EDCH Welcomes New Trustees

David Field is CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Matt Smith is Head of Development and Innovation at THINK Consulting Solutions.

The new additions to the Board come at a time when the Home is developing ambitious plans for growth, with animal welfare and income generation being key priorities, as well as a new focus on tackling pet poverty and the prevention of animal surrender.

Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO, said:

“I am thrilled to welcome David and Matt to the Board, both of whom bring significant expertise in their own fields, which will be an enormous benefit to the Home. Their joining has been very timely, as we seek to develop new ways to diversify our fundraising and other income generating activities, while responding to increasing demand for our services – in particular a growing number of animals reaching us with complex training needs and a rising demand for our pet foodbank and other community services.”

Doreen Graham, Chair of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home’s Board of Trustees, said:

“I am delighted to welcome David and Matt to the Board of Trustees. Their specialist skills will be a valuable addition to those of our other board members ensuring the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home rises to all the challenges 2022 will bring.”

David Field

David Field is currently the CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a wildlife conservation charity working to protect animals in Scotland and around the world. David has spent a lifetime around animals – at the age of 12 he became a volunteer at Dudley Zoo and on his first day met a chimp named Koko who remains one his “best friends” today.

It was the incredible experiences and life changing moments that David had with animals that inspired him to work for the care and conservation of animals. David went on to work at Dublin Zoo, London and Whipsnade Zoos as Zoological Director and then returning to Edinburgh in June 2020 as CEO.

During his career David has been responsible for the development of new and modern zoo facilities, developing essential education initiatives in zoos and also involved with a wide range of conservation projects, including lions in India, tamarins in Brazil and now wildcats and pine hoverflies in Scotland.

Fundamental to his work has been progressing and implementing welfare science in the care of zoo animals in zoos across the world through his roles with the World Zoo and Aquarium Association. David is also passionate about the development of zoo professionals and is currently the President of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers.

David said:

“The importance of animals in our lives is so important and the positive wellbeing being that emulates from a closeness with nature needs to be celebrated and accessible to all. This is now the driving passion for my work. There is such great synergy with the work of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the growing community interventions on behalf of animals which the Home is undertaking is powerful. Animals bring the very best out the people. It doesn’t have to always be gorillas or elephants – despite having been surrounded by some of the most incredible animals on this planet my most special animal friends remain Florence and Penelope my two rescue cats (not forgetting Koko of course).”

Matt Smith

Matt is an innovation and fundraising leader, with specialist skills in digital fundraising, new product development and facilitation. He is proficient in setting up innovation functions, strategy development and managing large, cross-organisational change projects.

Over the last decade, he has designed and facilitated innovation sprints for dozens of projects – his bespoke methodology can be applied to both process improvement and new product development. Alongside this, Matt is also proficient at integrating and embedding new fundraising innovations, particularly where the digital meets physical.

A passionate advocate of digital fundraising and the power of technology to revolutionise fundraising. Matt champions innovation based on robust data and audience insight over the latest industry trends.

Matt said:

“I am delighted to be joining the Board of Trustees at Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home. As an innovation and digital fundraising specialist, I have long admired the brave and ambitious work the charity does. The Home really does punch above its weight, both in terms of the outcomes it delivers in the community and by being at the forefront of the digital fundraising revolution.

As a life-long animal lover, I can’t wait to spend more time at the Home and I promise to give my all in supporting the team to be there for every dog and cat that needs our help. I look forward to working alongside my fellow Trustees and supporting the leadership team to deliver its bold and exciting plans for the future.”