Amanda Collins Since 1999, Amanda has worked in brand, marketing, events, strategic communications, internal communications and change management. Expand Amanda hails from Sussex in the South East and was educated at Middlesex University. She has worked in marketing and communications since 1999, starting her career in pharmaceuticals, and working extensively across a number of sectors including engineering, software and online publishing. During this time, Amanda has worked in brand, marketing, events, strategic communications, internal communications and change management. In 2014, she made the move to the third sector and currently heads up the Scottish marketing communications team for a national homelessness charity. She and her family are passionate users, supporters and advocates of The Yard. Amanda joined our Board in January 2019.
Caroline Scott Caroline has worked in HR across a number of sectors over the past 20 years. Expand Caroline graduated from the University of Edinburgh and has worked in Human Resources across a number of sectors, in both the UK and overseas, over the past 20 years. Having returned to Edinburgh, Caroline is now HR Director at Skyscanner, and works closely with the business to find, develop and retain the best talent to grow the business. Caroline has undertaken much fundraising over the years and joined our board in January 2019.
Dr Patricia D Jackson Patricia is committed to the ideal of parent and child responsive services, and an integrated approach to service provision. Expand Dr Jackson was educated in Belfast, trained at Edinburgh University Medical School and worked as a Consultant Paediatrician in Children’s Services at NHS Lothian. Dr Jackson acted in an advisory capacity to the Scottish Government in the development of ASN legislation and has a continuing interest in its development and implementation. She was a member of the SIGN Guidelines for Management of Epilepsy in Children & Young People. She is a past Chair of the Scottish Association of Community Child Health, a member of British Association of Community Child Health Council and a Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Her support to voluntary organisations includes being a founder member and past Director of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, a member of the Advisory Group for MOVE, and Convener of Down’s Syndrome Medical Interest Group for the UK. Dr Jackson has been Vice Chair of the Family Fund, and is currently Vice Convener and Board member of Children in Scotland.
Ian Harris Ian has worked in various roles in the investment management industry and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Expand Ian is the Global Head of Business Management for Aberdeen Standard Investment’s Private Markets Investment Business. Prior to the merger of Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management in 2017, Ian was a Partner and Chief Operating Office of SL Capital Partners LLP, a subsidiary of Standard Life Investments, managing private equity and infrastructure funds. Ian has worked in various roles in the investment management industry during his career and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. He holds an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. Ian joined our Board in January 2019.
Ian Vann, Chair Ian joined our Board in 2010 and became Chair in October 2014. Expand Ian was born in Montrose, Angus and educated at the University of Glasgow. He continued to work there in teaching and research until he joined BP in 1976. After 20 years touring the world in the hunt for oil and gas, Ian then led BP's global exploration efforts until his retirement in 2007. Ian was appointed Visiting Professor in Geosciences at Princeton University in 2007. He is currently a non-executive director of Serica Energy PLC, an independent oil and gas exploration company listed in London and Toronto, and Spectraseis AG, a privately owned oil sector service company, based in Zurich, Switzerland.
Jane Green Jane advised a range of charity clients throughout her legal career and has extensive knowledge of charity governance. Expand Jane joined our Board after spending more than 20 years as a lawyer specialising in employment law, having been a partner with leading firm Maclay Murray & Spens since 2001. Jane advised a broad range of clients throughout her legal career, including the boards and management teams of many charities. She has extensive knowledge of charity governance, having previously been a member of the RZSS Board and now a member of the Board of Dunedin Canmore Housing.
Leigh McArthur Leigh brings a wealth of experience in delivery of transformational programmes and initiatives. Expand From her 20 years’ experience in Financial Services, Leigh brings a wealth of experience in customer services, operations, proposition development, marketing, and delivery of transformational programmes and initiatives. Over her career, Leigh has also taken the time to support young people who are moving into the workplace for the first time by being a mentor for the Career Ready Programme. Having experience of growing up with someone impacted by disability, she appreciates the services offered through The Yard, and has used her creativity to develop innovative fundraising ideas to support us. Leigh joined our Board in January 2019.
Louise Brook Louise is a chartered surveyor who has worked in property in Edinburgh for 20 years. Expand Louise began her working life in Hong Kong. Between school and university, she was a volunteer English teacher in a Vietnamese refugee camp there. After university, Louise spent five years living in Hong Kong. She first worked for Vigers, where she qualified as a chartered surveyor, then went on to set up an art consultancy, Dickins & Rigg, which specialised in bringing over art exhibitions from Europe. Louise is now Managing Director of Dickins Edinburgh, a short-term letting specialist that she established in 1998.
Neil Granger Working in engineering consultancy, Neil has extensive experience delivering projects including facilities for disabled children. Expand Born in Glasgow, but raised and educated in Edinburgh, Neil has worked in engineering consultancy since 2000. Specialising in building services engineering and sustainability, he has extensive experience, in Scotland and further afield, leading multidisciplinary design teams and delivering projects such as education facilities, including daycare and facilities for disabled children. He has supported The Yard since early 2011 through leading the Corporate and Social Responsibility team at AECOM, for whom The Yard were local charity partner. Neil joined our Board in January 2019.
Paul Thompson Paul brings extensive fundraising experience in Scotland's charity sector to our Board. Expand Paul is from Bangor in Northern Ireland and was educated at the University of St Andrews. He has worked in the charity sector, first at Cancer Research UK and more recently at Marie Curie for almost fifteen years. During this time he has held a number of positions in business planning, brand management, charity retail and policy. However, for much of his career he has worked within fundraising, where he gained extensive experience, particularly in community fundraising. Paul's current role is Head of Regional Fundraising for Marie Curie in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Paul joined our Board in March 2015.
Peter Tyson Peter brings extensive experience in legal, corporate governance and regulatory compliance to our Board. Expand Peter brings extensive experience in legal, corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters to our Board. Since qualifying as a lawyer in 1999, Peter has spent 20 years in practice within the financial services industry, holding senior roles in both legal and compliance. Peter also holds an MBA from Edinburgh University Business School, which he completed in 2012. He previously acted as a mentor for Career Ready (Scotland), which supports young people in their journey from education to rewarding employment. Peter joined our Board in January 2019.
Richard Lewis Richard brings experience in IT, management, sales, marketing and strategy to our Board. Expand Richard has worked in the IT sector for over 20 years, the majority of that time in general management, sales and marketing roles. Having re-located to Edinburgh in 2003, Richard led an Information Security business until its acquisition in 2009, after which he became responsible for the merged organisation's Europe, Middle East and African operation. Richard now runs his own Management Consultancy focusing on business strategy, sales and marketing development, and executive coaching. He serves on the board of Byte Night Scotland, an IT charity raising funds for Action for Children. Richard joined our Board in 2012.
Richard Mathison, Treasurer Richard is a chartered accountant specialising in corporate finance. Expand Richard is a chartered accountant specialising in corporate finance, currently working in the financial services industry. He volunteers with the Princes Trust Youth Business Scotland as a business mentor and spent two years supporting start-up and community businesses in Guyana, South America with Voluntary Services Overseas. Richard joined our Board in December 2014.