Governance
Any organisation is only as good as the people who run it. Here at the Home, we’re lucky to have a leadership team with a strong vision for the future.
Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO
Lindsay has worked across the humanitarian, aviation and animal welfare sectors leading numerous complex and global operations including disaster response projects in Haiti, Japan and the Philippines. Lindsay was able to secure the first ever round table discussion at a UN conference on animals in disasters. In 2017 Lindsay was nominated for the Young Leader of the Year and awarded a special commendation, and in 2021 highly commended in the IOD Scotland Director of the Year Awards. As CEO, Lindsay leads the Home in its strategy to tackle pet poverty and be a voice for change for dogs, cats and their owners in their greatest time of need. She is a member of the Edinburgh City Council Living Wage Action Group, Edinburgh City Council Homelessness Task Force and is the Women Leaders Network Champion for ACOSVO.
Jamie Simpson, Director of Operations
Jamie has an extensive background in managing operations across the UK and oversees in a number of different industries, including education, tourism and animal welfare. Jamie’s operational and commercial experience means he has a track record of successfully managing and developing teams, managing change and diversifying income streams. He has a passion for creative new ideas and enjoys developing new partnerships in order to grow success. Outside of work Jamie enjoys keeping fit and active through a variety of sports as well as spending time with his very demanding cat, Rudi.
Sarah Johnston, Director of Income and Engagement
Sarah is Director of Income and Engagement, overseeing the fundraising, and marketing and communications teams within the Home. She has spent over twenty years in fundraising, marketing, business development and customer success roles within the public and third sectors. Prior to joining the Home, Sarah headed up the business engagement team at a Scotland-wide social enterprise, leading the team to drive sales and providing her with strategic experience across the full customer journey. Sarah is passionate about corporate social responsibility and using ESG principles to build positive social impact. A proud Dundonian, she is owned by her dog Reggie and can often be found planning new campervan adventures.
Our Trustees
Lesley Watt - Chair
Lesley qualified as a solicitor before training as a chartered accountant with PwC in Edinburgh. For more than 30 years she has held Board appointments across a range of sectors. She is a Non-Executive Director of Tatton Asset Management plc and Sosandar plc. She is also a member of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland, a Trustee of the Scottish Ensemble, a Governor at St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen, her alma mater and mentors a number of senior women. In her spare time, her fourth wee Westie, Macallan, definitely keeps her on her toes. She has also been a servant to several cats too over the years!
Craig Marshall - Treasurer
Craig is a Chartered Accountant, a member of ICAEW. He grew up in Preston before moving to Scotland. He has a background in Finance across a broad range of sectors including NHS, Education and private practice. Craig lives in Edinburgh, and is currently working at Historic Environment Scotland as Head of Business Financial Support. Outside of work, he is kept busy with his 2 young children and is delighted to join the Home as their Treasurer.
Murray Stewart
Murray is a solicitor and notary public having qualified in Scotland in 2005 and England in 2012. He is currently Head of Real Estate at Gilson Gray LLP, one of Scotland’s most prominent law firms. Previously he led the Scottish real estate offering of a major international law firm. Murray has a broad and diverse knowledge of the property industry and has advised institutional investors, developers and housebuilders, major corporates and FTSE 100 companies. Murray lives in East Lothian and his spare time centres on his family, primarily his two young sons and two rescue cats, Stella and Sakara.
Catherine Brown
Catherine graduated from Edinburgh University with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and English Language before embarking on a successful career in broadcast journalism, working for BBC Scotland, several commercial radio stations and as news editor for GMTV Scotland. Since joining the Scottish Government in 2010, she has worked on a diverse range of issues including the Covid-19 response, economic policy, Brexit, education, culture, climate change and animal health and welfare. She is currently head of the Ukraine policy unit. Catherine is an enthusiastic supporter of the Home, having rehomed her terrier cross, Sadie, from here in 2015.
David Welsh
David joined the board of trustees in 2018. He is an advocate (Scottish barrister) during the day and the owner of a very lively young westie the rest of the time. David brings to the board experience in a number of legal fields, having represented and provided advice to individuals, businesses and charities over a number of years. He grew up in Durham, moved to Edinburgh for university and never went away. He is driven by a passion for animal welfare and for ensuring that EDCH continues to be a leading light in such matters in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.
Roslyn Neely
Roslyn is Chief Executive at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC). She has led and grown the team to increase the contribution it makes to the children’s hospital, including the development of two new services, an innovative Arts Programme and The Hub; a child, youth and family support service. Prior to working with ECHC, Roslyn spent seven years as Director of Fundraising and Communications at Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS). Roslyn won the Institute of Director’s Charity Sector Director of the Year Award in 2019, is a Trustee for Dads Rock.
Emma Barrett
Emma is Head of Engagement Systems at Oxfam. Prior to this role she worked as Head of Digital Engagement at FSRH, as well as a number of key digital communications roles driving website, communications and digital engagement in several charities and higher education institutions over the last twelve years. Emma holds a Masters’ in Charity Management and is passionate about animal welfare.
David Field
David is CEO of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, a wildlife conservation charity working to protect animals in Scotland and around the world. David has spent a lifetime around animals – at the age of 12 he became a volunteer at Dudley Zoo and on his first day met a chimp named Koko who remains one his “best friends” today. He went on to work at Dublin Zoo, London and Whipsnade Zoos as Zoological Director. Fundamental to his work has been progressing and implementing welfare science in the care of zoo animals in zoos across the world through his roles with the World Zoo and Aquarium Association. David is also currently the President of the Association of British Wild Animal Keepers.
Matt Smith
Matt is Head of Development and Innovation at THINK Consulting Solutions. Matt is an innovation and fundraising leader, with specialist skills in digital fundraising, new product development and facilitation. He is proficient in setting up innovation functions, strategy development and managing large, cross-organisational change projects. Over the last decade, he has designed and facilitated innovation sprints for dozens of projects – his bespoke methodology can be applied to both process improvement and new product development. Alongside this, Matt is also proficient at integrating and embedding new fundraising innovations, particularly where the digital meets physical.
