Community Energy Scotland Board

Community Energy Scotland was incorporated on 9th November 2007 as a Company Limited by Guarantee with no share capital (Company No. SC333698) and a registered Scottish Charity (No. SC039673). The objectives of the Company are to advance community development within Scotland; to advance environmental protection within Scotland and to prevent or relieve poverty within Scotland through improved approaches to energy conservation and use. A copy of its Memorandum and Articles of Association are available here. 

At Community Energy Scotland's AGM in August 2009, a new board of directors was elected by community members, the nominees having been proposed by these community groups. The directors of Community Energy Scotland Board give their time on a voluntary basis to serve the aims and objectives of the organisation.  In December 2009 the new board co-opted a further three directors. They bring to the board a range of experience and expertise, from community development, financial management and technical knowledge, all directly relevant to the work of Community Energy Scotland.    You will find details of the Community Energy Scotland board on this page below.   

David Cameron, Chair

David Cameron is Chairman of the North Harris Trading Company, a subsidiary of the North Harris Trust, the organisation responsible for the management and development of the community-owned North Harris Estate.  NHTC are leading renewable energy development within North Harris and are currently involved in on-shore wind, hydro and biomass developments. David is very committed to the principle of community land ownership and was a member of the group involved in the purchase of North Harris by the community in 2003. He is also a member of a recently formed group managing a feasibility study on the potential of Harris as Scotland’s third National Park. David served as Vice Chair on the previous board of Community Energy Scotland.

Ann Kirby, Vice Chair 

Ann has been a member of Tiree Community Development Trust since 2007 and advises the Trust on financial matters. As a director of the Trust’s subsidiary, Tiree Renewable Energy Company Ltd (TREL), Anne was instrumental in securing an Enercon E44 wind turbine for the community wind project and last year negotiated the terms and conditions to complete the funding and commercial contracts for the project. The estimated £1m net cash from the first 10 years will form the basis of match funding for future community projects on Tiree. Anne is a Chartered Accountant, qualified for over 20 years, and a member of the Charity and Voluntary Sector special interest group. Her professional career included, as Senior Manger at KPMG, leading a large department advising Charities and, as the UK group tax manager for subsidiaries of Alliance and Leicester, acting as a member of its Credit Committee

Angus Hardie

Originally trained as an accountant, Angus changed direction and retrained in social work before working on a number of community led regeneration initiatives during the 1980s in the large housing estates that sit on the fringes of Edinburgh. In the early '90s he worked in schools with a focus on improving home-school relationships before moving to a city-wide post with a focus on the integration of services for children and families across Edinburgh. More recently, he was responsible for establishing Development Trusts Association Scotland and worked as CEO for five years. He is currently Director of Local People Leading, an alliance of national community sector networks which has been formed to advance the community agenda in Scotland.

Carola Bell

As a director of Urras Oighreachd Ghabsainn (Galson Estate Trust, Isle of Lewis), Carola has been involved in the process of community land buyout. To sustain the development, Galson are plan to erect 3 wind turbines to help contribute to carbon reduction and provide an income for future local development.  Galson Estate Trust is also a Community Powerdown group involved in working on energy efficiency issues. With another local group, Sporsnis, Carola has been closely involved in the building of a large community centre that uses four sources of renewable energy. 
 

Colin Risbridger
Colin is a chartered engineer who was formerly employed by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Community Energy Unit some years ago.  He has since completed many renewable energy projects with the Westray Development Trust including wind, biodiesel, ground source heat pump and solar. In our private business, Heat and Power Limited, he delivered the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company contract for Orkney with business partner Sam Harcus.  During the last three years he has been involved in the construction of three biogas plants. More recently he was involved in forming Energy Action Westray to take on and deliver an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on Westray by 2050 and became a ‘Community Powerdown area and Community Energy Scotland member. Colin also works full-time for the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre Highlands and Islands providing advice to businesses and households in Orkney and Caithness.

Craig Campbell

Craig is currently Chief Executive of Social Investment Scotland a post he has held since March 2009. Previous to that Craig was Head of Community Banking with Bank of Scotland. Craig’s principal background is in structured corporate financing. He also spent seconded time with CBI Scotland at the time of the birth of the Scottish Parliament where he worked on policy issues such as Education, Transport and Environment.  Craig lives in Edinburgh with his young family. An avid football fan he coaches young children as a qualified SFA coach and lives in hope of eventually seeing his beloved Hibs one day lift the Scottish Cup!

John Flett Brown
John set up and chaired the Stromness Community Development Trust in 2006.  He also  chaired the Stromness Community Council subcommittee on renewable energy. John was actively involved with the “Orkney Community Energy Partnership” set up to explore corporative approaches to delivery of planning, environmental impact and financing of community wind turbines.
John is a professional geologist with a wide range of experience and a consultant in the hydrocarbon and environmental geological fields. He was a senior manager in oil exploration and a councillor for Orkney Islands Council. He was a chairman of the COSLA sports and recreation committee and has board level experience in several commercial businesses, ERT Ltd, Edinburgh UK, director; Orcades Viking Ltd, Stromness, chairman, executive director; SEPA Dingwall, UK director North Regional Board; Norfish Ltd, Stromness, chairman, executive director. 

Pauline Gallacher

With a background in architecture, planning and community participation, in 2004 Pauline initiated Space to Live, an ambitious community-based public space campaign in her home town of Neilston. In 2006 she led on the Community Right to Buy of the former Clydesdale Bank in the village, and plays a central role in the development of the Neilston Development Trust, (NDT) the successor to Space to Live. NDT has been a key partner in Neilston’s development as the first Scottish Renaissance Town, an initiative re-affirming the role and character of Scotland’s smaller towns. With projects encompassing windfarm development, renovation of the bank, cultural renewal, community carbon reduction and a volunteering programme, all delivered by a largely volunteer team, the Trust’s development has far exceeded the ambitions of 6 years ago. She was also a panel member of the Climate Challenge Fund.

Directors' Register of Interests

Community Energy Scotland maintains a Register which records the declared interests of all the directors who sit on its board.  Details of the current Register are available here.