Bob Howat (Chair)
Bob Howat, who was born and raised in Fife, is actively involved in promoting the Scottish agriculture industry. He was recently appointed to the new board of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and he is a past vice president of NFU Scotland. He has two farms, one in Dairsie and one in the Borders where the combined farming operation has 1500 breeding ewes and 50 suckler cows.

• Registration of Interests

Jim Crooks - College Principal
Jim Crooks has been Principal of Elmwood College since 1 August 2007.

Jim has over 20 years’ experience in Further Education. He came to Elmwood from Upper Bann Institute, a very successful College in Northern Ireland of which he was Principal for a number of years. Previously, Jim was Assistant Principal at Dumfries and Galloway College.

Since re-joining the Scottish FE Sector Jim has been appointed as Lead Principal for Scotland’s Colleges for Food and Drink. Enterprise and Sustainable Development. He also represents the sector on the Board of Advanced Procurement in Universities and Colleges Ltd (a company set up to deliver efficient and effective procurement services for Universities and Colleges).

He is passionate about the College sector, believing in its traditional ethos of inclusion and opportunity for all. Since May 2009 he has been Chairman of the Fife and Tayside Wider Access Forum and also sits as one of the Executive Group on SWAP East – both organisations focussing on widening access to Further and Higher Education.

Jim says, “The College has had national and international success in its Golf-related and Landbased specialisms but it is also an important and much-valued provider of much wider Further Education in our local communities in North East Fife. We face particularly challenging times but I remain excited by the challenge of leading a dynamic and forward-thinking College with such a diverse curriculum and range of clients.”

• Registration of Interests

Nathan Free - Student President
Nathan was born in Wigan, before moving to East Lothian when he was eleven.  He began his studies in at Elmwood in 2009, when he enrolled on the National Certificate Performance Golf. He has since progressed on to the Higher National Certificate Professional Golf and he intends to continue his studies next year on the Higher National Diploma programme.  Nathan describes himself as a hardworking golfer who is dedicated to the sport and his studies.  He hopes to be able to represent the student body in a range of forums and hopes to make an impact during his year in office. He spends his time away from College working at his local golf club and competing in national and county tournaments.  Ultimately Nathan hopes to achieve his HND qualification and attain Level 1 and 2 PGA coaching badges and make a career in the golf coaching industry.

Cllr Margaret Kennedy
Margaret is the Hand Hygiene Co-ordinator for NHS Tayside, having undertaken all her nursing career at Tayside. She is an elected member of Fife Council. Her area of special interest is Community Safety, Health and Safety and Risk Management. In her spare time Miss Kennedy enjoys gardening and singing in the choir of her local church. She also serves her Church community as an elder.

• Registration of Interests

Charles Lovatt
Charles is Managing Director of LI Components – a semiconductor brokering firm that he founded in 1985. He is also a Director of Cacophony Ltd with interests in music publishing and rights management. He is a member of the Joint Board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen, and is a Trustee of both the National Library of Scotland and the Arts Trust of Scotland. He has a MBA from Edinburgh University and is a Chartered Marketer. Charles’ leisure interests are hill walking, mountain biking and photography.

• Registration of Interests

Gordon Mackenzie
Gordon is currently Head Teacher of Balwearie High School, Kirkcaldy. He was formerly President of Head Teachers Scotland. At present he is a Member of Learning Teaching Scotland's Advisory Council and Chair of Learning Teaching Scotland -14 plus Reference Group. Gordon also serves as External Examiner to Aberdeen University Initial Teacher Education. Gordon brings to the Board a special interest in School Leadership, Behaviour Management and Information Technology. Spare time pursuits include hill walking, golf and travel.

• Registration of Interests

Thom Young
Thom is an employment lawyer, trading as Worklegal, Employment Law and HR Support. His special interest is developing ways to help businesses cope with the onslaught of employment legislation, particularly with regard to the people management responsibilities of line managers. He has been practicing as a solicitor since 1980 and set up his own firm in 1982, eventually establishing it as the only business law firm in Scotland outside the cities. He left in 2004 to concentrate exclusively on employment law. He advises a wide range of organisations across the sectors. He has also trained as an executive coach and has a particular interest in assisting HR personnel develop strategies that add real value to businesses.  He has been a member of the Board of Elmwood College since 2004 and is currently also Chair of the HR committee. He is also now a co-opted member of the Board of  Adam Smith College. He has been a trustee of the Adam Smith Foundation, the scholarship foundation of Adam Smith College since 2002 and was previously a member of the Board of the former Fife College for 10 years, latterly as Vice-Chair and Chair of Audit.  He is a member of the Fife Committee of the Institute of Directors. He was a Board Member and Chair of the Audit committee of Scottish Enterprise Fife and was their nominee on Elmwood's Board.

• Registration of Interests

Michael Reid
Mike is a partner of CKD Galbraith in Cupar and is a Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor. Mike is also a Member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, Director of Family Farming Company in Fife, trustee of three property trusts and a Member of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association. His special interests include property management and renewable energy schemes whilst his leisure interests include country sports, golf and entertaining his children.

• Registration of Interests

Stephen Magee
Stephen Magee is the Vice Principal for External Relations at the University of St Andrews. His responsibilities include the development and enhancement of access provision for students, oversight of worldwide recruitment and admissions, registry, the supervision of Extension Programmes (Continuing Education), major donor campaigns and alumni, co-ordination of public relations as well as marketing and promotion of University services. Stephen is a Graduate of the University of St Andrews, is Registrar to the General Council and was formerly the Director of Admissions.

• Registration of Interests

Jim McGeorge
Jim McGeorge is the University Secretary at the University of Dundee and prior to this was the Director of Strategic Planning & Governance at the University of Stirling and before that the Academic Secretary and Registrar at the University of Abertay. His special interests are strategic planning, governance and the student experience. Jim was born and raised in Derby and now lives in North East Fife where he enjoys socialising with family and friends, food and drink and distance running.

• Registration of Interests

Irene Walker
Irene Walker had a career of 32 years in economic development holding posts of Chief Executive Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway as well as Key Industries Director and Rural Relations Director with Scottish Enterprise. She has a BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of St Andrews and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. Her special interests are rural Scotland and tourism. Irene leisure interests include golf, skiing, gardening and cookery.

• Registration of Interests

Jaqueline A Cannon
Jacqueline has worked in the Hospitality Industry for 34 years the first 18 years in Operational roles to a senior level, two in senior Training & Development and the latter 14 in Human Resource at Director level. Her current role is Director, Human Resource.

She has worked with several prestige companies, which include, Bass, Crest Hotels Limited, Whitbread, The Whitbread Hotel Company/ Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Chateau Élan Hotels & Resorts and currently Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Her MSc in Training & Development and Advanced Diploma in Virtual Training & Development has enabled her to assist in the development of many corporate education initiatives and she is also trained to Level A & B with the British Psychological society.

• Registration of Interests

Johnston Calder - Bursar, St Leonards School
Various positions during 27 years Royal Air Force service. Last appointment as Station Commander RAF Innsworth in Gloucester. Miscellaneous positions with roles in HR and Welfare, Financial Management, Internal Audit, Plans and Budget, Estates Management.

Enthusiastic reader and receiver of podcasts in all things business and management. Computing and trying to stay abreast of latest technology and gadgets.

Keen on most sports. Play squash, ski and manage gentle workouts most days in local fitness centre. Fair weather golfer. Learning how to look after 4 hens and shield them from the attentions of 2 German Shepherds.

Chartered Management Accountant.
Registration of Interests

Iain Hunter
Iain is a Lecturer in Greenkeeping and Horticulture at Elmwood and is the Academic Staff nominee to the Board of Management. He is also a member of the College Equal Opportunities Group and Secretary of the College branch of the EIS. Iain has special interests in Production Horticulture/ Plant Production & Organic Farming. Leisure interests include Scotland her culture, history and literature. In addition to this he serves as a Trustee of the Fife Folk Museum.

• Registration of Interests

David Scott, Manager at The Duke’s Course in St Andrews

One of the most influential figures in Scottish golf returned to his native St Andrews in the Summer of 2008 to take on this key role at the Home of Golf.

As a player he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 1990 PGA Cup Match against the American club professionals at Kiawah Island in South Carolina and was previously runner-up to Brian Barnes in the British Club Professional Championship.

He served initially as assistant professional at Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire, acknowledged as having two of Britain’s finest inland courses, then took over five years later as Head Professional at the 4-star Letham Grange Golf Resort in Arbroath.

David subsequently took on a new challenge as Head Professional at Balbirnie Park on the outskirts of Glenrothes, looking after the golfing needs of 950 members and during his time here attended Glenrothes College and qualified in Business Studies.

He played a major part as a member of the management team in the establishment of the renowned Kingsbarns Golf Links, widely acclaimed as one of Scotland’s finest links courses and much in demand by golf pilgrims from all over the world.  David served as Director of Golf at Kingsbarns until his present appointment.

During a distinguished career he has been awarded Advanced Fellow Membership of the PGA and has been invited to apply for Master Professional status in 2011. To complete his comprehensive range of golf abilities David has also passed the Royal and Ancient School for Referees examination.

David, who has established an outstanding nationwide reputation as both player and administrator and as past Captain of the Scottish PGA and an Executive member of the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, has solid knowledge of strategic planning and will be a valuable addition to the Elmwood board.
 

• Registration of Interests

John Purvis CBE - Advisor to Board
John Purvis originally made a career in the finance sector both in Europe and the USA.  He was a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2009.  Now retired he continues to hold appointments on the boards of various companies.  His leisure interests include genealogy, Italy and Italian Art, Scottish Silver, wine and food.

• Registration of Interests