Founders

Thomas, Theona and Gemma have a rich and varied experience of entrepreneurial and community work in Uist, Scotland and internationally.

Thomas Fisher

Thomas Fisher has been engaged with community development all his professional life, across different continents and in a range of roles from local engagement to national and international policy: as social entrepreneur, developing and leading projects and teams, and building organisations, … as trainer, facilitator and tutor, … as mentor and coach, … as researcher, policy advocate and fund raiser.

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Theona Morrison

Theona Morrison has devoted the last 28 years to community development. Her career, which started in public health and in a Blue Chip global company, has included being the Director of a Radio Station, managing a contemporary traditional Scottish music group, … being the founder member of the Scottish Women’s Enterprise Group and one of only two women from Scotland to sit on a Westminster Government advisory body, … starting her own business using local island produce and the skills of local people to produce and sell garments that could pay a fair price to fleece and garment producers alike, …and working in the public sector to promote vocational education linked in with local island economies.

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Gemma Steele

Gemma is a social entrepreneur who grew up on South Uist, and returned to live on Uist when she was 24.  She is a qualified Occupational Therapist with a passion for addiction recovery in both the UK and East Africa.  In 2014 she was awarded the Young Scot of the Year Unsung Hero award for setting up and managing St Jerome’s Orphanage in Kenya.  On a recent visit she gave a keynote speech to the Association for Charitable Children Institutions of Kenya (A.C.C.I.K) on child protection.  In Uist, Gemma manages the befriending service Caraidean Uist, which is a part of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership for the Western Isles.  Gemma speaks fluent Gàidhlig, English and Swahili, and is a passionate supporter of Uist culture.

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