Meet the Team

Founder & Director

Before establishing YSCS, Alan worked as the Coastal Communities Network Coordinator at Fauna & Flora, where he supported community-led initiatives to protect and restore our coastal and marine environments.  As a passionate marine advocate, Alan is dedicated to advancing the protection of our seas through both grassroots action and strategic policy engagement. His dedication to the cause is matched by his enthusiasm for mentoring and inspiring the next generation of marine advocates and activists, helping them turn their passion for the marine environment into meaningful action.

He holds an MSc in Coastal & Marine Management and a BSc in Ecology. 

Project Coordinator

Sophie joins the YSCS team with a wealth of experience in marine education, having worked with young people in marine conservation from Madagascar and the Maldives, to the Isle of Arran where she is now based. With a background in community organising and campaigning and a love of diving, Sophie is passionate about sharing the underwater world and empowering others to protect it.

Youth Advocacy Officer

Elizabeth is a marine biologist with many years experience using her voice to share about our oceans as a science communicator. She hopes the enthusiastic energy she brings to her advocacy work can help others to learn, connect and share about our oceans. Elizabeth is excited to join YSCS to support and advocate for youth voices to be heard in policymaking when deciding the future of Scottish seas. 

Chair

Claudia is a former Scottish Labour Co-operative politician who served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for South Scotland from 2011 to 2021. She was her party’s Climate Change, Environment & Land Reform Spokesperson and developed a strong commitment to marine issues. She was previously a primary teacher.

Vice Chair

Ellen is Co-Director of UK Youth for Nature, a network of 16-35 year olds from across the UK calling on the government to act on the nature crisis. She is also Manager of Curlew Action, a charity dedicated to reversing the decline of Curlews and campaigning for more natural history education. Outside of these roles, Ellen is a wildlife artist, specialising in graphite pencil drawings of British wildlife.

Secretary

Fanny is a Marine Policy and Engagement Officer at Scottish Environment LINK. Prior to that, she worked as a marine policy assistant for the Provence local government, and as a policy officer at the French Biodiversity Agency, as part of the Marine Protected Areas department and the Marine Natural Park of Iroise. Fanny has a MSc from the University of Edinburgh in Marine Systems and Policies.

Treasurer

Laura has a Masters degree in Marine Biology from the University of Southampton. She works in accounting and is part-AAT qualified. Laura is based in Orkney where she volunteers on the committee of the Orkney Sub-Aqua Club, liaising regularly with a range of organisations involved in marine research, conservation and charitable activities. She is a qualified diving instructor and enjoys engaging with people passionate about the marine environment.

Caitlin is a marine biologist with several years of experience volunteering in the marine conservation sector across various roles, including serving as a Sea Champion Volunteer for MCS UK and founding the University of Stirling's first Marine Conservation Society. Previously, Caitlin worked as the Policy Officer for the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT).

Caitlin is also the Youth Representative on the Sea Scotland Conference steering group, and from 2022-2023, has represented Scotland on the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council.

Elen is a graduate in Biology from the University of Stirling and Master of Research in Ecology and Environmental Biology from the University of Glasgow. She is an active member of the Cairngorm Youth Action Team and Scottish Wildlife Trust Young Leaders programme. She works as an assistant ecologist based in central Scotland, but travelling all over for work! 

The combination of Elen’s academic journey, career and volunteer experiences have given her a love of Scotland’s wildlife and she can often be found out with her binoculars roaming around the countryside. 

Blair works at the South of Scotland Enterprise, delivering climate and nature targets alongside economic growth. He has extensive experience in business development and international trade and investment within the energy sector and blue economy, having worked across the UK, Georgia, Myanmar, Singapore, and the wider Asia Pacific region. He holds an MSc in Project Management and a BSc in Petroleum Geology.

Frankie is a Marine Biologist and Divemaster, currently working as an Ocean Researcher and Advisor for Ocean and Coastal Futures and Pelagos Consulting. She has volunteered with a range of organisations, but she is currently focusing on her roles as a spokesperson for UK Youth For Nature, and a Youth Ocean Network Ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society.

Frankie is extremely passionate about the links between social and environmental justice. She also loves examining how different cultures and languages shape our relationship with nature, based on her own experiences speaking Spanish, Dutch, French and English.

Debbie has dedicated over 20 years to working and volunteering in charities. Currently, she serves as a governance professional in England. Having recently relocated to the far north of Scotland, she is rediscovering her love for nature and spending time by the sea. Thrilled to join the trustees of Young Sea Changers Scotland, Debbie is eager to contribute her extensive expertise in charity governance and leadership to the organisation.