Revealed: the top charity CEOs on social media

The top charity leaders on social media have been announced, with Kate Collins, chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust stealing the top spot.

Winners were announced last night at the Social CEO awards in London, and praised charity leaders who have used social media to share stories about their individual charities and journeys as leaders.

Collins, who was appointed CEO of Teenage Cancer Trust earlier this year, was the overall winner of the Best CEO on Social Media award, while Helen Stokes-Lampard, CEO of Royal College of General Practitioners, was awarded both Best Trustee on Social Media and Best Digital Trustee.

Giresh Menon from ActionAid UK, Mandy Johnson from the Small Charities Coalition and Paul Streets from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales were among some of the other winners.

The awards are organised by Zoe Amar and Matt Collins, who are both digital marketing experts and specialise in working with the third sector to help them improve digital skills.

This year, the nominees were judged by a panel of digital leaders chaired by Simon Blake, CEO of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. Other judges included Matt Hodson, Executive Director at NAM (and last year’s overall winner), Steve Ford, CEO of Parkinson’s UK, Kirsty Marrins, digital consultant, Lara Burns, CDO at Age UK and Saeed Atcha, CEO of Xplode Mag.

Commenting, Zoe Amar said: “This year’s winners continue to blaze a trail for others by creating debate online, championing their charities and developing relationships which help their organisations.

“Digital is now central to how the modern charity leader strategises and operates. Looking ahead to the 2019 awards, our judging panel will be keen to see more nominations from leaders who exemplify this ethos and this year’s judges are encouraging winners to ‘pay it forward’ by nominating those they admire, from charities of all sizes and causes, next year.”

The individual winners

• Best CEO on Social Media – Kate Collins, Teenage Cancer Trust
• Best Trustee on Social Media – Helen Stokes-Lampard, RCGP
• Best Leader on Social Media – Caroline Price, BEAT (Highly commended – Rob Murray, Changing Faces)
• Best Rising Star on Social Media – Nikki Bell, BHF (Highly commended – Susan Hunter, YouthLink Scotland)
• Best Digital Trustee – Helen Stokes-Lampard, RCGP
• Best Digital Leader – Julie Dodd, Parkinson’s UK
• Best Digital Champion – Liz Green, YouthLink Scotland (Highly commended – Seb Baird, Time to Change)

The top 25 social CEOs

1. Kate Collins, Teenage Cancer Trust
2. Sophie Biebuyck, Hearing Help Essex
3. Tracey Bleakley, Hospice UK
4. Sarah Brook, The Sparkle Foundation
5. Shona Cardle, Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity
6. Brita Fernandez Schmidt, Women for Women International UK
7. Frank Fletcher, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
8. Michelle Hill, TLC: Talk, Listen, Change
9. Jules Hillier, Pause
10. Martin Houghton Brown, St John Ambulance
11. Sarah Hughes, Centre for Mental Health
12. Matt Hyde, The Scout Association
13. Mandy Johnson, Small Charities Coalition
14 Matt Lent, Future First
15. Josiah Lockhart, Firstport
16. Louise Macdonald OBE, Young Scot
17. Girish Menon, ActionAid UK
18. Helen Milner OBE, Good Things Foundation
19. Gemma Peters, Bloodwise
20. Toby Porter, Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust
21. Chris Sherwood, RSPCA
22. Anna Smee, UK Youth
23. Paul Streets OBE, Lloyds Bank Foundation
24. Jeremy Taylor, National Voices
25. Peter Wanless, NSPCC