Chris White, Chairperson and Trustee

Chris spent over 20 years as Aberdeenshire Council’s Area Manager for Buchan, following his role as Principal Planning Officer. A committed Third Sector champion, he offers deep knowledge of local communities and their challenges.

Fiona Heinonen, Vice Chairperson and Trustee

Fiona began her career in the merchant navy before moving into global PR, marketing, and CSR, alongside senior roles in the charitable sector for the last 25 years. She is passionate about forging corporate–charity partnerships that drive lasting social change.

Fiona Smith, Treasurer and Trustee

Fiona brings nearly 30 years of experience solving strategic, organisational, and commercial challenges for businesses of all sizes. Based in Tarves, she serves on local boards and advises social enterprises and Scottish start-ups.

David Briggs

David has significant experience in the human resources sector, having worked in local government, the NHS, and latterly in the higher education sector. He is retired now and enjoys world affairs, veggie growing, hillwalking/mountaineering & volunteering with a meditation centre.

Julie Lindeman

Julie is very active in the Stonehaven Town Partnership, building a better community for the people who live there. She is also the Funding Officer for Forget-Me-Not Club in Banchory, which supports people living with dementia, and their carers.

Our vision is that Aberdeenshire is a place where positive social change is led by communities. 

Our mission is to strengthen Aberdeenshire’s diverse communities of geography and interest, ensuring they are powerful, resilient and resourced to develop their own solutions. 

Our values are the foundation of our organisation. They guide our decisions, empower our team, and shape every aspect of our work: 

• Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in all we do 

• Inclusion: We embrace the unique strengths of every individual 

• Equity: We ensure everyone has the opportunity to fully participate 

• Integrity: We act with honesty and transparency 

• Collaboration: We foster strong partnerships 

Enabling Communities to Thrive 

Communities require knowledge, skills and resources to fulfil their essential role in society.  We will provide the tools and support they need to succeed including training, guidance and specialist support that allows them to deliver effective, resilient services fit for the future.

Ensuring Communities are Heard 

Communities deserve to have their voice heard and their issues addressed. We will encourage accessible, inclusive ways for communities to share their stories, ideas, concerns, and experiences with decision makers. We will advocate for meaningful dialogue and joint decision making.

Empowering Communities to Lead 

Communities are best positioned to identify and address their own unique needs and aspirations. We will support them to develop the confidence they need to take ownership of their priorities and lead change. We will foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration and innovation, encouraging communities to work together to develop and implement solutions that are tailored to their specific circumstances.

Maximising our Impact 

To deliver our vision and mission we must provide high-quality, agile services which meet the needs of our clients. We will continually evaluate our activities and, as a learning organisation, invest in staff development to drive growth and innovation. We will explore new service models and integrate new digital tools where they improve accessibility and efficiency. We will build strategic partnerships, collaborating with other organisations and stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.

Find our governing document here.

Find our most recent audited accounts here.

Find our most recent Annual Report here, including statistics and testimonials from members supported over the last year.

The TSI Scotland Network is a body of expert charities who deliver the Third Sector Interface service in each of Scotland's local authority areas, offering support, development and advocacy for the third sector and not-for-profit social enterprises. The TSIs also make it easier for people to volunteer, with a particular focus on inclusion.

Read our collective manifesto for creating a fairer, more inclusive Scotland here.

AVA takes its responsibilities regarding data and privacy very seriously. To find our more about how we manage data, read our data notice and privacy statement here.