Alison Maclachlan
UK ManagerMeet the Team
Alison Maclachlan
“Managing the small, but highly effective, Wood Foundation team in the UK is a great privilege. As a small team, we work closely with a number of strategic partners in order to realise our ambition to support Scotland’s next generation of enterprising, tolerant, caring young people.”
Our UK activity is dual focused. We have grown our contribution within the education sector where we deliver the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative and Global Learning Partnership alongside our partnership with the Scottish Government to invest in our shared ambition of Improving Primary Science across Scotland. We also remain committed to investing in economic and education development projects in Scotland, particularly the North East, which support the vision of a successful and strong future.
Our people will always be our strength, and our impact is testimony to commitment, hard work, and belief in the work in which we engage. Our staff bring a range of experience and skill to the fore, including third sector development, project management, educational programming and a steadfast belief in the power and potential of our young people. Key to our UK projects are Jonathan Christie, YPI Scotland Manager, and Georgea Hughes, Programme Development Lead, alongside a committed and loyal supporting team.
Anita Martin
UK Manager (Maternity Cover)Meet the Team
Anita Martin
Anita is currently supporting the UK team to ensure the smooth running of all charitable activities and investments in the absence of the UK Manager for a period of maternity leave. Focussed upon enabling and empowering the UK team, Anita’s support will help strengthen the TWF UK team as well as ensuring TWF remains an open and intelligent venture philanthropic funder.
Alistair Buchan
Head of Finance and Commercial AffairsMeet the Team
Alistair Buchan
Alistair oversees all financial and commercial activities in both the UK and East Africa for TWF, TWFA and our various joint-venture subsidiaries. Although based in Aberdeen, Alistair travels regularly to East Africa and the majority of his day to day work relates directly to our tea portfolio. As our programmes continue to grow and develop, increasing time is dedicated to commercial and legal negotiation with supporting partners.
Jonathan Christie
YPI Scotland ManagerMeet the Team
Jonathan Christie
Jonathan manages the development and delivery of YPI across Scotland, while also representing YPI Scotland with our international partners in Canada, USA and Northern Ireland. Supported by a dedicated team, Jonathan’s drive and commitment to empowering young people has ensured the successful evolution of YPI Scotland into a programme of national significance. Jonathan also supports our investments in AYG and RADS.
Georgea Hughes
Programme Development LeadMeet the Team
Georgea Hughes
Joined in 2008, Georgea has great experience of all angles of TWF activity and previous investments. Now leading on TWF’s Global Learning Partnerships to support global citizenship across Scotland’s learning communities, Georgea also drives research and development on potential new areas of interest and investment for TWF.
Gayle Duffus
National Education Officer for Primary ScienceMeet the Team
Gayle Duffus
Gayle works from Edinburgh and is seconded to Scottish Government (SG) for a 33 month period to provide consistency of leadership and support to the SG and TWF jointly funded RAiSE pilot; Raising Aspirations in Science Education. Gayle works across all ten pilot Local Authorities to coordinate activity while promoting and profiling good practice. Gayle coordinates the National Steering Group and a 23 month external evaluation into the delivery and outcomes of RAiSE.
Lynsey Brosnan
YPI Scotland Programme CoordinatorMeet the Team
Lynsey Brosnan
Lynsey coordinates the delivery of YPI across Scotland, supporting schools to maximise the opportunities offered for their learning community while ensuring that all YPI resources are relevant and fit for purpose within the current education context. Lynsey liaises closely with our regional facilitation team to maintain a balance between a consistent programme offering across Scotland, which remains context specific for individual schools.
Louise Jack
YPI Scotland Social Impact CoordinatorMeet the Team
Louise Jack
Building upon her experiences as YPI Scotland Programme Coordinator, Louise now leads on our Social Impact monitoring and evaluation. This involves engagement with the wider YPI Community; our alumni, charity partners and strategic stakeholders. Louise’s work is critical to embedding YPI within learning communities and strengthening the opportunities for young people to genuinely exercise their voice and make a difference to both themselves and their wider communities.
Layla Edrich
YPI Scotland AdministratorMeet the Team
Layla Edrich
As our YPI Scotland Administrator, Layla deals with all enquiries and approaches regarding the programme, as well as being responsible for the national grant management requirement to ensure timely and correct distribution of YPI awards. Layla supports the YPI central team as well as the wider regional facilitation team to ensure the smooth, consistent and efficient running of YPI across Scotland.
Angela Lyon
TWF AccountantMeet the Team
Angela Lyon
Angela is responsible for maintaining all TWF accounting records; TWF, TWFA, EATI and WFT Trading. This includes preparation of management accounts, statutory accounts and audit files while ensuring that our local branch offices are also compliant with local requirements. Angela liaises with TWF’s various partners to meet their financial reporting expectations and supports the preparation of all internal budgets and forecasts.
Kelly Work
Programme and Finance AdministratorMeet the Team
Kelly Work
Kelly supports administration across all areas of TWF UK activity, with specific focus on Global Learning Partnerships and grant management for the wider investment portfolio. As well as supporting IT and systems requirements, Kelly coordinates the TWF website and also provides financial administrative support to TWF’s accounting team.
Ailsa McRae
UK AdministratorMeet the Team
Ailsa McRae
Ailsa manages the UK office and also provides IT support around shared systems across the regional TWF offices. Ensuring the smooth running of day to day activity while supporting event logistics, programme administration and ensuring that all processes and procedures are implemented efficiently and consistently across TWF.
Fiona Harris
Communications AdviserMeet the Team
Fiona Harris
Fiona provides communications and marketing support to TWF in a consultancy capacity. Having produced the most recent Chairman’s Review alongside the development and delivery of a new website, Fiona has a holistic overview of TWF activity alongside professional experience which supports the profiling of our investees’ successes alongside the core programmes of the Foundation.