Trustees and governance

My career has been mostly in forestry where I am particularly interested in promoting natural environments and spaces for the contribution they make to our personal and collective wellbeing.

I am the Camphill Scotland delegate for Milltown Community. I have been a Camphill co-worker for over 35 years – first in Northern Ireland and then in Scotland. I have been actively involved in the work of Camphill Scotland since its beginning. I have a keen interest in the on-going development of the Camphill communities and in issues to do with the development of the world wide movement of intentional communities in general. I am a founding member of the Camphill Scotland Research Group.

I have been at Camphill School Aberdeen since 2005 and I was recently appointed as Executive Director. I have an MA in Dutch employment and company law, a BA in Social Pedagogy and an SVQ 4 in Leadership and Management level 10.

I have been a Trustee on the board of Beannachar for the past 7-8 years. I am a retired GP having worked in the health service for over 35 years and for many years I was responsible for the care of young adults with severe learning difficulties. This experience greatly increased my appreciation of the needs and care provision required, and how a homely environment is pivotal for them to flourish. I feel Camphill provides this in ‘spadefuls’ and I hope my experience will enable me to support the continuing development of the Camphill communities.

I joined the Camphill Blair Drummond community in early 2008 as their Director of Operations. I have over 24 years’ experience in health & social care, with a range of roles in both the private & third sector. Since joining Camphill Blair Drummond, I have had the pleasure in leading the community through a significant period of growth and change. I believe that the knowledge and experiences gained from various roles and my interest in supporting people to realise their potential, will enable me to support the work of Camphill Scotland and the growth of Camphill communities in the future. I am also a trustee for the Camphill Central Scotland Social Fund, Ochil Tower School and Loch Arthur Community. The balance to all this is my wife and three girls who provide a different range of joys and challenges!

I hope that my forty years of Camphill experience together with my fresh outlook can be a positive influence for promoting great practice, embracing diversity and understanding the importance of community.   Growing up in Camphill was a privilege in that I was able to share experiences with lots of unique and wonderful people from all over the world. I have also experienced the challenges that are faced in community. This has given me an extensive tool box for responding creatively to change.  As one of the registered managers in Tigh a’ Chomainn I have a variety of roles which include cooking as well as office work. However, I am always happiest doing things together with others.

I came to Tiphereth Camphill in Edinburgh in 2018, to finalise the establishment of our Supported Living Service.  I have managed a range of care and support services over my career in a range of different settings. I qualified as a Social Worker in 2006 and worked as a front-line social worker for several years before being drawn back to the voluntary sector, where I enjoy the ability to work creatively to effect change and transformation for the people we support.

Between 2010 and 2018 I was a Trustee for STAF (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum) and oversaw a period of transformation of this membership organisation, which was very rewarding, as well as providing me with sound experience of governance.

The work of Camphill Communities across Scotland is inspiring and really promotes a ‘can do’ attitude, which is very much aligned with my own personal and professional values. In my own time I love nothing more than being outdoors with my family and the dogs, be this up a mountain or by the sea.

I am one of five registered general managers and the HR representative for Newton Dee Village, where I have lived and worked as a vocational coworker since November 2006. I have a BA(hons) in Psychology from the Open University and have been awarded SVQ 4 and an RMA. After four years as a vocational coworker in the Sheiling Schools in Hampshire, I spent several years in the South of France providing holidays for groups of residents and coworkers from Newton Dee and other organisations across Europe.This diverse experience has shaped my passion for developing the intentional community model into the future. I am keen on discovering and developing talent within our community and encouraging delegation and leadership development across all areas.

We hold an AGM to update Members on our work on their behalf over the course of the past year. We like to make the event as participatory as possible, including a contribution from the host Member community along with opportunities for discussion and feedback from all members.

Please follow this link to read our latest Annual review.