ENSA is delighted to announce that Tony Foster has joined the association as its new Chief Executive Officer
We are delighted to announce that Tony Foster is the new Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association.
Prior to this role, Tony has worked in Community Development Trusts and Students' Associations for 35 years.
Tony said today, “I am returning to the student movement and look forward to contributing to the good work of Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association. Over the last 14 years I took a lot of the skills I learnt in Students’ Associations with sabbaticals, representatives, welfare, societies, volunteers and events teams to my work in community development.
I hope to bring back a new perspective to contribute positively with our students, Edinburgh Napier University and our stakeholders to help ENSA be a leading student organisation for our members.”
Tony was recently the CEO of Stratherrick and Foyers Community Trust in the Highlands for three and a half years. In that time he helped launch the Community Action Plan, the first Place Plan to be submitted in the Highlands and initiated projects for improved governance and communication, additional funding for increased staffing provision, partnership working, volunteer success evenings, community events, land purchases, building of homes for affordable rent, community transport, community growing, childcare, after school care, play parks and also ensured resources in place to achieve planning for three major projects community hubs across the district for bio diversity, heritage, arts, crafts, sport and community engagement.
Prior to that, he was CEO at Kirknewton Community Development Trust, seconded to Addiewell Community Trust to ensure future sustainability, Marketing Manager at Edinburgh University Students’ Association and the University of West of Scotland Students’ Association (known as Paisley Tech at the time). He was recently asked to return to Kirknewton Community Development Trust as a Board Member.
In addition, Tony has undertaken volunteer roles as Chair of Visit West Lothian, Chair of Balerno High School Parent Council, Treasurer of Pre School club KASPARS, Board Member of Leader European Funding for West Lothian, Board Member of West Lothian Social Enterprise Network,launched the forum of West Lothian Development Trusts, Board Member of the Association of Managers in Student Unions Steering Committee, a founding member of the Student Union Staff Marketing Initiative Committee, ran a local youth club, was a Board Member for Scottish National Association of Youth Theatres and worked at Stirling Arts Festival.
He also worked on the Engaging Communities Toolkit for the office of the Chief Executive of West Lothian Council and advised his local Community Council for over ten years.