COLUMBA 1400
Board of Trustees
Our trustees support Columba 1400’s work through good governance.
David Ogilvy
Trustee
David Ogilvy - Trustee
David is a Partner with Turcan Connell where he heads up the Dispute Resolution and Employment Law Department and has management responsibility within Turcan Connell for risk and regulatory compliance.
He previously served a term as Chairman of the Employment Tribunal and he is a panel member hearing appeals before the Police Appeal Tribunal. He is currently completing a term on the Board of Examiners of the Law Society of Scotland.
He sits on the board of governors of an independent school and has previously held board appointments with a college of further education and Leuchie House, which is a charity offering respite to people with multiple sclerosis.
David has two children and his main interests are cycling, walking and gardening.
Jamie Livingston
Co-Chair
Jamie Livingston - Co-Chair
Jamie is the CEO and Chair of Livingston James Group, a portfolio of boutique Executive Search & Leadership Advisory businesses launched in 2010. The group has three brands: Livingston James (Executive Search & leadership Advisory), Rutherford Cross (Senior Finance Appointments) and Hamilton Forth (Technology & Change Appointments). Prior to setting up the business, his early career was spent in the UK & Ireland with Hays and then Michael Page (Page Group).
Beyond his professional career Jamie is Regional Chair for The Wooden Spoon Society, a rugby charity focussed on supporting disadvantaged young people. He also plays a supporting role to his wife, Chloe, in ‘Project Present’ and ‘Back to school packs’ – community initiatives that they co-founded in partnership with their Church and local authorities in the west of Scotland to provide resources and support to young people in the local community.
He and Chloe live in Glasgow with their two children and Australian Labradoodle ‘Rocky’.
Jessica Chappelle
Young Person Consultant
Jessica Chappelle - Young Person Consultant
This new role has been created to champion the voice of young people so that their views are at the heart of all decisions made by the board.
Jessica took part in our Young People's Leadership Academy in 2016. She is studying psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, whilst also working part time and doing voluntary work.
She says: "I'm really excited to be a part of this new chapter for Columba 1400 and to have the opportunity to take on this role. It is already an amazing organisation and through adding myself and Marysia [our other Young Person Consultant] to the board they are making it even better, by saying that they value young people's opinions, and they want to listen to us."
Jessica lives at home with her parents, two younger sisters and golden retriever Aoife.
In her spare time, she loves reading, spending time with friends, going to concerts and listening to Taylor Swift.
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Judith McKay
Trustee
Judith McKay - Trustee
With 30 years’ experience of media, Judith was previously Director of Communications, Engagement and Public Affairs at NHS Lothian where she provided internal and external communications advice and strategies to help the NHS serve its community. Judith has a background in journalism, spending over 20 years at the BBC where she was a former Editor of BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland. She has worked as a TV producer, director and series editor making news programmes and current affairs documentaries based in Scotland, London and the USA. Judith is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Marysia Wojtylo
Young Person Consultant
Marysia Wojtylo - Young Person Consultant
This new role has been created to champion the voice of young people so that their views are at the heart of all decisions made by the board.
Marysia took part in our Young People’s Leadership Academy in 2017. She is now 19 and in her second year of studying psychology at Edinburgh University.
She says, “Before I started my Columba 1400 leadership academy, I was terrified. I had never been so far away from home before; I was shy and always preferred to stay within my comfort zone.”
The five-day residential in Skye marked a turning point in her life and she started to feel a drive to pursue a career where she could work with people.
“Now, if I have a challenge in my life, I look inwards to see what I can do. If I hadn’t had the Columban experience, I wouldn’t have been able to do some of the amazing things I’ve done since then. Taking part helped me realise who I want to be.”
“I’m so happy to have been appointed as a Young Person Consultant and excited to represent the voice of young people on the board at Columba 1400.”
Marysia also works part-time as a Youth and Children’s worker in a community centre where she is able to connect to her community and work alongside young people and families.
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Michael Donaldson
Co-Chair
Michael James Donaldson - Co-Chair
Mike lives in St Andrews with his wife and three children. As the Executive Chairman of James Donaldson & Sons Ltd, he is the sixth generation to work for the business which was established in 1860. After starting out on the shop floor, he has now worked for the three largest companies in the Donaldson Group. He graduated from Robert Gordon University with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies in 2002. He also studied at Napier University, becoming one of the first to gain an MSc in Timber Industry Management in 2007. Currently a Director of the James Donaldson & Sons Group of companies, Mike sits on the Governing Board of the Timber Trade Federation.
Stephen Abram
Trustee
Stephen Abrams - Trustee
Steve joined the Board of Columba 1400 in 2019 and chairs our Audit Committee. He has an extensive background in commercial business, with experience of managing and directing a privately-owned company within the maritime industry. Steve is currently a Director of Henry Abram Ltd and served as Director to Henry Abram & Sons from 1991 – 2014.
COLUMBA 1400
Staff Team
Alex Matheson
Head Chef
Alex Matheson - Head Chef
Alex was brought up on the Isle of Skye and trained to be a chef in his hometown of Portree. He then moved to the central belt and studied design, before moving back to Skye in 2007. He joined the Columban team in 2008 and is now in the process of buying his first home.
Alice Brown
Tutor
Alice Brown - Tutor
Previously Head Teacher of Tollcross Primary and Depute Head Teacher of Bonaly and Sciennes primary schools in Edinburgh, Alice is an SQH graduate and field assessor who has coached and mentored many head teachers and aspiring head teachers. During her time at Tollcross, she led the school from being a combined English and Gaelic Medium School to becoming Edinburgh’s stand-alone Gaelic Medium School. Alice has a strong interest in leading curriculum change, supporting the development of Creativity in Science for Education Scotland, working on science development for the City of Edinburgh Council, setting up a science laboratory in Sciennes and building a team of science mentors across her school cluster. She has developed cultural and educational links across many countries and helped create the junior award scheme with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. She continues to support sport development and has been a committee member of the Edinburgh Primary School Sports Association for 25 years.
Allyson Dobson
Tutor
Allyson Dobson - Tutor
Allyson began her career as a teacher of chemistry and science at Broughton High School, Edinburgh. Her professional journey has taken her through a range of roles in the Lothians, including assistant principal teacher of science at Musselburgh Grammar School, principal teacher of chemistry at Forrester High School and depute head teacher at Portobello High School. She also enjoyed a two year secondment to Learning and Teaching Scotland from 2008 to 2010. Part of this secondment involved Allyson working as a professional advisor to Scottish Government.
Allyson recently retired from her post as head teacher of Dalkeith High School, a post she held for seven years, and now has more time to enjoy her hobbies of walking, reading and cooking. She was presented with the award for Head Teacher of the Year at the Scottish Education Awards in June 2022.
Andrew Whitehead
Administrator
Andrew Whitehead - Administrator
Andrew is currently studying Business and Management at university. Born in Perth, Andrew moved to Skye in 2012 and joined the Columba 1400 team in 2018 as part of his work experience. In his spare time, he enjoys restoring old vehicles, travelling and photography.
Anna Grelewska
Administrator
Anna Grelewska - Administrator
Anna is originally from Poland. She moved to Scotland in 2006 with the intention to go back to her home country after five years, but she fell in love with Scottish hospitality, sights and food and decided to stay a bit longer.
Anna has a master’s degree in Polish Philology. Her childhood dream was to be a teacher but she chose a different path whilst in Scotland and studied Administration and IT at Edinburgh College.
Anna has been with Columba 1400 since August 2022 and loves being a part of an organisation which focuses on young people, families and those around them.
She lives in Edinburgh with her husband, two sons, cat, hamsters and African snail!
In her spare time she likes to read and explore the great outdoors.
Calum MacSween
Tutor
Calum MacSween - Tutor
Calum began his teaching career in Dumfries and Galloway, moving on to posts in Portree, Fortrose, Tain and Inverness, latterly as Head of Education at Highland Council, before retiring in 2014. In retirement, he became involved in a range of educational initiatives such as Learning for Sustainability (LfS) and Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) before concentrating time and energy into Columba 1400.
Why Columba 1400? In 2007 Calum participated in a Columba 1400 Head Teacher Leadership Academy. He says: "15 years on I still feel an enormous personal and professional benefit from that experience. It is now a privilege to be involved in facilitating Columba 1400 experiences for others."
Caroline MacKenzie
Facilitator
Caroline MacKenzie - Facilitator
Caroline moved to Skye from Bedfordshire in 2000 with her parents and has stayed in Scotland ever since.
After studying BA Business and Management at Inverness, she returned to Skye after the passing of her mum to help look after her dad.
Shortly after her return, she met John, and they married six months later in 2008. They have 3 children – Archie, the eldest and twins, Rebecca, and George.
Before joining Columba 1400 in June 2022, Caroline worked as a postie for 15 years all over Skye and latterly in Staffin.
In her spare time – after tending to the animals on their croft – she enjoys gardening, baking, drawing, kayaking and hill walking with the family.
Cathy Mackay
Housekeeper
Cathy Mackay - Housekeeper
Cathy was born and brought up in Scalpay, Isle of Harris. She left in 1977 to come to Skye and worked in the hostels as a housekeeper for a couple of years until she got married. She has a family of three. When her eldest started school she got a job as a carer in residential and nursing homes which she did for 21 years.
Cathy joined Columba 1400 in February 2018. When she isn’t working Cathy enjoys knitting and reading.
Cathy Quinn
Tutor
Cathy Quinn - Tutor
Cathy was previously a Primary Headteacher in Sacred Heart Primary and St Bernadette’s Primary in Falkirk. She moved to Clackmannanshire Council in 2016 as Improving Outcomes Manager and was latterly Chief Education Officer before retiring in September 2022.
Cathy has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Throughout her career she has been passionate about improving learning and life experiences for children and young people and reducing social inequalities. She has always been committed to coaching and nurturing future school leaders.
She said: ‘I have seen first hand the difference Columba 1400 experiences have made for school leaders and young people in Clackmannanshire and beyond. I am delighted and excited to be part of the Columban tutor team.’
Cathy lives in Cumbernauld; she is married, enjoys travelling and spending time with her two children and seven grandchildren.
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Catriona Nicolson
Facilitator
Catriona Nicolson - Facilitator
Catriona has lived in Skye all her life, she is married with two grown-up boys. While the boys were growing up she worked as a hairdresser, waitress and a care assistant.
Catriona worked with the charity Blythswood Care as a shop coordinator. In this role she enjoyed visiting schools to speak about the shoe box appeal. She also worked as a project manager doing market research with Farmers in England.
Catriona left an admin job with the NHS to join the Columba 1400 team in Nov 2018.
In her spare time, she goes walking, plays with her Cocker Spaniel and enjoys gardening.
