A BUSINESS leader with extensive experience in supporting charities has been unveiled as the new chief executive of an organisation which has given over £36m to good causes over more than 20 years.

Michelle Cooper, an investment director with Northstar Ventures, will become chief executive of County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) in February, taking over from Barbara Gubbins, who is stepping down after nine years in the role.

Ms Cooper said she was aiming to build on the success of the organisation, which awarded a record £3.5m to individuals and community groups in County Durham and Darlington last year, and now manages 215 charitable funds.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining CDCF and look forward to working with the organisation’s stakeholders to ensure we make an even bigger positive impact on communities across our region”.

In her role with Northstar, Ms Cooper has been responsible for making investments from a range of investment funds in organisations to generate both social impact and a financial return.

Through her work with the North East Social Investment Fund, she sources, evaluates and invests in high impact charities to make a significant social impact. Ms Cooper has previously worked with the Northern Rock Foundation and, more recently, the Northstar Foundation to support charities and social enterprises across the North East and Cumbria.

The Northstar Foundation delivers the Fresh Ideas grant programme, which enables voluntary, community and social enterprises to explore new ways of generating income to improve their long-term sustainability and social impact.

With almost 20 years’ experience in assessing business opportunities and raising finance, Ms Cooper has previously worked in the technology transfer unit at the University of Manchester and at digital firm Codeworks in the North East as corporate finance manager. She holds a PhD in yeast genetics from the University of Edinburgh and volunteers with schools in the region, as part of the Business Ambassadors programme, which helps youngsters develop employability skills.

CDCF chairman James Fenwick said: “We are delighted to have been able to recruit somebody of the calibre of Michelle Cooper as our new chief executive officer, and I am confident her experience of raising funds and seeking opportunities to support organisations to develop and increase their impact will bring continued growth for the foundation and the communities that we serve."