Mike McCarron - Chair Expand Mike is our current Chairperson and worked in local government and the NHS in Glasgow in a wide variety of social services. During this time he has had continuing involvement as trustee in a variety of voluntary organisations. He was a local councillor for eight years and has contributed to the development of Scotland-wide alcohol and drugs strategy. What he most values are local communities that prevent social problems developing in the first place and being part of communities and networks committed to eradicating social and economic injustice.
John Macpherson - Treasurer Expand John Macpherson is our current Treasurer. John is a Chartered Accountant and has worked for a variety of clients for KMPG in Aberdeen and Glasgow offices, in both audit and corporate tax, and subsequently for Abbey National/Santander as product accountant for their Pensions division.
Penny Cousins Expand An economist by training, Penny has worked as an independent consultant since 1984 specialising in the development and delivery of strategic projects that contribute to sustainable development. Penny is the former Chief Executive of the Millennium Forest for Scotland and was awarded an OBE for her work on the development and delivery of this initiative. She was also Chief Executive of Forward Scotland and she led the development and establishment of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network and contributed to the development programme for the Central Scotland Green Network. Penny lives and works in Argyll.
Stuart McMahon - Chair Enterprise Board Expand Stuart is a Trust board member as well as Chair of GalGael Enterprises Board. Stuart is an Operations Manager for British Airways Aircraft Maintenance in Glasgow. Stuart is a chartered mechanical engineer with 25 years experience of engineering and operations management. In 2000 he led a re-organisation project that concluded in securing British Airways Airbus maintenance work for the Glasgow hangar and the continued employment of around 250 people. He has recently returned to that organisation after 4 years as Engineering Director for Loganair and is currently leading the Planning, Production Engineering, Strategy and Lean functions.
John Carnochan Expand John Carnochan was an active police officer for nearly four decades, including as deputy head of the Criminal Investigation Department within Strathclyde Police and rose to the rank of Detective Chief Superintendent. As the co-founder and co-director of the Violence Reduction Unit, John led a variety of successful initiatives in tackling gang violence, knife crime and domestic violence. John is an adviser to the World Health Organisation, serves on the Scottish Government’s Early Years Task Force, as well on the boards of several groups. He has authored and co-authored two books; Conviction, On Being a Man.
Alastair McIntosh Expand Founding board member, Alastair McIntosh is an Isle of Lewis-raised writer, broadcaster and campaigning academic best known for his work on land reform on Eigg, in helping to stop the Harris superquarry; also for developing human ecology as an applied academic discipline in Scotland. He holds a degree of BSc in geography, submajoring in psychology and moral philosophy from the University of Aberdeen (1977), an MBA, specialising in finance, from the University of Edinburgh (1981) and a PhD by Published Works on liberation theology and contemporary Scottish land reform from the Academy of Irish Cultural Heritages at the University of Ulster (2008).
Robert Rae Expand Robert is Director of 3rd Horizons – that he founded in 2011. Previously, he worked in public policy; both Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. Latterly, he was Director of the Scottish Parliament’s futures think-tank, Scotland’s Futures Forum. Robert specialises in scenario planning and is an experienced facilitator, chair and researcher. Currently, Robert is working mostly on projects around strategy and workforce development but also designing and delivering a number of leadership programmes for managers and practitioners in health and social services in Scotland.
Alan Edmonds Expand Alan was born, educated and served a toolmaking apprenticeship in Dundee. He went on to become an engineer in the merchant navy, traveling the world as a deep-sea tourist predominantly to Australia and New Zealand. On returning to Dundee, Alan joined Timex Corporation as a toolmaker, and progressed through a number of business development and production management roles within their factories in the UK, Far East and Europe. Alan moved to factory management positions in a number of international telecoms and computer manufacturing companies In 2007, Alan retired from his role as Operations Manager for Jabil Circuit in Ayr including supporting the start-up of a new factory in Ukraine. Alan joined GalGael in 2008 as a volunteer bringing with him 50 years of experience in sailing.
Alan Torrance Expand Alan was born and raised in the East End of Glasgow. He left school at the age of 15. Alan has worked in jobs as diverse as Abattoir Porter to Theatrical Dancer, with a number of colourful positions in between. Through the blood and bones of Alan runs his love of Scotland, the traditions, the land, the people and more importantly the future. This is where GalGael comes in. Alan hopes he can contribute positively to the strength and wellbeing of GalGael moving forward in to new adventures ahead.
Gehan Macleod Expand Co-founder at GalGael Trust since it’s beginnings in 1995. Gehan is a community activist with strong interests in alternative economics, and exploring transformational change, community dynamics and emergence. She comes from a background in environmental activism that included Pollok Free State and Faslane Peace Camp that has taught her to adaptable and creative in exploring ways of taking and sharing responsibility.