The faces behind the Foundation
Our people are in the heart of what we do. They are responsible for our success, are part of our journey and accountable for building trust in communities across Scotland.
Here you'll find a list of our full team at Foundation Scotland. If you'd like to get in touch with anyone, use the enquiry form on our Contact Us page. Want to 'meet' our Trustees? Visit Our Trustees page.
Aala Ross - Regenerative Futures Fund
Aala co-leads the Regenerative Futures Fund, a new 10-year pooled fund for communities to lead long-term and systemic change in Edinburgh.
Ali Kennedy - Investment Executive
Ali is a Social Investment Executive in the Social Investment team with responsibility for assessing funding applications and monitoring the loan portfolio.
Alison Dabner - Central Systems Support Assistant
Alison joined Foundation Scotland in May 2020 and is part of the Finance and Operations department.
Annabel Bath - Funds Adviser
Annabel has been with the Foundation since 2008 and is responsible for donor stewardship. She supports donors to get the most out of their charitable giving.
Annie Tunnicliffe - Investment Executive
Annie is a Social Investment Executive in the Social Investment team, responsible for assessing applications for social finance, including loans. Annie’s background includes supporting third sector organisations to become investment-ready.
Beth Landon - Energy Projects Partnership Manager
Beth joined Foundation Scotland in April 2025 in a hosted role as Energy Projects Partnership Manager, working for the collaborative partners of East Lammermuir Community Council, SPEN, SSE Renewables and East Lothian Council.
Chris Lee - Community Funds Adviser
Chris brings extensive expertise in community-based arts practice and grassroots sports development. Chris is part of the Communities Team, working with fund panels in the North East and Argyll.
Chris Holloway - Head of Social Investment
Chris leads the social investment team, providing flexible finance opportunities to social enterprises across Scotland.
Claire Brown - Community Funds Manager
As Community Funds Manager, Claire manages the Communities Team covering the south of Scotland.
Conor Cross - Philanthropy Manager
Conor is a member of the Philanthropy Team and supports a portfolio of donors and grantmaking funds, as well as creating new distribution models.
Dani Simpson - Marketing Executive
Dani supports all brand communications for the Foundation, including website and social media updates, press releases and marketing collateral.
Deborah Cowan - Head of Communications
Deborah is responsible for all external communications for Foundation Scotland including press, digital and social media.
Debbie Herron - Community Funds Adviser
Debbie is part of the Communities team and works with fund panels in the North East and Argyll and Bute.
Dimana Harvey - Assistant Accountant
Dimana assists the Finance team in providing its core services.
Dylan West - Grants Officer
Dylan joined the Foundation in 2024 as part of the Finance and Operations team and has since progressed to the role of Grants Officer within the Philanthropy Team.
Eilidh Coll - Community Funds Adviser
Eilidh joined Foundation Scotland in 2015 and supports and develops community funds in Caithness and Sutherland.
Elizabeth Sams - Chief Finance and Operations Officer
Elizabeth is responsible for the Foundation's finance team and operations.
Emma Hutchison - Community Funds Adviser
Emma works in the South of Scotland Communities Team, supporting and developing Community Funds in that region.
Felicity Wright - Funds Adviser
Felicity joined Foundation Scotland in 2023. She will be supporting the Communities team in the delivery of a range of funds with projects across Scotland.
Fiona Mould - Funds Adviser
Fiona is a member of the Philanthropy Team and is responsible for donor stewardship and delivering a range of grant programmes throughout Scotland.
Giles Ruck - Chief Executive Officer
Giles focuses on working with colleagues to bring the strategic plan to life; ensuring the role of the Foundation remains informed, relevant and impactful across Scotland's communities.
Hayley Pryor - Community Funds Manager
Hayley joins us at Foundation Scotland as Community Funds Manager. She will be covering the north of Scotland in her role here.
Helen Wray - Head of Philanthropy and Quality
Helen joined the Foundation in 2003 and currently leads the Philanthropy Team supporting our portfolio of corporate donors, charitable Trusts and Foundations and UKCF programmes.
Jane Jack - People & Culture Business Partner
As People & Culture Business Partner, Jane's focus is employee engagement, support and wellbeing alongside HR projects and development.
Jennifer Malcolmson - Funds Adviser
Jennifer joined Foundation Scotland in 2005 as a Grants Administrator. Now Funds Adviser, Jennifer supports our corporate and charitable trust donors to deliver a wide range of grant programmes throughout Scotland.
Jo Finlay - Impact, Learning and Knowledge Manager
Jo will be providing impact, learning, and knowledge functions to support the Foundation's teams, communities, and donors to share their successes and experiences.
Kathryn Brignall - Central Systems Support Manager
Kathryn offers systems support to all teams across the Foundation. From processing grants and donations to helping with evaluations and reporting, Kathryn is our CRM master!
Katie Barnwell - Community Funds Adviser
Katie joined Foundation Scotland in 2024 and supports communities in the South of Scotland with the management and distribution of community benefit funds.
Kelly Bruce - Design and Communications Manager
Kelly joined in 2025, bringing extensive experience in communications and design. She works across all aspects of the Foundation’s public-facing content, developing innovative visual approaches and managing multi-platform design assets.
Kirstine McDonald - Development Executive
Kirstine assists in developing relationships with new and existing donors and raising the profile of the Foundation.
Laura McLeod - Central Administration Executive
Laura joined Foundation Scotland in 2017, working within the Finance and Operations team, her role includes management of the offices, supplier procurement and managing various other projects.
Leah Black - Regenerative Futures Fund
Leah leads the Regenerative Futures Fund, a new 10-year pooled fund for communities to lead long-term and systemic change in Edinburgh.
Leanne Rae - Central Systems Support Assistant
Leanne has been with Foundation Scotland since 2015. She is part of the Finance and Operations department and manages the Online Giving Account.
Linda Phillips - Funds Adviser
Linda joined Foundation Scotland in April 2014 and is part of the Philanthropy Team.
Linda West - Community Funds Adviser
Linda is part of the Communities Team, working with fund panels in South Ayrshire. She brings experience of working in local charities at various levels, including management in the local Third Sector Interface (TSI).
Lindsay Lyon - Funds Adviser
Lindsay Lyon joined the Philanthropy Team this year as a Funds Adviser. She has worked for a range of organisations in the public, private and third sector.
Livi Seligmann - Grants Officer
Livi helps the Philanthropy Team by assessing grant applications, supporting grant-making, and assisting with the administration of funds and programmes.
Lorna MacDonald - Community Funds Adviser
Lorna joined the team in 2024 as a Community Fund Advisor supporting grants as part of the Communities Team.
Malcolm Jack - Community Funds Manager
Malc manages the portfolio of place-based funds and Communites Team staff across Central Scotland, particularly supporting communities to manage and distribute community benefit funds from wind farms.
Marion McDonald - Community Funds Adviser
Marion supports community funds in Ross-shire and in Moray. This includes several EDF Corriemoillie community funds as well as an Education & Training scheme. She also supports EDF Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
Mary Travers - Community Funds Adviser
Mary joined Foundation Scotland in 2021 and works with communities across the central belt supporting the management and distribution of community benefit funds. Her goal is to support local Panels in grant-making activities which maximise the opportunities these funds offer.
Mercedes Jones - Funds Adviser
Mercedes joined Foundation Scotland in January 2021 to support the growth, development and delivery of our grantmaking programmes across Scotland. Coming from the European Solidarity Corps she brings extensive funding experience.
Niome Lucjan - Community Fund Advisor
Niome joined Foundation Scotland as part of the Communities Team in 2023. Niome’s experience stems from community and place-based development projects as well as volunteering projects within her local community.
Orla Bowden - Development Advisor
Orla supports the development of new donor relationships, finding synergy between funding opportunities and donor interests. As part of the Development Team, Orla provides strong donor stewardship and support to prospective funders.
Rachel Searle - Head of Communities and Impact
Rachel has been leading our Communities Team since 2011, developing place-based funds with communities and donors across Scotland.
Rachael Walker - Grants Officer
Rachael joined Foundation Scotland in 2023 as a Grants Officer in the Communities Team, supporting the administration of funds and programmes across Scotland.
Rosanna Dobson - Grants Officer
Rosanna joined Foundation Scotland in 2024 and is working with the Communities Team in the south.
Sam Bramwell - Community Funds Adviser
Sam joined the Communities Team in July 2018 and coordinates a number of funds benefitting Dumfries and Galloway, South Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.
Steff Bell - Revitalising Trusts Adviser
Steff works in partnership with OSCR to deliver the Revitalising Trusts Project. which helps ensure funds from apparently inactive or dormant charitable trusts are ‘unlocked’ to support good causes across Scotland.
Susan Skehel - Accountant
Sue supports the day to day finance function within Foundation Scotland.
Suzy Mercer - Community Funds Manager
Suzy manages the South of Scotland Communities Team. Suzy also supports the Kilgallioch Community Benefit Company, the Blackcraig Community Fund and does development work.
Vicki Moore - Head of Development
Vicki has responsibility for developing relationships with new and existing donors to Foundation Scotland and developing awareness of Foundation Scotland with allied professional service firms.