REAP - who we are

REAP is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors with a wealth of experience in the fields of social enterprise, sustainability, rural development, rural poverty and capacity building. The REAP Board is made up of the following people:

Alan Fay is a planner who has recently taken early retirement from Scottish Natural Heritage. He is currently studying part time for an MSc in Renewable Energy.

Alan has lots of experience in the voluntary and community sector and has a good understanding of the work of REAP.

Priscilla Gordon-Duff has a background in social anthropology and has lived in Strathisla for over 30 years. She has a real sense of place, and runs a family land based business which has a sense of commitment to the local community.

Priscilla has also studied Land Economy and is a Chartered Surveyor. She has had a long association with REAP, and has always valued the fact that REAP actually does things, and that as an organisation we have a connection and commitment to Keith.

Claire Ross knows REAP very well having worked here for over 4 years before moving to the post of Education and Inclusion Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority. CNPA has an enabling rather than a delivery role and have a growing interest in sustainable lifestyles, access and economic development.

Claire brings good contacts within SEERAD and an understanding of the Social Enterprise and Community Development sectors.

REAP's Staff

The work of REAP is carried out by our full and part-time employees based in our office in Keith. After ten years of business, the range and depth of knowledge and experience gained by our staff enables us to offer a comprehensive and efficient service to our clients and deliver a professional product to the community and voluntary sector. At present the REAP staff is made up of the following people:

Kevin McDermott is the REAP Manager and has a wealth of experience in community development having worked in both the public and voluntary sectors. He has extensive experience in designing and delivering highly participatory community consultation and engagement exercises. He also has wide facilitation experience with voluntary sector and social enterprise boards.

Kevin is an accredited SAN social auditor and has provided training and mentoring support to a wide range of organisations. He has a particular interest in social enterprise and has carried out research into social enterprises both locally and nationally. As well as founding The Moray Social Enterprise Network, he is an Associate Tutor with the Social Enterprise Academy, a former Director of Community Business Scotland, and was on the steering group which formed Development Trusts Association (DTA Scotland). Kevin has previous experience in industry and was a volunteer teacher with the charity VSO. He is a graduate in Community Education at Jordanhill College, Strathclyde University.

Rod Lovie is the REAP Outreach Worker specialising in environmental matters with previous experience of working in the public, voluntary and academic sectors. Working for REAP he has developed outreach work with an emphasis on environmental work within a community development framework and supported volunteer groups involved in local environmental projects. Rod's consultancy work has included creating an Environmental Strategy for the local Community Planning Partnership and an economic impact study on a local paths network. He has created the latest REAP Social Audit and is training to be an accredited SAN social auditor.

Rod is currently also a lecturer in Permaculture for the UHI and has a MA (Hons) in Countryside and Environmental Management. He has previously worked for Scottish Natural Heritage and the Aberdeen Countryside Project and is involved in numerous cultural and environmental community groups.

Ann Davidson is the Green Diary Editor and Outreach Worker. As the Green Diary editor, Ann has been responsible for improving the design, content and environmental credentials of the publication which is a free monthly green events guide for the whole of Grampian. As a REAP Outreach Worker, Ann's work has included delivering a women’s Action Research Project, work with schools, voluntary groups and agencies. She has delivered a project to calculate the Green Diary’s carbon footprint, reduce it and attempt to offset the remainder through local native tree planting. This work resulted in the production of a carbon footprinting pack for voluntary groups to use.

Ann is a qualified youth worker and has a variety of work experience, including lecturing in sustainable development at Moray College, working in a bakery Co-operative and organic gardening. Ann's qualifications include a degree with distinction in Environment and Heritage Studies, PP1 in Youth Work and a BTCV Leadership Skills qualification.

Alan Stevenson is the REAP Office Manager. Alan specialises in desk top publishing and the maintenance of the IT system for REAP in addition to the daily management of the office, payroll etc. Alan also carries out secretarial and financial administration for a number of community organisations and social enterprises.

Alan graduated as a mature student from Loughborough University of Technology with a first class BSc (Hons) degree in Transport Management and Planning. More recently he graduated from the Open University with a BA having studied Social Sciences and Human Geography. He has, in addition, completed training courses leading to ILM qualifications at Level 3 and Level 4. Alan brings to REAP a wide experience of work including the public sector and self employment. Over the past three years he has developed a local community project which has added breadth to his knowledge and experience of the Third Sector.