez
Support Services Assistant
Cristina is Spanish and Scotland has been her home for the last 10 years. She lives in the Shire with her husband and dog. Cristina’s studies in Spain were in Business Administration, HND level and obtained an HNC in Accounting at NESCOL. Cristina joined ACVO on a part-time basis and provides administrative support to the finance department and the wider team.
Claire Spence
Support Services Coordinator
Claire joined ACVO in 2014 after looking for a change of career. She is a qualified Nursery Nurse and beautician but after having her daughter in 2012 she needed a change and since joining the ACVO team she has never looked back. Claire works on the admin side of things and particularly enjoys working on the administration of grants that ACVO facilitate. Claire is also part of the HR process at ACVO.
Sarah Irvine
Finance & Development Officer
Sarah has been with ACVO for a number of years, working for the most part on the finance team, delivering finance support for ACVO as an organisation as well working directly with organisations in the wider third sector. Sarah has recently taken on the role of Development Officer and will be responsible for supporting the delivery of the Just Transition PB Fund in Aberdeen City.
Amy Duncan
Cash First Network Co-ordinator
Amy is responsible for the delivery of the Aberdeen City Cash First Network project. Cash First is a test of change to understand how financial support can replace emergency food provision whilst working with partner organisations to improve pathways to access the current support provision within the city. Having worked in third sector for 7 years, Amy understands the importance of building and fostering positive relationships with partners across third and public sectors.