DIRECTOR PROFILES
Pròifilean stiùiriche
Chair
Born in Edinburgh and fortunate to have been brought up in Luskentyre and educated in Seilebost primary school. I recently moved home to Luskentyre after an absence of 15 years in September 2011 with my wife Leona who is from the Isle of Skye. Our son Jack was born in April 2012 and we are determined that he will enjoy the priviliges and benefits of a Hebridean upbringing. I currently work from home for an Aberdeen based company managing their E-commerce presence and believe this type of home working is a major opportunity for rural locations like ours to attract young families without having to rely on major external investment.
Norman Iain Mackay
Vice Chair
Andrew Macdonald
My wife was brought up in Borve. We returned to the island in 2018 with our 2 boys having lived away for 25 years. Since moving back we have built a family home on the family croft. In my professional life, I am a Construction Project Manager with the majority of my projects based on the Scottish Islands. I deal extensively with small island communities and hope I can bring my knowledge of these and construction to the benefit of the Trust.
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Pairc Niseaboist Housing to me is the Trust's most significant development.
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Over the next 5 years the Trust should continue to explore opportunities to provide affordable housing while also developing sustainable tourism within the area. Looking forward to 10 and 20 years the trust should continue to develop housing, sustainable tourism, and explore any opportunities which are created through ongoing technological developments in the green economy.
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I have been living in West Harris most of my life except for the four years I studied in Glasgow and the five years I taught in Inverness. I returned to the island in 1994 to take up the post of Head teacher at Shelibost Primary School (which sadly closed in June 2013 due to the lack of children in West Harris) and then moved to another island school until I retired in October 2022.
I believe that the Trust's most significant achievement is its role in making more affordable housing available within the area and this has resulted in families moving into the community, reversing the trend of population decline which so many island communities are experiencing. Another achievement is the way in which the Trust has contributed to providing employment and work spaces within West Harris where Talla na Mara remains a key central, successful feature.
Going forward, I feel that it is important to continue to increase resident numbers, to promote further our island heritage and culture and to explore ways of enhancing facilities for visitors and residents, to enjoy all West Harris has to offer.
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Secretary
Rhoda Macdonald
Director
Neil Macdonald
My grandfather was one of the Scarista land raiders and acquired through his efforts the croft, which I now inhabit. I am the chairman of the Luskentyre Grazing Committe and a director of the West Harris Trust. I am also part of a housing subgroup.
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I believe that the creation of Talla na Mara which gives full and part time employment is one of the most significant achievements of the Trust.
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Looking to the future, I would like to try to get more community involvement with a view to getting the old guard relieved. I would also like to see the Trust go for more rented housing rather than buying.
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Director
Richard Maclennan
I am a director at the West Harris Trust. I have lived here all my life and so have the two generations before me. I also run a business in West Harris and my passion is crofting livestock.
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Talla na Mara and the ten houses have been the most significant developments as they have contributed to increasing the population to our target.
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I would like to see more housing to help increase the population. Maintaining a healthy number on board of directors and working with a developer to provide a hotel in South Harris should also be a priority.
Director
George Macleod
I was born and brought up on the west side of Harris and my family go back generations in the area. I am particularly interested in the natural and ancient history of the area.
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For me, the building of the community centre and the social housing has been the biggest achievement of the Trust so far.
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Further into the future, I would like to see the Trust have a real say in the buying and selling process of all crofts and plots. Also to join other trusts in the formation of Harris to become a national park.
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Director
Ann Parry
Elected in November 2024, profile pending.
Born in Harris I have lived and worked here all my life. Since 1990 I have lived in the village of Luskentyre with my husband Murdo. Prior to the tourism business I now run, I worked for the Bank of Scotland and as a learning support auxiliary in the Harris schools which fitted in well with raising my 3 children.
I feel the main achievement of the Trust to date is the Pairc Nisabost development of houses, and Talla na Mara which is a fantastic asset to the community. It would be good to see further housing developed which would hopefully encourage young families to settle in the area.
Director
Isobel Mackay
I was born in Collam Bays of Harris. My great grandfather was one of the people who was cleared from West Harris. My husband’s family going back three generations are from Scarista. My husband inherited the family crofts, and we moved to Borve in 1983. I have lived in Harris most of my life – interrupted only by Secondary Schooling in Inverness and further education in Glasgow. When I graduated as a teacher of Business Studies, I got a post in Stornoway and subsequently moved to Harris. I spent many years as a Co-ordinator of Harris Voluntary Service, and I am still involved with a number of local voluntary organisations. I served as a Councillor for 13 years.
Apart from the return of the land of West Harris to the people. I think the next major achievement of the Trust was the provision of affordable housing, which has enabled young families to come to live in the area. Our biggest issue is our ageing population and the lack of a young workforce. Affordable Housing is essential in order to encourage young people to settle in the area and I would like to see more of this developed. Talla na Mara is also a huge asset and I would like to see it developed further and for it to become more sustainable.
Director
Morag Munro