NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2020
Meet our New CEO :
Louise Hunter Ryan Bazga, Editorial Assistant
W
ho Cares? Scotland has just welcomed its new Chief Executive, Louise Hunter into her role. Louise replaces Duncan Dunlop, who was previously Chief Executive for 9 years. I got the chance to interview Louise for SpeakOut before she started, so that our members could get to know her a little bit. We would also like to extend our thanks to Duncan Dunlop for his hard work over the last 9 years and we look forward to seeing what Louise has to offer in her new role.
Ryan: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming Chief Executive of WC?S?
Louise: I went to university to study psychology despite being encouraged to leave school at 16. I see myself as being determined more than academically clever. During Uni I had a couple of primary school placements. There I saw lots of vulnerable children and realised how powerless teachers were given the nature of their role. So I moved onto RAMH (Renfrewshire Association of Mental Health) where I was a Support Worker. Then I worked in Homeless Units. Whilst working for Quarriers I witnessed the Care System – young people would arrive, dragging bin bags full of their belongings. I saw how little they had, and how important those few possessions were to them. Then I worked for Glasgow City Council in the Criminal Social Justice department. Unfortunately, here I felt there was too much system and not enough engagement, which didn’t sit with my values. So then I moved to SACRO (Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) and worked as a Youth Practitioner. Here I feel there was a recognition that punishment for crime doesn’t work. Kids just get records. I worked on an interesting project here that looked at bringing young people who had committed minor crimes together with the people they had committed crimes against. I then worked for Community Safety Glasgow which was affiliated to Glasgow City Council. I led many services including restorative justice and human trafficking. Then I became a Director at YPeople which was a national organisation supporting people who were homeless and young Care Experienced people. During that time, I adopted my son who was 20 months old. I then became Chief Executive
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W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
at Visibility Scotland. Here I learnt lot of transferable skills, about what it takes to be a Chief Executive. When I heard Duncan was moving on, I knew I wanted to apply and get back to working with Care Experienced people. It was a tough recruitment process. You don’t just turn up for an interview. You invest emotionally and have to be prepared to make yourself vulnerable. I have cared about all the causes I’ve worked for, but this means something deeply to me. My heart is in it.
Ryan: That sounds like a very interesting journey. What do you hope to accomplish for the Care Experienced community as Chief Executive of WCS?
Louise: I hope to bring my past work experience and my personal experience with me. It’s difficult to say exactly because I’m not in post yet. But I want to create an organisation that is sustainable. I like the fact that Who Cares? Scotland and its members see themselves as a family. I want to do what I can to support that family. I’m also very aware that this is job isn’t about me – the Care Experienced voice must be paramount. I would like to get WC?S around the right tables. Get it noticed by some new faces. There is huge opportunity in The Promise and I want
