Major General David Shaw CBE
CEO of the Veterans' Foundation

David Shaw is the CEO and founder of the Veterans’ Foundation, as well as co-founder of the Veterans' Lottery.  He concluded his military career as the Major General commanding 2nd Division in 2012 and was appointed CBE in 2012.  He is also co-founder of the award-winning veterans' charity Launchpad, which helps veterans transition from military to civilian life in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Liverpool.

Sarah Elliott
Fundraising Manager

Sarah joined the Veterans’ Foundation in June 2022 as the Fundraising Manager. She began her career in investments, enjoying 23 years in UK and global securities lending, trade settlement and corporate actions for Friends Life/Aviva.  

Since 2000, Sarah has supported growth in the charity, financial and education sectors through relationship management, the development of sustainable income streams, project management and events using both commercial and benevolent strategies.

woman posing
Sarah Kelling
Grants Manager

Sarah joined the Veterans' Foundation in 2020 in a part-time role as Grants Manager. Since moving in 2017 to the U.K. from the U.S., Sarah has volunteered with Citizens Advice Edinburgh (CAE) administrative support and as a General Adviser. Sarah provides peer guidance regarding benefits, money advice, housing, employment, relationships and immigration, as well as other practical assistance. Prior to the U.K., Sarah worked from 2006 to 2018 as an attorney at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP where she specialised in employment-based immigration and related employer sanctions law and managed the firm's I-9/E-Verify SaaS client services.

 

 

Carol Laing
Finance Manager

Carol joined the Veterans’ Foundation in November 2021, initially, as a temporary finance manager. 

Carol began her career in accountancy working in practice and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2001. She moved to Edinburgh in 2003 where she worked in a medium size accountancy firm, primarily looking after owner managed businesses.  Since 2006 and more recently, Carol has been working mainly within the financial services industry, providing accounting support for different types of investment vehicles and other related companies.

Louise Buchanan
Grants Manager

Louise has been with the Veterans' Foundation as a Grants Manager since April 2022, having previously worked in various grant making roles in Scotland over the last 20 years. Most recently as a Senior Funding Officer with the Life Changes Trust, working alongside people with dementia and their unpaid carers, and prior to that as a Funding Manager with the National Lottery Community Fund, working to improve communities most in need. Louise has a keen interest in mind and body health and wellbeing, having studied Sports Medicine at University, then moving on to Health Promotion roles within the statutory sector and more recently completing the COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills. Louise is also an active Therapet volunteer with Canine Concern Scotland alongside her black lab, Rudi. 

Clare Graham
Grants Manager

Having previously worked as a Fund Manager for five years with Foundation Scotland, Clare brings with her a wide range of experience and skills. At Foundation Scotland, she supported communities to manage and distribute community benefit funds from wind farms. In the past, Clare has worked as a Capacity Builder, with the local Third Sector Interface (TSI), supporting grassroots organisations with governance and funding and previous to this worked in the Private Sector for over 20 years.

Charity Johnson
Digital Fundraising Officer

Charity joined the Veterans’ Foundation Fundraising Team in January 2023 as the Digital Fundraising Officer. 

Starting her career in traditional media through radio and print, Charity has also worked in secondary education teaching media literacy and music. Following a move to Scotland in 2015, Charity worked in the Third Sector supporting non-profit organisations within the scope of community development, digital learning, and Marketing/PR bringing a depth of digital experience to The Veterans’ Foundation.

Charity is currently completing a Master of Science programme in Sound Design and enjoys being a Shorewatch volunteer for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Simon Heyes
Chief Operating Officer

Simon joined the Veterans' Foundation as Chief Operating Officer in October 2023, having previously worked for more than 30 years in the energy industry, the last 20 of which were focussed on new renewable energy schemes development and construction. 

Simon also held a short service commission in the RAF as an Engineer Officer and subsequently served in the Army Reserve for more than 20 years, which included operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in staff appointments.  Simon studied aeronautical engineering at university and flies a flexwing microlight.  He is also a non-executive director of the British Microlight Aircraft Association, the organisation that governs microlight aircraft in the UK.”