Staff

Alice is responsible for core fundraising and reporting to funders. She supports LINK’s information provision and network functions generally, including organisation of LINK’s annual members’ Congress.

Alice is based in our Perth office and works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 5pm.

Dilraj joined LINK from spring 2018, and works in the advocacy team in our Edinburgh office. Dilraj has an MBA from Staffordshire University and an MSc in Carbon Management from Glasgow University. Dilraj started her career overseas in India, having worked in textile, academic and charity sectors. Dilraj’s experience in the UK has been primarily in the private, education and charity sectors. Her most recent work includes coordinating an environmental community engagement project with the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council, a creative advocacy role with the charity Amina, and research work with Glasgow Caledonian University. Dilraj provides policy advocacy support to LINK groups and subgroups whose work is prioritised on a rolling basis.

Dilraj works on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

As LINK’s Chief Officer, Deborah’s role is to ensure the effective delivery of LINK’s strategic vision to deliver a strong coherent voice in pursuit of a sustainable Scotland.  Key to this is providing leadership for the staff team and enabling LINK members to take effective action together. Deborah has extensive senior leadership experience in natural and cultural heritage in Scotland, and most recently led a multi-partner international consortium working with citizens, climate and soil scientists and policy makers across Europe to gather, share and use data on soil and land management. Trained as a Palaeoecologist, Deborah maintains an active interest in plants and growing and spends as much time as she can outdoors in Scotland and across the world, sea kayaking, cross country skiing and hill walking.

Phoebe Cochrane is LINK’s Sustainable Economics Officer, part-time (21 hours per week).  Phoebe leads on the Circular Economy for a Fairer Footprint project, focussing on seeking reductions in Scotland’s environmental footprint and influencing debate around creating a more circular economy for Scotland.  Working closely with the LINK network and others, the role involves policy development, building alliances for progressive economics, and direct advocacy and communications with key stakeholders and decision-makers.  The post is funded by Friends Provident Foundation.   Phoebe previously worked on our Flourishing Scotland Project.  Prior to joining LINK Phoebe worked for the Crofting Inquiry, Just World Partners and The Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe.  She has an MSc in Ecological Economics and a PhD examining the social benefits of community involvement in forestry.

Phoebe works 9am – 3.30pm Monday to Thursday.

Esther Brooker is the Marine Policy and Engagement Officer, supporting the work of the LINK Marine Group. Esther holds an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection (with a BSc with honours in Marine Biology). She has had a varied career in marine policy and research, most recently working for WWF Scotland as their Marine Policy Officer. She is also a keen SCUBA diver and takes every opportunity for enjoying the marine environment. Esther’s LINK role is to provide technical and scientific support to the Marine Group; she helps to coordinate the development and delivery of joint policy on marine environmental issues and evidence-based advocacy for an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas in Scottish seas and an effective marine planning system.

Esther’s normal working week is 9am to 5pm Monday – Thursday.

Ian is the first Programme Manager of the new Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, based in Edinburgh.

Until recently he ran Highland Environmental Law, an environmental and planning law consultancy based near Inverness, advising and representing community groups and individuals opposing unsustainable development all over Scotland, such as opencast coal mining in Fife, coal bed methane extraction in the Central Belt and Dumfriesshire, a new town in Cairngorms National Park and ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth.

He previously worked inhouse at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for over 10 years, mainly as Regional Solicitor for the North of Scotland and lead solicitor on implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and the Controlled Activities Regulations. He is a keen walker and cyclist, and would like to rock-climb more.

Ian works Monday am, Tuesday and Wednesday all day, Thursday am.

Juliet is employed with LINK as our Species Champion Co-Ordinator taking forward the work of the campaign. 

Juliet has recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University where she studied Social Sciences BA (Hons), specialising in topics such as environmental politics and human migration. Her undergraduate research surrounded the subject of refugee and asylum seeker integration within Scottish communities. Whilst studying in Edinburgh, Juliet has previously volunteered at organisations such as the Scottish Refugee Council and The Welcoming. Juliet has grown up in the countryside of Perthshire and enjoys spending her free time hiking and tackling Scotland’s beautiful Munros.

Juliet works Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Karen’s role is to manage the financial administration of the organisation including all records and processing, managing LINK’s offices and systems and support other staff in relation to these. Karen also has responsibility to manage LINK’s IT environment and to assist with the administration of LINK projects.

Karen works Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am – 3pm and Wednesday 9am – 4.30pm.

Lisa is the administrator in LINK’s Advocacy Office in Edinburgh. She has worked in the Scottish environment sector for a number of years including eight years with RSPB Scotland. At LINK, Lisa prepares the weekly Advocacy Monitoring Report, co-ordinates advocacy events, deals with enquiries and provides general admin support to the Advocacy Manager and other colleagues.

Lisa works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9am – 5pm.

Miriam coordinates Fight for Scotland’s Nature, the campaign for a Scottish Environment Act supported by LINK’s member organisations. She works closely with our network to maximise the strength of our collective voice on this issue. She has previously worked in campaigns and communications roles for Global Justice Now, Survival International, and Oxfam, and for a Scottish government body.

Miriam works 9.30am – 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Shivali is the Development Manager for the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland. She has just submitted her PhD, which uses participatory action research to explore greenspace aspirations and challenge environmental injustice with disadvantaged communities in Glasgow. Shivali has always been passionate about encouraging others to experience the physical and emotional benefits of outdoor spaces and is an experienced community worker and group facilitator.
Her professional career has focused on developing integrated services for complex needs, in both London and Glasgow, in the fields of youth work, rough sleeping and refugee integration. Before embarking on her PhD, Shivali was the Homeless and Asylum Services Manager and part of the North East Senior Management Team for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Shivali works 9am – 5pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and is based at RSPB Scotland.

Vhairi is LINK’s Advocacy Manager, providing strategic advice and support on policy advocacy to the LINK network and a key contact for parliamentarians and political parties spokespeople contacting the LINK network. Vhairi has an MA in Sustainable Development and has worked on a variety of environmental community projects, including the launch of the John Muir Way. Most recently, she has worked as a researcher in the Scottish Parliament. Vhairi represents the LINK network with decision-makers and other stakeholders. She is also a member of the 2050 Climate Group.