AI Innovation recognised in the Charity Sector

AI Innovation recognised in the Charity Sector

If collaboration is a good thing, then we have a lot to celebrate! Over the past few months, there has been a whirlwind of conversation, sharing and excitement at a variety of conferences, events and workshops. We’ve all, at times, felt fatigue with non-stop discussion around what AI, may, or may not bring to our world, and our organisation, but there is no doubt that the sharing and collaboration that is going on is exactly what we need to be doing to further our learning in this space.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by two leaders in the International Development sector - Kit Powney and Trevor Gordon. I caught up with them at the recent Digital Leaders AI 100 event, where Digital Leaders brought together the 100 most influential people in UK AI to share what they’ve seen in their sector. It was a great event for hearing and learning from people within a sector, but also across different sectors of the UK economy. What was particularly inspiring was that there was such a strong representation from purpose-led organisations within this group.

In the podcast I chat with Kit about what she’s seen both internally at Tearfund and more broadly where she has had the chance to collaborate with others. Trevor talks about what Save the Children have been doing, and gives a great overview of some of the conversations he’s had at recent collaborative events, including NetHope’s October conference in Amsterdam. Trevor also shares some insights from a recent report on AI in his sector - Initial insights report: How are humanitarians using artificial intelligence in 2025? - Humanitaria…

I’ve been at a few events during October and November, and was lucky enough to deliver a keynote yesterday at a charity event, around how organisations are tackling the challenge of building the charities of the future with a balanced combination of AI, Data and People. My biggest takeaway from events such as yesterday’s with mhance, the Charity IT Leaders conference in October, and so many more, is that charities that are succeeding are investing with a focus on their people, not their technology. They are spending the time to get their governance right, they are thinking about adoption, and they are investing in on-the-job training. This is quite different to the change that is happening in many private sector companies where investment is directed at business cases that ultimately about saving money on headcount.

By taking a different approach within the charity sector - I am really starting to feel confident that there will be opportunities to share learnings in both directions - with our sector becoming increasingly confident in sharing the success stories around our adoption approaches, and understanding that we have a major role to play in the development of different organisational models in the future.

Stay Tuned for more insights in future episodes

If you’re new to the podcast - then definitely take a look back at some cracking episodes in the previous two seasons. Whilst there is a storyline flowing through the episodes, they work in any order, so don’t feel obliged to listen to them chronologically.

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If you’re keen for me to feature something going on in your charity, NFP or similar, please get in touch - and do comment on anything in here, or in the podcast that you like.

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About our host and guests

Kit Powney , Head of Digital Maturity, Tearfund

Kit Powney leads organisation wide digital transformation with a particular focus on AI, fundraising and communications at Tearfund. Named one of the Top 3 Charity Leaders in the AI 100 UK 2025 Digital Leaders List, she brings over a decade of experience strengthening digital, content and communications across the charity sector. Kit also serves on the Advisory Panel for the MA in Media, Campaigning and Social Change at Westminster University.

Trevor Gordon, CDTO, Save the Children UK

Trevor Gordon a customer-centric digital, technology and transformation leader who consistently delivers results through innovative use of customer insight, data, AI, and technology to drive game-changing growth, improvements, and efficiencies.

With a proven record of driving complex transformation (people, process, tech) and operational leadership for several world-class global businesses in various sectors including Diageo, Vodafone, Selfridges, Sodexo, Autotrader & Vue Entertainment.

Currently working as Chief Digital & Technology Officer for Save the Children. Recent focus has been on delivering top and bottom-line growth by developing new experiences, operations, strategies, propositions, products, services and business models for the digital age.

Trevor was recently listed in to AI100 of most influential AI leaders in the UK.

Stuart McSkimming, Podcast Host

Stuart is a thought-leader in AI for charities and not-for-profits, and recognised in the 2025 AI100 list of the top 100 people shaping the future of AI in the UK. He is the founder of the sector-specific Technology & AI consultancy, Virtue Chain . He has over twenty years’ experience in NFP/Charity leadership roles, predominantly in the technology/digital and transformation space. He is an expert in getting the most from teams and focusing organisations on strategic goals to get the most from Technology & Digital. He is passionate about organisations focusing on inclusion and finding ways to attract a diverse mix of top talent into their teams. He has worked as a CIO for two organisations – Shelter and Royal British Legion, and also a variety of roles elsewhere. Stuart is extensively networked in the not-for-profit sector both in the UK, and internationally, and is the Vice Chair of top membership organisation, Charity IT Leaders. Stuart enjoys regular public speaking, and also has been known to do stand-up comedy gigs occasionally.

Virtue Chain builds the link between enthusiastic and talented technology teams, and organisation strategic goals. By focusing on people, strategy, governance and decision-making structures, Virtue Chain can help your charity get the right leadership approach across AI, Technology, Digital, Data, and transformation. We use maturity models, and partnering approaches to help trustees, CEO’s and exec leaders see the potential for technology in their organisation, and understand where to start in turning ideas into action.

Get in contact with [email protected] if you’d like to chat. Typically the conversation starts from either a trustee, CEO or CTO level.

In case its not obvious, views expressed are the personal views of the podcast host and guests and don’t necessarily represent those of any organisations they work with or for, either now or in the past.