Meet the Team

Anna Lynch – Business Advisor

As a business advisor at Firstport, Anna provides support to social entrepreneurs in the north of Scotland and the Highlands and Islands.

Brian McMillan – Business Advisor

As our most experienced Business Advisor, Brian provides support and advice to social entrepreneurs through the Just Enterprise programme.

Campbell Urquhart – Business Advisor (Associate)

Carmen Paputa-Dutu: Social Innovation Challenge Programme Manager

Carmen is the programme manager for the Social Innovation Challenge at Firstport.

Colin McMillan – Investment and Growth Manager

Colin is our Investment and Growth Manager. He managers Firstport’s accelerator programmes, including LaunchMe, which develops Scotland’s high growth social enterprises.

Daisy Ford-Downes: Head of Group Investment Programmes

As Head of Group Investment Programmes, Daisy oversees repayable investment programmes across the Firstport Group, which includes delivering the Catalyst Fund, Firstport’s innovative social investment fund.

Duncan MacPherson – Business Advisor (Associate)

Elaine Ogg – Executive Administrator

Elaine is Executive Administrator at Firstport and works across the organisation overseeing the administration of each programme.

Dr Emma Ives – Business Advisor

As a Business Advisor, Emma works directly with clients through the Just Enterprise programme.

Gael Drummond – Deputy Chief Exec

As Deputy Chief Exec of Firstport, Gael oversees all operational activities and leads on people development at Firstport.

Hazel Allen – Business Advisor (Associate)

Josiah Lockhart – Firstport Group CEO

As Group Chief Executive, Josiah is responsible for governance and strategy work across Firstport, FirstImpact, and Impact In investment Partnership Scotland. He represents the group in national and international forums as well as liaising with the Scottish Government on sector outcomes.

Julie Smith – Relationship Manager

As a Relationship Manager, Julie works with people who have been awarded Start It or Build It, supporting them in starting up and growing their social enterprise.

Karen Fitzsimmons – Relationship Manager

As a Relationship Manager, Karen works primarily on the Start It and Build It programmes, supporting both applicants and awardees.

Kerrien Grant – Business Advisor (Associate)

Kirstie Penman – Head of Programmes

Kirstie is responsible for overseeing the delivery of Firstport’s awards programmes. She works closely with both our programme managers and our relationship management team who support applicants and awardees across the country.

Maggie Frazer – Business Advisor

Maggie’s role as business advisor involves supporting new and established social enterprises with advice, business support and training.

Maria Ashley – Head of Communications and Digital

Maria is Head of Communications and Digital at Firstport, overseeing all marketing, digital and communications activities within the organisation.

Megan Veronesi – Head of Business Development and Partnerships

Megan is responsible for growth, innovation and the design, development and management of new programmes across the Firstport Group.

Ray Banks – SEF Programme Manager

Ray is the Programme Manager for the Social Entrepreneurs Fund (SEF) at Firstport.

Sinéad Reynolds – Programme Officer (LaunchMe)

Sinéad works as Programme Officer on the LaunchMe programme, Scotland’s social enterprise accelerator.