Cath is part of the UK wide partnership team delivering the Energy Learning Network and plays a key role in cultivating the engagement between CES, our members and our wider network. She manages our membership and engages with community groups supporting them with their energy related enquiries. She has recently led on refreshing Community Energy Scotland’s branding and redeveloping the website.

My key responsibilities include supporting new and potential members, membership engagement, and supporting delivery of the Energy Learning Network, providing resources to communities helping them increase their capacity to develop energy work. 

With a strong background in local community and customer relations, I also have professional experience in community development and human resources. Familiar with the day to day running of third sector companies and trading subsidiaries, and a former board member of the Knoydart Forest Trust and Wood Knoydart CIC, I have a sound understanding of community organisational governance and operational undertakings.  Having spent 15 years living in Knoydart and working for the Knoydart Foundation, I also understand and appreciate fully life in the heart of a small, remote, working community and the benefits and challenges that brings. At work I was part of the team managing the community owned off-grid 125kW (now 300kW) hydro scheme .

A graduate in Sustainable Development with the University of the Highlands & Islands, I am passionate about community development playing a critical role in local well-being and resilience. Supporting communities to achieve zero carbon as part of their goals to thrive and prosper is key in helping to achieve this. Social equity and environmental concerns sit high on my priority list, and I am always keen to contribute to solutions that help to benefit and balance both. I also maintain the importance of culture of people and place, both at community level and the wider scale, and the natural environment that affects day to day life. I’m especially fascinated by language and dialect.

I have been fortunate to experience life living and travelling in different parts of the world. I’m a Welsh speaker – really useful in Wales and Patagonia! – and I get by pretty well in Spanish, although I’m far from fluent. I’m an enthusiastic forager and I love trees and all wildlife; living on the edge of Glen Affric provides ample opportunity to enjoy these passions. I love exploring, taking photos, going on long walks with my collie, and checking out live music.