Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is very pleased to announce that Peter Gordon has been voted in as the new QEF chairman of its board of trustees.
At the QEF board’s Annual General Meeting on 27 September, Rob Douglas CBE DL stepped down as chairman after six and a half years. His contribution was recognised with a personal tribute and gift presentation by QEF president Corinna, Lady Hamilton of Dalzell DL, who highlighted the significant contribution Rob has made. This included not just promoting the organisation far and wide, but leading the successful amalgamation of the QEF group of charities, and taking QEF’s facilities in a bold new direction with the redevelopment of its site in Leatherhead to include a specialist Care and Rehabilitation Centre.
The incoming chairman, Peter Gordon, has been a trustee of QEF since 2013 and first became committed to assisting people with disabilities while he was still at school. He describes his involvement in helping to run a summer camp for children with learning difficulties and complex needs as: “an eye opening, humbling and rewarding experience that had a significant impact on my life.”
Peter brings experience from many years in the corporate world, and from voluntary sector activities, that include chairing Healthwatch Surrey and as a trustee of The Leadership Trust Foundation.
He will be working closely with QEF’s chief executive, the senior management team, staff and board colleagues to steer the organisation through what is a challenging climate for all charities and a period of change as QEF redevelops its site at Woodlands Road.
Commenting on this new role, he said: “My aim is to ensure QEF continues to provide and improve the services needed by people with disabilities. I have great respect for the work QEF people do every day to provide the very best for our clients. As I meet more of the clients and team members I’d like to learn how they all feel and what we can do to develop these services to help even more people.”
