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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.

Ali Kennedy Foundation Scotland
Ali Kennedy Foundation Scotland

Ali Kennedy - Investment Executive

Ali is a Social Investment Executive in the Social Investment team with responsibility for assessing funding applications for social enterprises and monitoring the loan portfolio.

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Alison Dabner - Central Systems Support Assistant

Alison joined Foundation Scotland in May 2020 and is part of the Finance and Operations department.

Annabel Bath
Annabel Bath

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. 

Chris Lee Foundation Scotland
Chris Lee Foundation Scotland

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 Foundation Scotland
Chris Holloway Foundation Scotland

Chris Holloway – Head of Social Investment

Chris leads the social investment team, providing flexible finance opportunities to social enterprises across Scotland.

Dani Simpson Foundation Scotland
Dani Simpson Foundation Scotland

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 Foundation Scotland
Deborah Cowan Foundation Scotland

Deborah Cowan - Head of Communications

Deborah is responsible for all external communications for Foundation Scotland including press, digital and social media.

Debbie Herron - Foundation Scotland
Debbie Herron - Foundation Scotland

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.

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Dimana Harvey – Assistant Accountant

Dimana assists the Finance team in providing its core services.

Donna Adams-Allen Foundation Scotland
Donna Adams-Allen Foundation Scotland

Donna Adams-Allen - Community Funds Adviser

Donna brings over two decades worth of experience working with not-for-profit organisations both in charities and Infrastructure support organisations.

Eilidh Coll Foundation Scotland
Eilidh Coll Foundation Scotland

Eilidh Coll - Community Funds Adviser

Eilidh joined Foundation Scotland in 2015 and supports and develops community funds in Caithness and Sutherland.

Elizabeth Jeffrey - Foundation Scotland
Elizabeth Jeffrey - Foundation Scotland

Elizabeth Jeffrey - Social Investment Executive

Beth is part of the Social Investment team responsible for assessing funding applications for social enterprises and monitoring the loan portfolio.

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Elizabeth Sams – Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Elizabeth is responsible for the Foundation's finance team and operations.

Emma - Foundation Scotland
Emma - Foundation Scotland

Emma Hutchison - Community Funds Adviser 

Emma works in the South of Scotland Communities Team, supporting and developing Community Funds in that region.

Felicity Wright - Foundation Scotland
Felicity Wright - Foundation Scotland

Felicity Wright - Grants Officer


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 - Foundation Scotland
Fiona Mould - Foundation 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, CEO Foundation Scotland
Giles Ruck, CEO Foundation 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.

Heather Woods Foundation Scotland
Heather Woods Foundation Scotland

Heather Woods - Community Funds Adviser

Heather joined Foundation Scotland in 2023 to take up the role of community fund advisor. Her background is in community development, moving into communications and stakeholder/community engagement, working with organisations across the sectors.

Helen Wray - Foundation Scotland
Helen Wray - Foundation Scotland

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.

Jennifer Malcolmson, Foundation Scotland
Jennifer Malcolmson, Foundation Scotland

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 - Foundation Scotland
Jo Finlay - Foundation Scotland

Jo Finlay – Impact, Learning and Knowledge Manager

Jo has a background in demonstrating the social impact of programmes designed to tackle inequalities and improve well-being.  Jo will be providing impact, learning, and knowledge functions to support the Foundation's teams, communities, and donors to share their successes and experiences.

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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!

kirstine
kirstine

Kirstine McDonald – Development Executive

Kirstine assists in developing relationships with new and existing donors and raising the profile of the Foundation.

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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.

 

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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 - Foundation Scotland
Linda Phillips - Foundation Scotland

Linda Phillips - Funds Adviser

Linda joined Foundation Scotland in April 2014 and is part of the Philanthropy Team.

Linda West - Foundation Scotland
Linda West - Foundation Scotland

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). 

Livi Seligmann - Foundation Scotland
Livi Seligmann - Foundation Scotland

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.

Malcolm Jack - Foundation Scotland
Malcolm Jack - Foundation Scotland

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 - Foundation Scotland
Marion McDonald - Foundation Scotland

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.

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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 Green Foundation Scotland
Mercedes Green Foundation Scotland

Mercedes Green - 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 Foundation Scotland
Niome Lucjan Foundation Scotland

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. 

Rachel Searle Foundation Scotland
Rachel Searle Foundation Scotland

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 - Foundation Scotland
Rachael Walker - Foundation Scotland

Rachael Walker - Grants Officer

Rachael joined Foundation Scotland in 2023 as a Grants Officer in the Communities Team, supporting them with the administration of funds and programmes across Scotland.

Sam Bramwell Foundation Scotland
Sam Bramwell Foundation Scotland

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 Foundation Scotland
Steff Bell Foundation Scotland

Steff Bell - Revitalising Trusts Adviser

Steff joined the Foundation in 2021 to work in partnership with OSCR to deliver the Revitalising Trusts Project. The project was established to help ensure funds from apparently inactive or dormant charitable trusts are ‘unlocked’ to support good causes across Scotland.

Susan Foundation Scotland
Susan Foundation Scotland

Susan Skehel – Accountant

Sue supports the day to day finance function within Foundation Scotland.

Suzy
Suzy

Suzy Mercer - Community Funds Manager 

Suzy joined the Communities Team in July 2018 and now manages the South of Scotland Communities Team. Suzy also supports the Kilgallioch Community Benefit Company, the Blackcraig Community Fund and does development work. 

Vicki Corbett Foundation Scotland
Vicki Corbett Foundation Scotland

Vicki Corbett - 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.