Flora Martin

Flora Martin already had a number of board positions before joining Changing the Chemistry including: Board Member Action for Children Scotland; Glasgow School of Art Development Trust; Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres; Cancer Research UK.

Flora talks about the new role she has recently accepted.

1. Details of the board appointment
One of three new Non-Executive Directors at Citizens Advice Scotland (CAB)

2. What attracted you to the role?
I was already on the board of Action for Children and I thought that this position would sit well with my experience and expertise in welfare and action on poverty.

3. What strengths, both personal and professional, did you highlight in the interview process?
I stressed the fact that I had already been on a number of boards, including Glasgow Life and Action for Children so would be familiar with the issues specific to the CAB in Scotland. My understanding of good governance was also helpful. Also, I have a lot of experience and expertise in public relations. They were particularly interested in this and in my communications skills at interview.

4. What were the benefits of approaching the role with the help of a Voluntary Mutual Support Group (CtC)
The main benefit was in that it alerted me to the vacancy. Being part of the Changing The Chemistry group made me take a more proactive position in seeking out NED roles that I thought would interest me and which would be suited to my skill set. Working with others in the group to establish what were my strengths and weaknesses was also a real benefit.

5. What do you hope to achieve in the role
The board at Citizens Advice Scotland is much larger than the other boards I sit on and so I am hoping to learn more about how large boards work. I’m particularly interested in seeing how the Chair and Vice-Chair operate and to see if there is more partner working than you would get on a smaller board.