The Board of Big Society Capital is delighted to announce the appointment of Stan Chan. Subject to regulatory approval, Stan will join Big Society Capital having held roles as a trustee in several social organisations after a career in finance.
Stan has spent most of the last decade consulting for both commercial and not-for-profit clients on financial strategy, raising of capital, cash flow planning and risk management.
Stan trained as a chartered accountant while working in management consultancy at Coopers & Lybrand. He then held various positions in the Lattice Group (which now makes up part of the National Grid) and then moved on to FirstGroup in 2003. He then spent close to ten years at financial services specialist Close Brothers Group, before his move into freelance consultancy in 2013.
Stan is currently on the board of the six CBF Church of England investment funds, through which he oversees around £3 billion of investments. Other voluntary roles which Stan has held include currently sitting on the board and audit and finance committees of Oasis Community Learning, a multi-academy trust of 52 schools serving over 30,000 children and their families and formerly being a director to Power to Change, which promotes community businesses through grant-making and market development.
Stan will join the board during Big Society Capital’s tenth anniversary year, following its recent announcement that the social impact investment market has grown nearly ten-fold: from £830 million in 2011 to £7.9 billion in 2021. Stan’s appointment follows Robin Hindle Fisher taking over as Chair from Sir Harvey McGrath in June.
Stan Chan said: “The work of the social impact investment market is now more critical than ever with economic turbulence and rising pressure on people across the UK. I am excited to share my experience as a trustee and in finance with Big Society Capital and honoured to join the board. Through my recent trustee roles, I have been exposed to the challenges facing communities, from creating opportunities for young people to affordable housing and reducing social isolation. I look forward to contributing to tackling these issues head on and helping to create meaningful and measurable positive social impact.
Robin Hindle Fisher, Chair at Big Society Capital, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stan to the board of Big Society Capital. He brings a wealth of experience in financial strategy, risk management and investment that will be invaluable to BSC as we continue to support the growth of social impact investment in the UK”.