Our directors

I am a retired accountant and I spent my whole career working with charities, social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations. I also help a number of charities as a volunteer, including being a trustee. When I moved to Orkney in 2022, I was keen to get involved in the charity sector here, and I was recruited to the Board of Directors of Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO). I am now the Treasurer.

I live near Stromness, and I enjoy walking and exploring the islands. I am a member of several walking groups and also enjoy going to the many cultural events that happen here in Orkney.

I am one of the founders of Orkney Creative Hub and we were so grateful to Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) for providing us with premises back in 2009 when our previous home was closed.

During our occupancy at Bridge Street we were supported in very many ways by the team at VAO and when the suggestion came to join the board I was delighted to agree and return some of the support that we had received.

That was over 10 years ago and I am still pleased to be working with the team at VAO to support the other organisations, both large and small, that create such a lively and wide ranging framework for the whole community within Orkney.

After leaving Kirkwall Grammar School, I worked with Ortak for 37 years before joining Orkney Health and Care as a Mobile Community Responder. I then spent the year and half leading up to my retirement as the Tech Peer Mentor at Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO).

I have always done voluntary work of some kind and was a Coastguard Rescue Officer for 47 years. I am a strong believer that we can all help our local community in so many ways and that is why I became a board member of VAO.

I joined the board of Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) in October 2023. My involvement with VAO began as a Volunteer Development Worker, where I gained an understanding of the organisation's mission, operations and community impact. Now, as a director, I’m thrilled to continue my involvement with the charity in a strategic capacity. I participate in both the Communications and Human Resources subcommittees, where I can draw on my diverse background in arts management, education, and community engagement to help support VAO.

I have worked in the charity and arts sectors for a long time. Before moving to Orkney, I was Director of St Ives School of Painting and am now Business Manager for AccessArt, a national charity providing digital resources for art educators and curriculum support for teachers across the UK.

I work as Director of Advocacy for a national children’s charity, which delivers advocacy services throughout Scotland. I sit as Chair of the National Providers Network, a forum for advocacy providers who have been commissioned by ScotGov to deliver Children’s Hearing Services advocacy throughout Scotland. As well as being on the Board of Voluntary Action Orkney, I am also a Trustee of the Kristin Linklater Voice Foundation and I have been elected as the Scotland Representative for UNISON National Black Members' Committee. I also hold a judicial appointment as a Mental Health Tribunal Service (MHTS) Legal Convener.

I joined the Board of VAO, because it is crucial that the third sector develops and grows, by sharing knowledge and experience to sustain, support and develop key organisations and key talent.

I joined the board of Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) in July 2024. I am a resident of Stromness and worked for Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) in the Orkney area team from 1995 until I retired in 2025. Whilst with HIE my work involved supporting community groups, development trusts and other social enterprises. I have sat on many local partnerships including Community Planning, Community Learning & Development and was Chair of the Local Action Group (LAG) for the Orkney Community Led Local Development (CLLD) fund.

During my time at HIE, I worked closely with VAO and was involved in supporting a number of VAO led initiatives. Through this I developed an understanding of, and respect for, the work of VAO and I am delighted to be able to bring my knowledge and experience of community development to the Board.