Children’s Heart Surgery Fund has appointed Heidi Watson as its next chief executive.

She has joined the Leeds based charity from spina bifida support organisation Shine, where she was director of services.

Her previous roles include chief executive of Calvert Trust Exmoor, which supports people with disabilities through outdoor activities.

She is also a former business development director at Business in the Community.

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund supports the work of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.

👋 Introducing Heidi Watson

💬 “I am delighted to have joined @CHSurgeryFund as CEO. It’s a wonderful thing to know that the charity I now lead saves lives every day, by supporting @leeds_hearts."

Keep your eyes peeled for more on our new CEO coming soon...

Welcome Heidi! 💗 pic.twitter.com/MRG6KeuLRG

— Children's Heart Surgery Fund (@CHSurgeryFund) August 2, 2022

Watson replaces Sharon Milner, who has led the charity since 2007. During this time she fronted a campaign to save the Leeds’ based Heart Unit from closure in 2012.

“It’s a huge wrench to leave a cause that I care about so deeply, but I’m delighted to hand over a charity in such a great shape to my successor,” said Milner.

“I’m a firm believer that changes in leadership are important, and CHSF are coming out of what’s been a difficult few years for most people with a new ambitious strategy.”

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