Meet our Team
Our team brings together specialists in conservation, community engagement, outdoor education, health and wellbeing, and organisational support – all united by a shared passion for people and nature. From strategic leadership and ecological expertise to hands‑on community work and programme delivery, we work collaboratively to help landscapes and communities across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park thrive.
Together, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful connections with nature, restoring vital habitats, and supporting healthier, more resilient communities throughout the Park.
Alistair Whyte | Chief Executive
Alistair[at]trustinthepark.org
Alistair leads the Trust’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations, helping to guide our work with clarity, care, and a strong sense of purpose. His leadership is grounded in many years spent working across nature conservation, including senior roles with organisations such as Plantlife and the Wildlife Trusts.
With a background in land management and community engagement, Alistair is passionate about creating a sustainable future where people and wildlife can thrive together – especially in rural and upland landscapes that inspire so much of his work.
A keen naturalist, Alistair has a lifelong love of upland environments, montane woodland, and the unique plant life found there. Outside of work, you’ll most often find him on the hills: walking, mountaineering, and sharing the outdoors with others through group leadership.
Marie Harvey | Communications & Admin Support Officer Marie[at]trustinthepark.org
Marie leads the Trust’s Communications and Administrative Support, bringing over 14 years of experience in the charitable sector. She has spent much of her career working closely with communities across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, helping people grow in confidence and build resilience through collaborative projects, events, training, mentoring, learning opportunities, and network development across a wide range of community issues.
After a long career in the Royal Navy, followed by two seasons as a Countryside Ranger and a lifetime of wildlife and conservation work – from the Falklands and Diego Garcia to the wild coasts of Cape Wrath – Marie continues to be driven by a deep connection to the natural world. Her passion is to open the doors through conversation and action, creating space for everyone to reconnect with nature.
Shevaun Graham | Finance & Admin Support Officer Shevaun[at]trustinthepark.org
Shevaun joins us after a 33 year career in NHS Finance, engaging with multiple agencies and organisations in partnership to deliver positive outcomes for patients and services.
She looks forward to bringing the same positivity to the Trust and using her skills and experience to benefit the communities within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
Ellie Mayhew | Nursery Network Manager
Ellie[at]trustinthepark.org
Advisor for our Nature Restoration Team, Ellie has a wide-ranging experience in the conservation sector over the past 11 years, including partnership working, habitat creation, restoration and management, ex-situ conservation, species introductions, farmer and landowner engagement, volunteer support, public engagement, communications and project management.
After graduating from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Conservation Biology and Ecology, Ellie spent six months in the Kalahari Desert working as a Research Assistant on White-browed Sparrow Weavers. Following this, she worked as a Regional Project Officer for Freshwater Habitats Trust, helping to deliver projects working to create and restore wetland habitats, with a focus on alkaline fens and small waterbodies such as ponds. Most recently, Ellie undertook the role of Field Season Manager for the University of Edinburgh, managing a team and collecting data across Scotland for a research project investigating the effects of climate change on deciduous woodland, invertebrates and breeding Blue Tits.
Outside of work, Ellie enjoys outdoor activities including wildlife watching, hiking and moth trapping. She also volunteers for the British Trust for Ornithology as a licensed bird ringer and is a Trustee of the Edinburgh Natural History Society.
Sophia Edejer | Programme Manager – Nature Restoration Sophia[at]trustinthepark.org
Passionate about nature, Sophia has supported multiple conservation projects worldwide over the past decade, including both in her home country, the Philippines, and in the country where she grew up, Switzerland. After receiving her master’s degree in Integrated Natural Resource Management at the Humboldt University in Berlin, she managed a sustainable food community project in Berlin for two years. She also worked with the German Development Cooperation supporting the oversight of their Green Climate Fund projects. Shortly after arriving in Scotland, Sophia started work at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust. She’s delighted to put her project management skills to the service of nature restoration.
In her free time, Sophia likes participating in community projects. She’s keen to discover more of Scotland, mainly through hiking and camping. When indoors, she enjoys cooking nice vegan food and reading.
Sarah Rodway-Swanson | Programme Manager (Communities & People)
Sarah[at]trustinthepark.org
Sarah has a range of experience working with people and communities in both public sector and third sector roles. She has worked in volunteer coordination, social prescribing and community provision, research, and latterly on the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme supporting improved place-based decision making by local authorities and partners. Much of her work has contained themes of natural heritage.
In 2020, Sarah returned to education to train as an Occupational Therapist – an allied health profession who support people to engage in their meaningful daily activities when dealing with mental or physical health difficulties. Upon qualifying, she worked for over a year as an Occupation Therapist in GP practices in Lanarkshire.
Whilst doing her Occupational Therapy training in Carlisle near to the beautiful Lake District landscapes, Sarah discovered the joys of hill walking. After growing up near to the cairngorms, she’s enjoyed exploring Loch Lomond and The Trossachs over the last couple of years, and is excited to continue learning about the communities in the Park. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys very amateur photography, very slow running and cycling, and chasing waterfalls.
Hamshya Rajkumar | Nursery Volunteer Coordinator (Landscape Connections)
Hamshya[at]trustinthepark.org
Meet Hamshya, our new Nursery Volunteer Coordinator at the Lomond Plant Nursery, part of the new Landscape Connections initiative.
Hamshya brings a wonderfully rich and creative background, with experience as a Seed Librarian at the Glasgow Seed Library, working with both wild and cultivated seed. Their interdisciplinary practice also spans art, ecology and design – including being longlisted for the Davidson Prize 2024 as part of Hewin, Rizzle & Baise, and exhibiting collaborative work exploring deep ecology at the Scotland + Venice Architecture Biennale and Dundee V&A.
Originally trained as a Bharatanatyam dancer, Hamshya’s journey has been shaped by curiosity and creativity, leading them to follow a path more closely aligned with their passion for the natural world. They went on to study Sculpture & Environmental Art at The Glasgow School of Art, took part in the Land Arts of the American West programme in New Mexico, and have recently completed an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation at Edinburgh Napier University.
Now joining us in this new role, Hamshya is looking forward to the adventure ahead – working with volunteers to nurture plants, support nature restoration, and help grow something truly special for the communities within the National Park.
Annie Tothill| Community Development Officer (Landscape Connections)
Annie[at]trustinthepark.org
Annie has recently joined the Countryside Trust as the Community Development Officer through the Landscape Connections initiative and is excited to meet people across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, listen to their stories and help communities play an active role in shaping local nature restoration projects.
A Sociology graduate from the University of Glasgow, Annie previously worked for a community-led space for women+ charity in Paisley, where she held both Project Worker and Project Manager roles. She brings a strong passion for engagement, inclusion and community-led change, and believes that lasting nature recovery is only possible when local people are involved and empowered. She also believes that nature connectedness is crucial to our wellbeing and plays a vital role in caring for the environment. While she doesn’t claim to be an ecologist, Anne is looking forward to learning more about nature restoration and the rich biodiversity of the National Park.
Stacey Felgate | Community Partnerships Advisor (Community Land Scotland’s Natural Capital team )
Stacey[at]trustinthepark.org
Stacey is new to the team and joins us as Community Partnerships Advisor, employed by Community Land Scotland and based with the Countryside Trust.
Her role supports communities through the Landscape Connections initiative, focusing on how we embed community-led decision making in the initiative, and ensure that communities benefit from all the investment and activity that would come from delivery phase. She is looking forward to meeting and working with communities across the area as the initiative develops.
With a background spanning sociology, anthropology and environmental science, Stacey has worked internationally on projects exploring how human behaviours influence carbon-rich environments, from peatlands and rainforests to seagrass meadows and mangroves.
A passionate advocate for community-led action and local democracy, Stacey also helps fun her local Community Development Trust. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, getting outdoors, live music, a good dook, and the occasional grand adventure.
Fiona McGregor | Senior Health Walk Coordinator
Fiona[at]trustinthepark.org
Fiona supports our park wide Walk in the Park health walks and activities, and developing the projects and partnerships which support the health and wellbeing of communities in the National Park.
A familiar and friendly face to many, Fiona first started walking in our Balloch group and soon became one of our Volunteer Walk Leaders. With many years of experience in training and development Fiona’s strong communication and organisational skills are helping grow our ‘Walk in the Park’ programme from strength to strength.
In her spare time Fiona is a keen walker and loves nature, as well as supporting and encouraging others to benefit from walking in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Get in touch to find out more or have a chat about starting a Walk in the Park in your community.
Diane Mailer | Health Walk Coordinator
Diane[at]trustinthepark.org
Having lived and worked in the National Park area for over 30 years with two thirds of them as an Outdoor Education Instructor, Diane has worked with a mixture of age groups and instructing a variety of outdoor pursuits and environmental projects. More recently Diane has run her own café/ craft business, worked as a Country Park Ranger and with The National Trust of Scotland.
Over the years Diane’s passion for the great outdoors has only increased, enjoying running, walking, skiing and cycling and doing the odd bit of wild swimming. Her recent passion however is for her flock of Shetland sheep and learning all about wool!
Diane is very excited to be part of the Countryside Trust and to be supporting our flagship health walk programme using her skills and enthusiasm built up over the years helping to support people to get out into the outdoors, to keep fit and healthy and to enjoy this amazing part of the world that we live in.
Craig Whyte | The Great Trossachs Forest Project Coordinator
Craig[at]trustinthepark.org
Having studied and worked as an ecologist for 18 years, Craig branched into community based cultural heritage and sustainable development work, working for a range of organisations across Scotland and abroad, all the while maintaining his keen interest in the natural environment.
Following a project management role on a footpath and heritage interpretation project in Argyll, Craig returns closer to his home in Dunblane, from where he and his family are regular, active visitors to the Trossachs and other part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Discover more about The Great Trossachs Forest.
Meet our Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees brings together leaders from conservation, public health, academia, community development, and land management. Their combined experience guides the Trust’s strategic direction and strengthens our mission to protect nature and support the people and communities of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Dr Dave Beaumont | Trustee, Chair
Dave Beaumont is the Operations Director for the RSPB in South Scotland. Leading a team of around 90 staff, he oversees all of RSPBs work in the area including reserve management on 30 different reserves, public affairs, education, wider conservation measures and site safeguard.
Ian Bray | Trustee
Dr Ian Bray is the Area Manager for the NatureScot Forth Team. He has over 20 years experience working within nature conservation to enhance our natural environment and inspire the people of Scotland to care more about it. This has ranged from the practicalities of site management to advice provided to land-managers, decision makers and government.
Outside of work he likes a sports which get him out into nature, mountain biking, hill walking and skiing.
Audrey Roy | Trustee, Vice Chair
Audrey became a trustee of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Countryside Trust in 2024.
Audrey has nurtured a passion for the natural environment from her childhood experiences exploring urban parks and wilder landscapes with school trips. She has consolidated this with 30 years of professional experience working in the natural environment sector with local communities. Her time with Defra and Natural England and its predecessor bodies, has covered a wide range of roles from policy and research, ministerial briefings, area team operational leadership, through to change management, digital implementation projects and driving the equality, diversity and inclusions agenda, as well as covering inclusive recruitment projects.
In her spare time, Audrey enjoys walking, keeping fit and photography, and is currently an inclusive engagement advisor to the Welsh Natur Am Byth nature conservation programme.
Audrey is looking forward to using her experience, energy and enthusiasm to help the trust deliver its important and ambitious programme of work.
Bruce Whyte | Trustee
Bruce joined our board of trustees in 2024 and works in public health as an Information Consultant. His work has included analysing Scotland’s health in an international context, leading innovative health profiling work and from many years he led a programme of research on active travel at the Glasgow Centre for Population Health. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow.
Outside of work he takes the dog for walks (a lot), cycles, climbs hills and takes pictures. He has been a conservation volunteer with the John Muir Trust and RSPB for many years, including path building and repairs, tree-planting, removing rhododendron and beach cleans. Bruce is a keen Gaelic speaker agus an comnhaidh deònach a bhith ga bruidhinn.
Professor Kirsty Park | Trustee
Kirsty Park is a Professor in Conservation Science at the University of Stirling. Her research is broadly concerned with the effects of anthropogenic change on biodiversity and developing solutions to mitigate the impacts of humans on wildlife. Much of this addresses questions relating to animal ecology and conservation in managed environments (e.g. urban, agricultural, forestry). A particular area of focus relates to habitat restoration, looking at the goals of restoration action – she is co-lead of the WrEN project (woodland creation and ecological networks), a long term research project examining the biodiversity and ecological responses to woodland restoration.
Professor Christopher Spray | Trustee
Professor Christopher Spray joins us as our National Park Board representative, originally appointed by the Minister some 4 years ago has just been re-appointed for a second term.
A wetland ecologist by training and an ornithologist by passion, Chris has been dabbling in biodiversity and catchment management most of his life; one of the founders of the River Restoration Centre, a past chairman of the Freshwater Biological Association, past president of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and for 10 years was professor of water science and policy at the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science, University of Dundee. Here, his research focussed (and still does as an emeritus/honorary prof) on catchments and river restoration, working closely with Tweed Forum, of which he is a trustee.
Living just outside the National Park boundary, Chris is a regular ‘visitor’ and hill-walker; and as a past Director of Science for SEPA and member of the Scottish Biodiversity Group, he has been heavily involved in wetland conservation here and across Scotland for many years.
Alison Connelly | Trustee
Charlotte Colquhoun | Trustee
More details to follow.
Fraser Bedwell | Trustee
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is an area that holds a special place in Fraser’s heart. He spent his formative years living in Killin, was married at Boturich Castle overlooking Loch Lomond and now enjoys sharing the wonders of the National Park with his young family.
Fraser is Chief Executive of Unity, a charity and social enterprise that supports adults with learning difficulties, as well as young and adult carers. Prior to that he spent 25 years working in marketing and communications, most recently with veterans charity Poppyscotland, as well as with the NFL, Scottish Rugby and in corporate sports.
He is especially keen to help raise the profile of the excellent work undertaken by the Countryside Trust, and to support its mission of protecting and enhancing the ecology of the area.
Alan McMullen | Trustee
Alan formerly worked as a local government planner responsible for countryside management and environmental regeneration. He has wide experience of project development and implementation across a number of land management disciplines from forestry, nature conservation, landscape design, access and natural play. He has particular interest in engaging people with nature to improve personal and community wellbeing. Until recently he was chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Environment Trust which focussed on tackling disadvantage through community empowerment and environmental improvement.
Living within the National Park, he is keen to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between development, recreation and nature conservation.