Staff & Directors

Community Development Manager

Tina Morrow: Tina has joined us as Community Development Manager.  She has lived in the Highlands for 23 years and has worked in the voluntary sector for twenty years.  Tina has a range of experience supporting local communities and has worked with communities across Scotland to develop services that meet their needs.

 

 

Assistant Community Development Officer

Kara Scott: Originally from Elgin, Kara moved to Inverness in 2019. Previously, she lived in Fort William where she completed an Honours degree in Marine and Coastal Tourism. It was during this time she found a passion for sustainable community development, which led her to complete her MSc degree in Sustainable Rural Development in October 2022. Whilst studying, she completed a 6 month contract as Net Zero Officer with Thurso Community Development Trust.

 

 

Glens Befriending Co-ordinator

Sarah Selby: Sarah recently moved up from Dorset and has a range of experience from starting out in Design before moving into the Care sector working as Club Support, where she set up and ran new lottery funded clubs for the Elderly. Over the years Sarah has volunteered for a number of charities and community groups.

 

 

 

Board of Directors – Soirbheas Ltd

Jimmy Murray – Director & Chair: Jimmy joined as a director in 2019 and lives with his family in Balnain. He leads business development and coordinating European R&D grant programmes for a Scottish marine energy company. Previously, Jimmy worked as a renewable energy consultant specialising in supporting community organisations around Scotland to develop their own renewable energy projects.
He is keen to support the communities of Strathglass and Glen Urquhart in maximising the potential benefits from projects here. He holds an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology from Loughborough University.

 

Malcolm Wield – Director: Malcolm came to Glen Urquhart in 1993 as Forest District Manager for the Forestry Commission, based in Fort Augustus. He ran the FC National Forest Land Scheme 2006 – 2016, transferring over 40 public forest areas to community ownership. He has always been passionate the outdoor environment and particularly about securing favourable condition for native semi-natural woodlands. He was a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters for 25 years and is a member of both the Native Woodland Discussion group and the Royal Scottish Forestry Society.
After a 44 year career with FC, he left in 2017 to start up Highland Canoe Experience, a bespoke river and expedition canoe guiding service.

 

David Cooper – Director: Originally from Glasgow, David lived in the South East for twenty years. David moved to Balnain with his family in 2017 being familiar with the area having walked and holidayed in the Highlands from a young age.
With a background in Electronics and Control System Engineering David is currently pursuing an interest in marine renewable energy.

David is aware of the benefits that community projects can bring and is keen to support local organisations.

 

Jennifer Service – Director: Jenny is born and brought up in Drumnadrochit and now has her own family in the village. She has a BSc Hons in Physics and recently completed her MSc in Sustainable Energy Solutions. Working in the renewables sector she is keen to help the local communities of Glen Urquhart and Strathglass to benefit from renewable energy projects in their area.

 

 

Arlene Johnstone – Director: Arlene has a passion for improving the quality of life for people within the community. Arlene has been working with adults living with learning disabilities in a variety of settings for over  20 years. She said she is now keen to explore “creative” ways of ensuring disabled people are able to lead rewarding lives. Arlene has been pivotal in helping us launch the Sunflower Home Care service in the local area.

 

 

Alison Strange – Director: Alison moved to Bunloit with her husband in 2008. She worked as an ecologist and research scientist specialising in habitat restoration for almost 30 years and now helps to run a small croft with a wool business. She is passionate about textiles, home produce, community, fairness and equality.

 

 

For information on joining as a Director, please visit our vacancies page.

 

Company Secretary

Eric TrelferErik Trelfer – Secretary: Erik has lived in Glen Urquhart for almost 20 years and works as a Chartered Insurance Broker. Erik is involved in the community of Glenurquhart as Clerk to the Congregational Board of Urquhart & Glenmoriston Church of Scotland and Youth group team member. For a number of years Erik has been interested in renewable energy and saw this as an ideal opportunity to get involved in a suitable project. He believes if we accept windfarms and power lines, then we should secure some of the wealth they generate and plough it back for the benefit of the community (in the way Shetland have with oil). This partnership in a small windfarm is a tremendous opportunity for the community to secure a long term income stream and enable it to become more self sufficient and independent.

Board of Directors – Soirbheas Trading Ltd

Andrew Castell – Director: Andrew is a Strathglass resident. He is a partner in Par Equity LLP, an Edinburgh-based venture capital firm and was a non-executive director of Highlands & Islands Airports Limited. His interest in Soirbheas stems from his belief that projects of this type can help draw together communities in the Highlands. He also has a professional interest in the renewable energy sector, as one of Par Equity’s key areas of focus is sustainability, which includes renewable energy.

Erik Trelfer – Director: See above.

Jim Barr – Director:  Jim is also a Director of the Camanachd with responsibility for Finance and Coaching and involved in the Abriachan Forest Trust.

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