Who We Are
Transform Scotland Limited is a registered Scottish charity (charity number SC041516), established in November 1997 as a non-profit distributing limited company, gaining charity status in May 2010. Our Board of Directors is drawn from our membership.
Board of Directors
Board members are nominated representatives of their member organisation. We have Board members representing the following 11 organisations:
Aberdeen Friends of the Earth
Capital Rail Action Group
The City of Edinburgh Council
CTC Scotland
First ScotRail
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Railfuture Scotland
Ramblers Scotland
RSPB Scotland
Scottish Association for Public Transport
Transport Research Institute, Napier University
Plus one co-opted member, to give a total of 12 Board members.
Every year one-third of the Board retire (but can be re-elected).
The rules governing the operation of the company are set out in the following documents:
Articles of Association (110Kb)
Memorandum of Association (28Kb).
Our Board of Directors
John Pinkard has been Chair of Transform Scotland since October 2010
John has a long-standing interest in and commitment to the principles and practices of sustainable mobility - both in a personal and professional capacity. He is a highly experienced consultant who specialises in the development, implementation and evaluation of forward thinking policies and projects, and particularly those that seek to achieve more sustainable travel choices and patterns. In recent years, John has worked for transport consultancies Vipre UK and JMP. He now runs Ansons Consulting Ltd. John was elected to the Transform Scotland Board in October 2005 and served as Vice-Chair between October 2006 and October 2010. John is a co-opted member of the Board.
Helen Todd represents Ramblers Scotland and is Transform Scotland's Vice-Chair
Helen has worked for Ramblers Scotland since October 2004; she currently occupies the post of Development Officer. Before working for the Ramblers, and after gaining a MSc in Ecological Economics at Edinburgh University, she was a campaigns researcher for Friends of the Earth Scotland working on planning issues. In a previous career, Helen was a teacher, trainer and language school manager, mainly overseas. This international experience has given her a great insight into how efficient public transport can be. She is a keen cyclist and walker. Helen was elected Vice-Chair of Transform Scotland in October 2010.
Mike Harrison represents CTC Scotland (the UK's national cyclists' organisation) and is Transform Scotland's Company Secretary and Treasurer
Mike is also the Secretary of the Lothians District Association of CTC. He is a member of the Spokes' Planning Group and of the Cycling Panel of Railfuture. All of these bodies regard cycling as a valid mode of transport as well as a leisure and sport activity.
John McCormick is Chairman of the Scottish Association for Public Transport (SAPT)
John McCormick is the Chairman of Scottish Association for Public Transport (SAPT) since 1991. John campaigns for an integrated public transport system for Scotland. As well as being chair of SAPT, he is strategy officer for Friends of the West Highland Lines. John was originally a high energy nuclear physics researcher, and subsequently worked in IT Management in Weir Group.
Gregor McAbery is the Vice Co-ordinator of Aberdeen Friends of the Earth.
Gregor trained as a journalist at Napier but has turned from poacher to gamekeeper and taken up media relations work after falling ill with ME. Gregor served as the Secretary for CARE80 which successfully opposed plans to push the M80 through the Kelvin Valley near Kilsyth. Friends of the Earth Aberdeen are currently fighting the Aberdeen Bypass plans.
Cllr. Gordon Mackenzie is an Elected Member at The City of Edinburgh Council.
Gordon Mackenzie is currently the Convener of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee. Prior to this he was Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee (May 2007 to May 2009). Gordon also serves as a Director on the tie Board which is the City Council’s delivery vehicle for the Edinburgh Tram Project. The Edinburgh Tram project, one of Scotland’s largest investments in public transport integration, represents part of a wider strategy by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government to improve public transport services, combat increasing congestion and subsequently reduce pollution. Gordon is a Councillor for the Southside/Newington ward. Prior to taking up these duties Gordon worked in the public and voluntary sectors in a number of project management roles.
John Yellowlees is External Relations Manager of First ScotRail.
Since joining the railway industry in 1991, John has worked for the British Railways Board, Railtrack Scotland Zone, ScotRail Railways and now First ScotRail. Prior to this, he was for 17 years an administrative civil servant in the Departments of the Environment and Transport. John is a Past Chairman of CILT's Scottish Region, and belongs to the Executive Committee of the Scottish Transport Studies Group, the Industrial and Professional Advisory Committee of Napier University's School of the Built Environment, and the Scottish Sub-Committee of the Railway Heritage Committee.
Lloyd Austin is Head of Conservation at RSPB Scotland
Lloyd co-ordinates the development and advocacy of environmental policy on behalf of RSPB Scotland. His particular concerns are environmental law, site designations, planning, agriculture, freshwater and marine policy as well as climate change and energy matters. He has led the RSPB Scotland teams working on the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, from pre-legislative stages to implementation. In agriculture, RSPB Scotland’s interests range from farming in-hand or with partners, to environmental advisory work for farmers and crofters, to policy advocacy - especially on agri-environment. He is a graduate of Edinburgh University and, prior to working for RSPB, has worked for a range of voluntary and statutory conservation organisations. He is also a past Chair of Scottish Environment LINK (the umbrella organisation of environmental NGOs) and continues to serve as a Trustee.
Lawrence Marshall is a member of the committee of Railfuture Scotland
Lawrence has worked in various guises on the railway since 1982: freight guard, carriage cleaner, passenger guard, driver and now conductor. Before that he was a bus conductor with Eastern Scottish after having been unemployed for over a year after his time at Edinburgh University studying Psychology and at Surrey University studying Environmental Psychology. He served as a councillor on Lothian Regional Council and The City of Edinburgh Council from 1994 to 2007 and is a former chair of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority. He is a founder member of the Capital Rail Action Group, a vice-president of the Scottish Association for Public Transport, a committee member of Railfuture Scotland and a trustee of the Waverley Route Trust. He is a Council member of The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh's civic trust.
Stan Blackley is Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland
Stan Blackley has worked in the UK environment movement for more than twenty years - as a campaigner for organisations such as Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and running an ethical campaigning communications consultancy that worked on issues devolved to the Scottish Parliament, including the environment, transport, health and communities. He sits on the Board of a number of other charities and social enterprises and lives in Edinburgh with his partner and young son. Stan joined Friends of the Earth Scotland as Chief Executive in May 2011.
Paul Tetlaw
Capital Rail Action Group
Paul Tetlaw works as an independent environmental consultant. He has spent most of his career in environmental management in the water industry and was formerly a General Manager with Scottish Water. He has had a long term interest in sustainable transport and its relationship to individuals' quality of life and the built environment. He is also a member of the steering group of Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG), who he represents on the Board of Transform Scotland. Paul was the Chair of Transform Scotland between October 2006 and October 2010.
Calum McCallum
Calum has been a committed volunteer with Transform Scotland for five years. During that time has contributed to numerous articles and papers, taking a particular interest in matters relating to Glasgow. Currently unable to work due to ill-health, he previously worked in the transport sector for SPT and the Railway Inspectorate amongst others. When not occupied with Transform affairs he looks after his partner and his cat.
Staff
Director: Colin Howden
Colin has managed Transform Scotland since 1998 and has, in that time, published widely on all aspects of sustainable transport policy and practice. He is a Board member and Treasurer of the European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E), our European umbrella body. Colin has been active in the environmental movement for over twenty years, and is currently also a Board member of Friends of the Earth Scotland. Prior to joining Transform Scotland, he studied economics at Aberdeen and Manchester universities. He can be reached on 07956 394121 (who knows, he might even answer!) or at colin.howden@transformscotland.org.uk
Head of Research: Jolin Warren
Jolin's research work for Transform Scotland has ranged from the business benefits of rail travel through to best practice and economic benefits related to active travel. As well as his research for Transform Scotland, Jolin has also worked on projects related to peat use reduction, carbon footprinting, and environmental guidance for a variety of organisations including the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Environment LINK. He can be reached on 0131 243 2690 or at jolin.warren@transformscotland.org.uk
Development Officer: Katriona Harding
Katriona is a dedicated multitasker. She divides her working week between Transform Scotland, where she works as a Development Officer for 2 days, and the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, where she works as a Fundraising and Communications Officer for 3 days. She has worked in the voluntary sector since 2002, gaining experience in marketing, communications and grant making. In 2007, Katriona left Edinburgh and spent 18 months in Canada and France as a professional ski bum, but in 2009 she decided to be sensible and come home. She likes music festivals, cupcakes and pinot noir. Katriona can be reached on 0131 243 2690 or at katriona.harding@transformscotland.org.uk
Volunteers
Communications Assistant: Anna Brand
Anna started working at Transform Scotland in September. She is a student at the University of Edinburgh studying History and English. Anna is interested in sustainability and has previously been involved in compiling environmental marketing research.
Public Transport Campaigner: Calum McCallum
As stated above, Calum has been a committed volunteer with Transform Scotland for five years. During that time has contributed to numerous articles and papers, taking a particular interest in matters relating to Glasgow. Currently unable to work due to ill-health, he previously worked in the transport sector for SPT and the Railway Inspectorate amongst others. When not occupied with Transform affairs he looks after his partner and his cat.
Campaigns Assistant: Jetta Doran
Jetta is Transform Scotland's newest recruit.
She was born in England but grew up in the South of France from the age of six. Jetta graduated just over a year ago with a degree in Criminology and Law and a Masters in Terrorism Studies and has since been trying to find a role in which she might combine a desire to work in the voluntary sector with an interest in current political affairs. Jetta is working at Transform so as to learn about campaigning and development in the voluntary sector. Jetta is now a sustainable transport enthusiast despite, ironically, being named after a 1980s gas guzzler!
Research Assistant: John Webster
John Webster spent his working life within the scientific services groups of various environmental and water utility organisations. He started his working life as an analytical chemist within part of what became the Environment Agency but for most of his career was Laboratory and Scientific Services Manager with Lothian Regional Council then East of Scotland Water. He has had a life long interest in environmental issues and served on several expert groups. He is committed to promoting sustainable transport issues and carries out research part-time for Transform Scotland.
Research Assistant: Minna Vertainen
Lively graduate of environmental policy. Studies in European Union and Finnish biofuels policies. In Transform Scotland followed new developments in uptake of biofuels and low emission vehicles and managed FOI request on use of Travel Plans in Scottish public sector. I believe that transport sector has great potential to become more sustainable, and that it is easy for everyone to be part of that change. On free-time you can find me indulging with the world of tastes be it vegetarian cooking or single malts. I am also nuts for Ashtanga yoga.
Rail Campaigner: Paul Tetlaw
As stated above, Paul Tetlaw works as an independent environmental consultant. He has spent most of his career in environmental management in the water industry and was formerly a General Manager with Scottish Water. He has had a long term interest in sustainable transport and its relationship to individuals' quality of life and the built environment. He is also a member of the steering group of Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG), who he represents on the Board of Transform Scotland. Paul was the Chair of Transform Scotland between October 2006 and October 2010.
Parliamentary Assistant: Sophie van der Ham
Sophie started studying English Language & Literature at the University of Amsterdam in 2009, and is currently studying Linguistics & English Literature at the University of Edinburgh as part of a one year Erasmus exchange. She started volunteering for Transform Scotland because of her interest in efficient public transport and her surprise at the lack of cycle paths in Scotland. She works as Transform Scotland's parliamentary assistant, meaning she keeps an eye on the Scottish parliament and identifies opportunities for action when they arise.
Communications Assistant: Zoe Blah
Zoe has been working on Transform Scotland's communications from April, focusing on our social media and newsletters. She has experience of editing The Student newspaper and various University of Edinburgh publications and has worked with the communications side of various charities. Zoe is a history student in the University of Edinburgh, graduating in June 2012.
Please note that, the Director excepted, all of our staff and volunteers work part-time (and he's notoriously difficult to track down (although don't take it personally, he's just busy)).
All media enquiries should be directed to Colin Howden in the first instance.