Celebrating 12 Years of Leadership: Thank You, Ewan

After 12 years as Chief Executive of Cyrenians, Ewan Aitken has stepped down, leaving behind an organisation that is stronger, larger, and more influential than ever.

Reflecting on his time with the organisation, Ewan speaks in this short film about the people, moments and values that have shaped his journey and the lessons he hopes will continue to guide Cyrenians in the years ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UicjjtThlPc

When Ewan joined Cyrenians in 2013, the organisation employed fewer than 100 people and operated a handful of services. Today, Cyrenians reaches thousands more people every year through a diverse range of services, social enterprises and partnerships, while remaining true to the values that have always defined us: compassion, respect, integrity and innovation.

Throughout his time at Cyrenians, Ewan championed a simple but powerful belief: start with people. Whether supporting someone facing homelessness, isolation, poverty or barriers to opportunity, his focus was always on recognising the person before the problem.

Under his leadership, Cyrenians strengthened its role as both a provider of practical support and a voice for systemic change. From pioneering new approaches to homelessness prevention and public health, to helping shape national conversations and policy, Ewan encouraged us to think differently, act boldly and never lose sight of why we are here.

Those who have worked with Ewan know he brought not only vision and conviction, but also warmth, humour and an extraordinary ability to build relationships. He nurtured a culture where people felt valued, trusted and empowered to make a difference, qualities that continue to define Cyrenians today.

As we thank Ewan for his remarkable contribution, we do so with optimism for the future. We are delighted to welcome Kate Wallace as our new Chief Executive, and we look forward to the next chapter in Cyrenians’ story; building on strong foundations, continuing to innovate, and working alongside people and communities so that more people can flourish.

Thank you, Ewan, for your leadership, your passion and your unwavering belief in people. We wish you every success in whatever comes next.