Our People

Aidan McCorry

Aidan has extensive knowledge of both the public and third sectors, having worked as Chief Executive at Deaf Action, as Project Manager at Scottish Enterprise and as Director of Corporate Services at Apex Scotland.

Alison Cairns

Practice Lead

Alison Cairns is Practice Lead for Sight Scotland Veterans’ outreach team, and joined the organisation in 2018.

Andrew McCall

Andrew is the Out of Hours Service Manager at NHS Forth Valley

Anne Lyttle

Staff Nurse

"I like the relationships I have with people here, I’ve got to know them and they’ve become important to me."

Annmarie

Activity Worker, Hawkhead Centre

"There isn’t a typical day because every day is different, and the veterans are different every day so there’s a different dynamic in the centre as well."

Ben Campbell

Director of Technology

Ben manages the IT team and leads on our digital and data transformation at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans.

Carol-Ann Boyter

Director of People and Culture

Carol-Ann joined the charities in 2022, she is passionate about helping to unlock the true potential in people, developing them to contribute in their best way and feels deeply privileged to work with people who are passionate about what they do.

Carole

Outreach Worker, Sight Scotland Veterans

"One of the most fulfilling parts of my role is being able to find solutions for the veterans we support. You can see right away that you’re making a difference to someone’s life."

Chelsea

Care and Nursing Services Manager, Royal Blind School

“I love being part of such a qualified and skilful team that are also so caring. Sight Scotland have so much to offer and fulfil so many of the lives of the young people and young adults within our care.”

Craig Spalding

Meet our Chief Executive

Craig Spalding has been Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans since January 2022.

David McArthur

David is the Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions for NHS Orkney.  

Davina Shiell

Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement

Davina leads the team that delivers all aspects of profile and fundraising activity - marketing, PR, brand, digital, events, policy, internal communications and fundraising.

Debbie

Braille Proof Reader, Scottish Braille Press

"I have learned and enhanced many skills whilst working at Sight Scotland. My braille reading has very much improved and so has my reading speed."

Debbie

Community Worker, Family Wellbeing Team

"There is a great deal of job satisfaction and fulfilment, that individuals and their families no longer feel alone or isolated. I love that I am learning something new every day and I feel inspired by the people I support."

Denise

Activity Worker, Linburn Centre

"A lot of people, in the beginning of their sight loss journey, they lose a lot of their confidence. And our job is to bring that confidence back."

Dianne-Dominique Theakstone

Dr Dianne-Dominique Theakstone is currently studying towards a master’s in social work at Strathclyde University. Her lived experience of visual impairment due to Retinoblastoma has driven her passion for disabled people’s rights.

Fiona

Rehabilitation Officer, Sight Scotland Veterans

“I thought I’d miss working in an office environment but I actually really like working remotely. The team are just at the end of the phone. I can talk to any one of them and we support each other.”

Gillian

Head of Operations

"I’m passionate about offering the best support that we can, and for me that means understanding both where we're at now, and what we could be doing better in future."

Gillian McDonald

Director of Operations

Gillian joined Sight Scotland Veterans in August 2017 to develop the newly created Hawkhead Activity Hub in Renfrewshire and managed the re-opening of Hawkhead and Linburn Activity Hubs after the challenges of Covid.

Glenn

Senior Residential Care Worker

"The working conditions throughout my journey have been good and the support I have received over the years has been really valuable to me."

Gordon Michie

Gordon is a veteran who has 20 years of experience of managing and operating businesses in the UK, Europe and North America.

Graeme Bold

Convener of the Finance and Investment Committee

Graeme is a qualified Actuary and is Director of Workplace Pensions at Scottish Widows

Jason

Assistive Technology Lead, Independent Living Team

"The joy on someone’s face when you fix something or show them how to use a bit of tech that can help them overcome the barriers they face every day is very humbling."

Jenny Liddell

Interim Head of Community Support

Jenny joined Sight Scotland Veterans as Practice Lead for the North of Scotland in March 2020, before becoming the Interim Head of Community Support in January 2021.  

Jim McCafferty

Jim is a former Royal Blind School pupil and was a Sight Scotland employee for 46 years. He has been extensively involved with a wide variety of organisations of and for blind people throughout Scotland.

Jo Nove

Jo is an experienced leader and is the Director of Strategy, Communications, and Brand at Myeloma UK, a UK-wide blood cancer charity. 

John

Centre Officer, Sight Scotland Veterans

“There’s no barrier put in your way for personal and professional development. I know the support is there from management."

Julie

Head of Care

“One of the real positives about working here is that staff tend to stay. We've got a lot of staff who have worked here for a long time who are really invested in what they do, and we want more of that.

Kirsty

Senior Fundraiser, Sight Scotland

Kirsty is part of Sight Scotland's fundraising team, predominantly focusing on trust and grant fundraising for the charity.

Laraine Aikman

Laraine trained as a nurse and after leaving the service of the NHS, spent many years working in Medical Affairs in the Pharmaceutical Industry. 

Liz Porterfield

Vice Chair of the Board

Liz Porterfield worked for the Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorates as Head of Strategic Planning and Clinical Priorities until her retirement in 2017.

Louise

Play Leader, Kidscene

"Kidscene is a one of a kind after school club in Scotland and I think it’s amazing to be part of something so special."

Margaret McFynn

Chef Manager

"I really enjoy the challenge of making food that the residents will really like. A good day for me is when people ask for more."

Margo Faquharson

Housekeeper

"The residents make my day, especially having time to talk with them."

Marie

Rehabilitation and Mobility Officer

"Sight Scotland is just great to work for, I love my team and getting out to meet people and exploring new ideas. It brings me so much happiness knowing what I do can have such a positive impact."

Nicola Dow

Deputy Care Home Manager

“I love working at Jenny’s Well. It’s like a community. All the residents, relatives and staff work together to make it a better place."

Nikolaos Koutris

Director of Finance

Nikolaos Koutris joins us as Director of Finance, with over ten year’s experience in charitable and not-for-profit organisations.

Paul Bott

Chair of the Board

Paul is an experienced manager and trustee.

Rona Kirkwood

Senior Carer

"I’ve built up good relationships with the families of residents, and they have become important to me."

Ross Murray

Head of Impact and Governance

Ross joined the Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans team, as Head of Impact and Governance and Charity Secretary in February 2024.

Ross Parker

Senior Care Assistant

"My goal is to really help to maintain residents own skills. It’s good to enable residents to do things for themselves when they can."

Sandra Taylor

Lead Rehabilitation Officer

Sandra leads our expert rehabilitation team, providing support to veterans with sight loss across Scotland.

Sharon

Activity Support Worker, Sight Scotland Veterans

"When you witness a person growing in confidence and achieving their goals, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment. Seeing the smile on someone’s face when they achieve something – to me, that’s so rewarding."

Sif Rai

Sif is a technology leader who in her varied career has supported a diverse range of tech companies through key growth stages.

Stephanie

Fundraising Manager, Sight Scotland

"it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to work in the third sector – to make a difference."

Stephanie Kirkwood

Activities Coordinator

"I love getting to know all of the different residents. Getting to hear their life stories is a privilege."

Stephanie Phillips

Convener of the Audit and Risk Committee

Stephanie is the Director of Service Delivery at NHS 24.

Stewart Whyte

Care Home Manager

"I feel passionately about making care for older people right, and know that all of us together can make the home the very best it can possibly be to both live and work in."

Susan

Senior Residential Care Worker, Forward Vision

“The whole way of working is very focused on the individual. I feel personally that you can see the impact that we have quite substantially with the young people and young adults that we work with."

Susan McCallum

Carer

"The best part of my day is when I am able to put a smile on the residents' faces."

Tony Daley

Meaningful Activities Co-ordinator

“It makes my day when a resident is happy and stimulated by the activities we are creating.”

Vicky

Senior Residential Care Worker, Royal Blind School

"It's so rewarding - I've been here for 17 years and I'd probably never consider going anywhere else."