Staff

Tony Dunbar

Finance Officer

Tony has worked in accounts for thirty years, keeping the books for wide variety of private sector and charitable organisation in the Moray Firth region. He runs his own business, alongside his work with Green Hive, and recently completed his AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting. He is an avid flight-simulator enthusiast during his spare time, and can be found 'virtually' flying all around the world! Please contact Tony at tony@greenhive.co.uk for any enquiries on Green Hive's finances.

Lesley Fraser

Volunteering Officer

Lesley has worked professionally for a wide range of large corporations, public-sector bodies and charities, while also giving her time as a volunteer to local community groups - raising money, running activities and developing projects. She worked in various jobs at NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) for twenty years - eventually settling in the role as Building Manager for the Highlands. Lesley grew up in Nairn, and is an enthusiastic (and highly-skilled) crafter and baker. She is an active member of Cawdor Women's Institute and eager participant in many local craft groups across Nairnshire. Lesley coordinates Green Hive's merry band of volunteers, and is ready to help with any and all enquiries about getting involved in our activities. She can be reached at lesley@greenhive.co.uk.

Jan MacPherson

Events Officer

With a background in the third sector, it has been a long-held dream of Jan’s to get involved in a project which specialises in the creative re-use of fabrics and craft materials. In this one-year post, funded by the Rank Foundation, Jan is excited to lead the development of the existing fabrics workshop based at Seaman’s Hall towards being a sustainable volunteer led social enterprise, and to support the overall development of the Seaman’s Hall as a sustainable community hub for Nairnshire.

Andy MacVicar

Head of Projects (Community Workshop)

Andy's professional background is in fine art and industrial manufacturing - including stints at Black Isle Bronze in Nairn and various creative design initiatives in New Zealand. He studied for his HND in Design, with a Masters in Fine Art, at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Dundee. He is passionate about design projects with recycled and reclaimed materials, and includes these in his own private practice as a sculptor and metalworker. Andy founded the Green Hive Community Workshop in 2019, and has been instrumental in developing its many innovative processes. Please contact Andy on andy@greenhive.co.uk with any enquiries on the Community Workshop and its projects.

Joshua Nimmins

Head of Operations

Joshua has a wealth of experience in operational management and the coordination of community activities, with an extensive background in the outdoor sports and leisure sectors - with jobs in adaptive ski-instruction in Canada and recycling and repairing bikes for community use in the north-east of England. He has worked in charities for more than ten years. Joshua is responsible for day-to-day operations across Green Hive, and leads on managing the Green Hive Community Hub at Seaman's Victoria Hall in Fishertown. He is a key member of the team now working on developing and refurbishing these premises - with special responsibilities for our active travel services (including e-bike hire and the Trike Nairn project). Contact Joshua at joshua@greenhive.co.uk for enquiries on Seaman's Victoria Hall and its activities - including active travel and the Zero Waste Fabric Store.

Andrew Southward

Projects Officer (Community Workshop)

Andrew is a creative all-rounder in craft and design, and loves to innovate. His work at the Community Workshop includes focuses on its computer numeric cutting (CNC) capabilities, and the potential this offers Green Hive and its partners for complex designs in recycled plastics. Andrew is our lead Mental Health First Aider, and has specialised skills in supporting volunteers and other participants with additional needs. He particularly enjoys helping our volunteers expand their knowledge and skills, while improving health and wellbeing at the Community Workshop and across Green Hive. Please contact Andrew at andrew@greenhive.co.uk for any enquiries on the Community Workshop, its work in CNC and 3D printing and the tailored support we can offer volunteers with additional needs.

Matthew Withey

Chief Executive

Matthew has worked mostly in heritage and museums, including senior management positions at Abbotsford: the home of Sir Walter Scott, the Brontë Parsonage Museum and the Highland Folk Museum. Before joining Green Hive he worked as a freelancer on fundraising and community development projects at Families Outside, Strathearn Arts, the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust and the UNESCO North West Highlands Geopark. Matthew is passionate about public amenities and the natural environment, and is keen to ensure that Green Hive carries on developing its work with local communities to protect and improve these important assets. Matthew can be reached on matthew@greenhive.co.uk.

Directors

Elsa Fraser

Vice Chair

Formally named 'Elizabeth', Elsa has strong, long-standing roots in Fishertown; her family ran Nairn's last commercial fishing boat. Along with her cousin Dawn Main, also a Director (see below), she in very much the local voice and 'community memory' for Green Hive's activities at Seaman's Victoria Hall, and a strong driver for our work to re-establish this important historic building as a thriving community resource. Elsa works in the social care and public housing sectors - with crucial insights and valuable contacts/networks for Green Hive's work with disadvantaged and 'hard-to-reach' communities in Nairn and Nairnshire. Contact: elsa@greenhive.co.uk.

Craig Hales

Although educated in Fife and Perthshire, and having spent 25 years as an Environmental Manager on major construction and rail projects in London, Craig describes his moving to Nairn in late 2023 as a homecoming. He now works as Sustainability Manager for Walker's Shortbread, commuting regularly between Nairn and Moray. Contact: craig@greenhive.co.uk.

Dawn Main

Belonging to Nairn and with strong roots in Fishertown, including direct family links to the Seaman's Victoria Hall, Dawn is another important local voice on Green Hive's Board of Directors. Her family owned and operated the last commercial fishing boat from the old fleet at Nairn Harbour - INS 185 Strathnairn, a great source of pride. She is a qualified architect and has worked on many building and construction-related projects over her thirty years in the industry - including, most recently, with NatureScot as their Net Zero and Property Team Leader. As such, she provides much-needed technical know-how to Green Hive's ambitions for the redevelopment of Seaman's Victoria Hall. Contact: dawn@greenhive.co.uk.

Simon Noble

Chair

Simon was born in Aberdeen, but has known Nairn all his life and finally moved here in 2007. Motivated by his intense dislike of social and health inequalities, he is keen to give local people the solutions they want and need for the everyday problems affecting our communities. Following a varied professional career - including sales, management consultancy and criminal justice - he established Green Hive in 2015, and is now the Chair of our Board of Directors. Contact: simon@greenhive.co.uk.

Peter Saggers

Treasurer

Peter is a retired chartered accountant and former Highland Council councillor for Nairn. He serves on the boards of several Nairn bodies, contributing the experience gained from over forty years in private practice. Contact: peter@greenhive.co.uk.