Overview

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) sought to appoint a new Lay Trustee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. This role is central to strengthening governance, financial oversight and organisational accountability. Charity People delivered a values‑led, equity‑focused and rigorous search during a period of organisational change.

Our Approach

1. Navigating a complex governance context

The Lay Trustee role required independence from the surgical community, strong governance expertise and an ability to operate within a large, complex membership body.

2. Targeted and inclusive search strategy

Over eight weeks we conducted targeted outreach, advertising across mainstream and specialist platforms, and engaged EDI‑focused networks. We also undertook extensive proactive search.

A webinar clarified RCS’s complexity and expectations, generating strong engagement and a focused pool of candidates.

3. Nuanced and values‑aligned assessment

The emphasis was on identifying credible, values‑led candidates with deep governance and audit expertise, strong interpersonal leadership and the ability to work within a professional medical environment.

Outcome

Following a robust assessment process, RCS appointed Vanessa Leung as Lay Trustee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Vanessa brings extensive governance and audit leadership, strong strategic and financial capability, and a values‑driven approach to inclusive governance.

Conclusion

This search demonstrates the importance of equity‑centred, governance‑aware recruitment within complex professional bodies. Charity People identified and secured an exceptional candidate who will support RCS’s commitment to modern governance and high‑quality oversight.