Blythswood
Leadership Team
Blythswood Executive Team
The Blythswood Executive Team work, along with the staff and volunteers, to support, build and grow the aims, mission and values of Blythswood.
Jeremy Ross
Chief Executive
After 16 years in pastoral ministry in Wester Ross and Fife, Jeremy returned to work in Blythswood in 2023. His father started the organisation so Jeremy has been around Blythswood from an early age and visited Eastern Europe a few times before beginning work as South of Scotland Area Coordinator in 1998 and then Fundraising Coordinator in 2001. He was invited onto the board of Blythswood Care in 2021. Rediscovering the vital work of Blythswood impacting lives, both for temporary and everlasting good, has brought him back to play his part in leading the organisation. Jeremy is married to Fiona and they have four sons and two daughters-in-law.
Jeremy Ross
Chief Executive
After 16 years in pastoral ministry in Wester Ross and Fife, Jeremy returned to work in Blythswood in 2023. His father started the organisation so Jeremy has been around Blythswood from an early age and visited Eastern Europe a few times before beginning work as South of Scotland Area Coordinator in 1998 and then Fundraising Coordinator in 2001. He was invited onto the board of Blythswood Care in 2021. Rediscovering the vital work of Blythswood impacting lives, both for temporary and everlasting good, has brought him back to play his part in leading the organisation. Jeremy is married to Fiona and they have four sons and two daughters-in-law.
Ian Matheson
Chief Operating Officer
Ian, the Chief Operating Officer, has overall management of Blythswood’s twenty-three Scottish reuse shops and two hub depots. The depots process donated goods for Blythswood’s shop resale and further reuse/recycling sale. This work provides essential funding towards Blythswood’s projects in Scotland and abroad. Prior to joining Blythswood, Ian spent over eighteen years implementing and project managing IT systems for clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ian is married with four daughters and is an elder in the Free Church of Scotland. He is a board member of the Blythswood Romania charity, Circular Communities Scotland and The Elsie Normington Foundation.
Ian Matheson
Chief Operating Officer
Ian, the Chief Operating Officer, has overall management of Blythswood’s twenty-three Scottish reuse shops and two hub depots. The depots process donated goods for Blythswood’s shop resale and further reuse/recycling sale. This work provides essential funding towards Blythswood’s projects in Scotland and abroad. Prior to joining Blythswood, Ian spent over eighteen years implementing and project managing IT systems for clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ian is married with four daughters and is an elder in the Free Church of Scotland. He is a board member of the Blythswood Romania charity, Circular Communities Scotland and The Elsie Normington Foundation.
Fiona Connolly
Head of People and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources and Compliance team. She feels it is a huge privilege to be part of the Lord’s work within Blythswood. After graduating from University Fiona worked in the personnel and training field before moving in to community development. As a Project Management Consultant Fiona worked with communities in the European Northern Periphery and Scottish Highlands to deliver partner projects to develop their economic, social and environmental potential. Formerly a Highland Councillor for 12 years, she is passionate about improving the quality of life for local people. Fiona has 2 children and is a member of Tain and Fearn Free Church.
Fiona Connolly
Head of People and Compliance
Fiona leads the Human Resources and Compliance team. She feels it is a huge privilege to be part of the Lord’s work within Blythswood. After graduating from University Fiona worked in the personnel and training field before moving in to community development. As a Project Management Consultant Fiona worked with communities in the European Northern Periphery and Scottish Highlands to deliver partner projects to develop their economic, social and environmental potential. Formerly a Highland Councillor for 12 years, she is passionate about improving the quality of life for local people. Fiona has 2 children and is a member of Tain and Fearn Free Church.
Balázs Csiszer
Head of International Partnerships
Balázs has been with Blythswood Romania since 2002. Prior to this he was Executive Director of Bonus Pastor Foundation for 7 years. In his current position Balázs is responsible for setting up, maintaining and monitoring overseas projects and partners ensuring that these have sufficient support to operate efficiently. He also fills the position of Executive Director of Blythswood Romania and board member of Blythswood Serbia. Balázs’s passion is to facilitate the transformation of people’s lives through personal relationships as well as through sharing with the partner organisations his wide range of experience accumulated in 27 years in working in the charity sector in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Balázs Csiszer
Head of International Partnerships
Balázs has been with Blythswood Romania since 2002. Prior to this he was Executive Director of Bonus Pastor Foundation for 7 years. In his current position Balázs is responsible for setting up, maintaining and monitoring overseas projects and partners ensuring that these have sufficient support to operate efficiently. He also fills the position of Executive Director of Blythswood Romania and board member of Blythswood Serbia. Balázs’s passion is to facilitate the transformation of people’s lives through personal relationships as well as through sharing with the partner organisations his wide range of experience accumulated in 27 years in working in the charity sector in Eastern Europe and Africa.
Elma Mackay
Head of Communications and Engagement
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now Head of Communications and Engagement with responsibility for leading and developing the Communications and Engagement team. She has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience of fundraising to Blythswood. She is married with three children, and two grandsons. Elma enjoys tennis – although more watching it than playing it these days! Elma is a member of Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church and feels immensely privileged to be part of the team at Blythswood and passionate about seeing the positive impact our work has both here in the UK and abroad.
Elma Mackay
Head of Communications and Engagement
Elma has worked for Blythswood since 2019, first as Area Fundraising Manager, and now Head of Communications and Engagement with responsibility for leading and developing the Communications and Engagement team. She has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience of fundraising to Blythswood. She is married with three children, and two grandsons. Elma enjoys tennis – although more watching it than playing it these days! Elma is a member of Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church and feels immensely privileged to be part of the team at Blythswood and passionate about seeing the positive impact our work has both here in the UK and abroad.
Alan Kemp
Head of Retail
Alan is Blythswood’s Head of Retail leading a network of 24 charity shops across Scotland and Northern Ireland. He brings 30 years of experience in retail leadership, having worked in a variety of roles across the sector before joining Blythswood in 2020. Alan came to faith in 2008 following a radical transformation after many years of committed atheism. In 2020 he sensed a clear and miraculous call from God to step out in faith and began serving with Blythswood- a decision that opened new doors for ministry and mission through retail. He is passionate about bringing mission to the high street in and through our shops, helping our retail team play their part in changing lives for good and forever. Alan is married to Allison and they have two daughters and a son as well as a grandson.
Alan Kemp
Head of Retail
Alan is Blythswood’s Head of Retail leading a network of 24 charity shops across Scotland and Northern Ireland. He brings 30 years of experience in retail leadership, having worked in a variety of roles across the sector before joining Blythswood in 2020. Alan came to faith in 2008 following a radical transformation after many years of committed atheism. In 2020 he sensed a clear and miraculous call from God to step out in faith and began serving with Blythswood- a decision that opened new doors for ministry and mission through retail. He is passionate about bringing mission to the high street in and through our shops, helping our retail team play their part in changing lives for good and forever. Alan is married to Allison and they have two daughters and a son as well as a grandson.
Blythswood Trustees
Blythswood trustees ensure that the charity has a clear strategy and that its work and goals are in line with its vision to see people’s lives being changed for good and forever as they are released from poverty, trauma and exploitation, and receive eternal life through the saving power of Jesus Christ.
David Laing
Chairman
David practised as a solicitor in Scotland for forty years and now acts as a business consultant to a range of clients across all sectors. His formal involvement with Blythswood began in 1982 when Blythswood promoted a public company to buy Blythswood’s portfolio of property and lease it back to the charity at a nominal rent. In addition to his consultancy work David is a non-executive trustee of Tyndale House the Cambridge based Biblical studies research institute, a vice president of The Scottish Bible Society, a trustee of Trinity Forum Europe and an elder of Chalmers Church Edinburgh. He is married with two daughters and two grandchildren.
David Laing
Chairman
David practised as a solicitor in Scotland for forty years and now acts as a business consultant to a range of clients across all sectors. His formal involvement with Blythswood began in 1982 when Blythswood promoted a public company to buy Blythswood’s portfolio of property and lease it back to the charity at a nominal rent. In addition to his consultancy work David is a non-executive trustee of Tyndale House the Cambridge based Biblical studies research institute, a vice president of The Scottish Bible Society, a trustee of Trinity Forum Europe and an elder of Chalmers Church Edinburgh. He is married with two daughters and two grandchildren.
Richard McCallum
Trustee
Richard is married to Alix and has three school-aged kids. Originally from Essex, Richard has spent almost all his adult life in Scotland and now lives in Aberdour in Fife. He is a chartered accountant and senior civil servant in the Scottish Government, where he is responsible for the financial strategy and management of the £18 billion budget in the Health and Social Care Portfolio. Richard is heavily involved in serving at Kirkcaldy Free Church, and in what free time he has, Richard enjoys walks with his family, watching football and playing it badly.
Richard McCallum
Trustee
Richard is married to Alix and has three school-aged kids. Originally from Essex, Richard has spent almost all his adult life in Scotland and now lives in Aberdour in Fife. He is a chartered accountant and senior civil servant in the Scottish Government, where he is responsible for the financial strategy and management of the £18 billion budget in the Health and Social Care Portfolio. Richard is heavily involved in serving at Kirkcaldy Free Church, and in what free time he has, Richard enjoys walks with his family, watching football and playing it badly.
Gordy Mackay
Trustee
Gordy serves as Community Pastor at Perth Baptist Church. He was brought up on the Black Isle and was previously a member of Culduthel Christian Centre in Inverness where he first became involved in Blythswood’s Shoe Box Appeal. Having previously studied Accounting and Economics, Gordy went to Bible College and became an ordained Baptist minister in 2013. He served as a minister in Edinburgh before moving to Perth in 2017. It is a privilege for Perth Baptist Church to now host the Tayside Blythswood Shoe Box sort. Gordy is married to Julie with two quickly-growing sons. When time and energy levels allow, he enjoys running and exploring the Scottish hills.
Gordy Mackay
Trustee
Gordy serves as Community Pastor at Perth Baptist Church. He was brought up on the Black Isle and was previously a member of Culduthel Christian Centre in Inverness where he first became involved in Blythswood’s Shoe Box Appeal. Having previously studied Accounting and Economics, Gordy went to Bible College and became an ordained Baptist minister in 2013. He served as a minister in Edinburgh before moving to Perth in 2017. It is a privilege for Perth Baptist Church to now host the Tayside Blythswood Shoe Box sort. Gordy is married to Julie with two quickly-growing sons. When time and energy levels allow, he enjoys running and exploring the Scottish hills.
Kate-Marie Macrae
Trustee
Kate-Marie grew up in the Netherlands and the USA. She met her husband Neil while leading camps with Eastern Europe for Christ and now lives in the rural Highlands. She spends most of her time looking after their four children. Although she got her degree in health sciences, she now works part time cleaning holiday homes, caring for a flock of sheep and as a pupil support assistant in the local primary school. She enjoys being involved in church life and the school parent council. Kate first heard of Blythswood when she was in Romania in 2005 and later through her church, Lochewe community church, who has been involved with the charity for many years.
Kate-Marie Macrae
Trustee
Kate-Marie grew up in the Netherlands and the USA. She met her husband Neil while leading camps with Eastern Europe for Christ and now lives in the rural Highlands. She spends most of her time looking after their four children. Although she got her degree in health sciences, she now works part time cleaning holiday homes, caring for a flock of sheep and as a pupil support assistant in the local primary school. She enjoys being involved in church life and the school parent council. Kate first heard of Blythswood when she was in Romania in 2005 and later through her church, Lochewe community church, who has been involved with the charity for many years.
Lorne Millar
Trustee
Lorne served in Health Improvement with the NHS but later studied theology. She now serves as a 20schemes Women’s Worker at Lambhill Evangelical Church in the north west of Glasgow where her husband Tommy is pastor. They have 2 grown-up children.
Lorne Millar
Trustee
Lorne served in Health Improvement with the NHS but later studied theology. She now serves as a 20schemes Women’s Worker at Lambhill Evangelical Church in the north west of Glasgow where her husband Tommy is pastor. They have 2 grown-up children.
Iain MacLelland
Trustee
Iain grew up in Aberdeen and now lives in Inverness. He is employed as a Welfare Operations Manager as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy supporting Afghan citizens who worked for the UK Government in Afghanistan. A former Police Officer, he is married to Kathleen and they have two daughters. Iain is a member at Culduthel Christian Centre, Inverness, which is where he first learned about Blythswood and was inspired by their local and international impact.
Iain MacLelland
Trustee
Iain grew up in Aberdeen and now lives in Inverness. He is employed as a Welfare Operations Manager as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy supporting Afghan citizens who worked for the UK Government in Afghanistan. A former Police Officer, he is married to Kathleen and they have two daughters. Iain is a member at Culduthel Christian Centre, Inverness, which is where he first learned about Blythswood and was inspired by their local and international impact.
Nathan Hawthorne
Trustee
Nathan is the pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland where he has been ministering since 2015. Before being called to the ministry Nathan worked for 13 years in a solicitor’s office in Londonderry. Nathan is married to Ellen, and they have a large extended family that they enjoy spending time with. As well as spending time with family and his church family Nathan enjoys reading and watching football and motorcycle racing. Nathan first became involved with Blythswood in 1999 in fundraising for the Daniel Centre before joining the Board of Blythswood Ireland in 2008.
Nathan Hawthorne
Trustee
Nathan is the pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland where he has been ministering since 2015. Before being called to the ministry Nathan worked for 13 years in a solicitor’s office in Londonderry. Nathan is married to Ellen, and they have a large extended family that they enjoy spending time with. As well as spending time with family and his church family Nathan enjoys reading and watching football and motorcycle racing. Nathan first became involved with Blythswood in 1999 in fundraising for the Daniel Centre before joining the Board of Blythswood Ireland in 2008.