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.
Dr 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).
John Macpherson - Treasurer Expand John has been Galgael's Treasurer since 2017. He graduated in Accountancy & French from the University of Aberdeen before working in audit & corporate tax, where he worked with a variety of clients, from sole traders to FTSE 100 companies in Aberdeen and Glasgow. He then moved to work in the pension & life insurance sector in a variety of accountancy & management roles. John is also the Treasurer for his children’s school parents’ association. He describes volunteering at Galgael as good for the soul and says that having people thank him for coming and doing what he does is a refreshing change from the corporate world.
Aylish McFarlane Expand Aylish joined the Galgael board in 2025. She is a counselling psychologist working within an NHS addiction psychology service where she supports individuals in recovery, provides therapeutic interventions, and contributes to community addiction recovery services. Her practice is trauma-informed and grounded in a commitment to reducing stigma and providing person-centred care. Aylish is passionate about the role of community-led approaches in fostering lasting change and empowerment. She is dedicated to upholding Galgael’s values of social justice and resilience, and to helping create inclusive pathways that support well-being and meaningful participation in community life.
Dr Elaine Cooper - Chair Expand Elaine became Chair of the Galgael Board in February 2024 after serving as a trustee for two years. She had long been an admirer and supporter of Galgael through work on policy and community engagement. She had previously worked as a print and radio journalist in London and Scotland. After the birth of her daughters she became a mature student at Strathclyde University where her focus was on researching health and education policies designed to address inequality, but which failed to support those most in need. She believes that Galgael offers hope in an increasingly polarised and self-destructive world.
Dr Jennifer McLean Expand Jennifer was born, raised and educated in the west coast of Scotland and joined the GalGael Board in 2022. Jennifer has held a number of local and national NHS roles and is currently Acting Deputy Director at the Glasgow Centre for Population Health where she contributes to centre management and governance alongside leading programmes of research around community-led approaches for health and wellbeing. Jennifer first got to know the work of GalGael during her early explorations of the work of community organisations, and was inspired by the work and approach taken by the team and the special GalGael environment. She brings experience in public health research, community-based responses to population health improvement, and the evaluation of complex interventions to the Board. Jennifer is also an honorary lecturer at the University of Glasgow.
Gerry McCartney Expand Gerry McCartney graduated from medicine at the University of Glasgow and did his GP vocational training in Paisley. Whilst working as a junior doctor he completed an honours degree in Economics and Development at the University of London. After this he entered the Public health training scheme, based initially at NHS Argyll and Clyde and then at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. In 2010 he took up post as Head of the Scottish Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO) at NHS Health Scotland and then Public Health Scotland. This role involved leading a programmes of research on: the higher mortality in Scotland and Glasgow compared to similarly socioeconomically deprived populations; the causes and solutions to health inequalities; the economic determinants of population health; and the causes of the stalled trends in life expectancy across many high-income countries. In September 2021 he was appointed as Professor of Wellbeing Economy at the University of Glasgow. He is currently developing a programme of research and teaching on how to redesign economies to better serve ecological, social and health outcomes. He is a honorary Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Scotland and NHS Grampian, and continues to work on the causes of mortality and health inequality trends.