Berkshire Community Foundation appoints Claire Murdoch as new Chief Executive Officer

Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Claire Murdoch as its new Chief Executive Officer, taking up the role in November 2026.

Claire brings extensive leadership, strategic and commercial experience, alongside a strong track record in the charitable sector and a longstanding commitment to supporting charitable activities.

Since 2020, Claire has been Chief Executive of Bishopsland Educational Trust, a nationally recognised charity delivering vocational skills training for Emerging Silversmiths and Jewellers. Until their relocation to West Oxfordshire in 2024, Bishopsland had been based just outside Reading for 30 years.

Claire also has a strong connection to Berkshire's voluntary sector. She served as a coaching volunteer from 2015 and trustee of Smart Works Reading from 2018 to 2022, supporting its work to help women build confidence, develop their skills and move into employment. This experience has given her first-hand insight into the contribution that local charities make to people's lives and the importance of strong partnerships within the voluntary sector.

Prior to joining Bishopsland Educational Trust, Claire held a number of senior leadership positions in the telecommunications sector focusing specifically on strategic insight, market intelligence and business planning.

Claire will succeed Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL, who will move into a new role as Vice President of BCF, continuing her contribution to the Foundation and its work across Berkshire.

Claire's combination of charity leadership, commercial expertise and experience within Berkshire's voluntary sector will support BCF as it enters its next chapter, strengthening partnerships, encouraging philanthropy and increasing the impact of resources reaching communities across the county.

Stephen Howard, Chair of Berkshire Community Foundation, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Claire as BCF's new Chief Executive. She brings an impressive combination of charity leadership, strategic expertise and commercial experience, together with a genuine commitment to creating positive change in communities.

Her experience within Berkshire's voluntary sector, including her work with Smart Works Reading, means she already understands the strength and diversity of the local charity community. Claire's experience will be invaluable as we develop new partnerships, inspire greater philanthropy and increase our impact across Berkshire. We are very much looking forward to working with her."

Claire Murdoch said:

"I am delighted to be joining Berkshire Community Foundation at such an important time. BCF has an exceptional role to play in bringing people together around the issues that matter most to local communities and making sure that philanthropy creates lasting impact.

My time leading Bishopsland and as a Trustee have given me a real appreciation of the strength, commitment and expertise within Berkshire's voluntary sector. I have seen first-hand the difference that a local charity can make when it has the right support and connections around it, and I am excited to build on that experience in my new role at BCF. I also fully appreciate how hard charity staff and volunteers work to ensure the success and impact of their cause.

I look forward to working with BCF's trustees, team, donors, partners and the many organisations working at the heart of Berkshire's communities. Together, there is a huge opportunity to build on the Foundation's achievements, strengthen our connections across the county and ensure that more resources reach the people and communities who can benefit most.

I am very much looking forward to getting started and to meeting the people who make Berkshire such a vibrant and generous place."