Board of Trustees

As a charity and company limited by guarantee, Changes Chief Executive Officer is supported by a team of dedicated volunteer Board members who come from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

To find out more about joining Changes Board contact chair@changeschp.org.uk


Gary Cochrane, Chair of the Board

Hello, my name is Gary and I am proud to be a member of the Changes Board. 

I joined the team at the start of 2023 after spending 14 years as a volunteer panel member and regional trainer with Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS). As someone who has experienced the challenges of dealing with mental health issues, I am a real advocate of the benefits of prevention, support services and therapies.

I live in Midlothian with my wife and our lively Tibetan Terrier. Over my career I have worked in a variety of roles within the Financial Services Industry. For the past 28 years I have worked in Risk and am Head of Compliance for a Private Bank in Edinburgh. Outside of work I love to spend time away in our caravan, walking the dog and yoga.

What drew me to Changes was the fantastic range of services and the phenomenal success the team have in delivering support for the local community especially in these continuing challenging times. The positive impact the team have is immense and I will strive to support the team to the best of my ability drawing on my own personal mental health experiences, my work with CHS and the skills I have learned throughout my career. 


Patsy Brown, Trustee

I joined the Changes Board as a Trustee in November 2019. Soon after retiring in 2014 from my career in nursing (latterly, rehabilitation services), I joined Changes as a volunteer walk leader, and then later helped with the beginners’ cycling sessions when they began. In addition to volunteering with Changes, I am a community- based volunteer English tutor with Edinburgh College helping a foreign student learn English. As a Changes volunteer, and as someone who has enjoyed and benefited from Changes’ activities and courses, I have seen how positive an effect the organisation has on the local community members who use the services. My other interests include being in the outdoors and meeting with friends and family.


Fiona Keightley, Trustee

As a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD) I am a qualified HR professional with over 20 years experience in various public sector organisations. I joined Changes as a Trustee in November 2019. Personally I feel Changes is a great organisation to be part of and when not doing Changes work I enjoy walking, yoga, am a keen amateur archaeologist


Anne Craven, Trustee

I was drawn to Changes when I discovered the fantastic range of services, they provide to not only support those suffering with mental ill health but to focus on services aimed at prevention and promoting positive wellbeing.

For the last 8 years I have had the privilege of bringing up two children and caring for elderly parents.  I am also currently studying for a certificate in Counselling. As I start to define my second career, I realise it has always been the people and cultural elements of change I’ve been most intrigued by.

My first career of 16 years saw me hold a diverse set of roles across Northern Foods, Diageo, Deloitte Consulting and RBS. I am a qualified accountant with experience of business partnering within Marketing, IT and Risk Functions. As my career progressed my roles focussed on building strategy and leading change, my last role was to establish a Risk Management learning function across the RBS group.

I live in East Lothian with my husband and two young children. I strive to be consistent with a daily exercise habit and love to walk, travel and eat, preferably nice things I haven’t cooked myself!!

Contact us 0131 653 3977 or info@changeschp.org.uk