Sandra Hastings MSc. BSc.

I am a charity leader, researcher and writer whose work brings together strategic leadership, organisational development, dementia inclusion, ageing and the future of the third sector. I combine 25 years of corporate experience with direct experience of founding and leading a community organisation, giving me a perspective that is both strategic and grounded in the realities of service delivery.

As Founder and Chief Executive of Silverline Memories CIO, a Newcastle-based dementia charity, I have been closely involved in organisational development, governance, partnership building, fundraising, service improvement and community engagement. My work focuses on creating inclusive, sustainable support for people living with dementia and those around them. It has also informed my wider interest in how small charities grow, adapt and plan responsibly for leadership change. I hold an MSc in Strategic Leadership from Newcastle University Business School, awarded in 2023, and I am a Chartered Manager through the Chartered Management Institute.

My professional interests include succession planning in small charities, founder-led organisations, institutional ageism, leadership through organisational change and the practical challenge of sustaining community services. I am particularly interested in turning research and strategic thinking into action that can be used by leaders, trustees and practitioners.

My published research spans critical social work with older people, dementia and participatory design. I have co-authored peer-reviewed studies exploring tailored virtual-reality experiences for people with dementia, the capture of meaningful experiences to support families, and the representation of participants and changing sensitivities within a dementia hackathon. My wider writing addresses human rights, ageing, social policy, charity leadership and succession planning.

Across my leadership, research and writing, I return to a consistent set of questions: how organisations remain true to their purpose, how leadership can be shared and renewed, and how the voices and rights of older people are reflected in services and public life. I write and speak for audiences interested in dementia inclusion, ageing, strategic leadership, organisational sustainability and the future of community-based support.