Cantraybridge College

Sharon Ellen - Chair

Sharon was born in Glasgow and moved to Nairn with her family as a child and attended school here.  On leaving school she worked locally mainly in the oil and gas industry until joining Bank of Scotland as a commercial relationship manager in 2001 and has worked in various management roles in the bank since then.  Sharon’s current role as Area Director for Highland and Islands Commercial team gives her the opportunity to work with lots of businesses across the stunning Highlands in the support  of their growth and development plans.

Since joining the Cantraybridge team firstly as a board director and now chair, Sharon is delighted to be part of such a fabulous and forward thinking organisation, which continues to go from strength to strength in supporting our students build their confidence and life skills through the many coaching and training opportunities.

Sharon very much enjoys living in Nairn,  spending time with family and friends, fitness and music.

Carol Elliot

Carol Elliot joined the Board late in 2013. Carol has an honours degree in Psychology and an HNC in Business Studies. Carol has been a volunteer for Girlguiding for over 25 years and now edits and produces her community’s regular newsletter.

Carol understands the challengers of rural communities. She is married and has one son and loves to travel across the pond whenever she gets the opportunity. 

Alastair Noble

Alistair is a retired GP from Nairn.  He was worked in Scotland, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.  Alistair has provided his expertise to a range of health improvement initiatives and organisations, including the Scocial Work Inspectorate; NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Joint Improvement Team and Care Commission.  He was formerly Chair of the Scottish Association of GP Community Hospitals. 

Henry Sleigh

After studying Agriculture, Henry spent two years in farm management before establishing his own landscaping business. Keenly interested in farm machinery, Henry has spent much time in the USA sourcing and shipping specialist equipment. His hobbies include designing and building equipment and shooting. Due to a progressive condition, Henry is increasingly physically disabled, which has given him great insight into disability. He works with multiple organisations such as Barnados Works to help young people achieve their potential, and has also served on the Children's Panel.

Jonathan Turner

Jonathan was brought up in the Borders but finished his schooling in Nairn Academy. He went on to study Civil Engineering at Edinburgh then Social Work at Stirling University. Jonathan started his Social Work career in Central Region before coming to Highland where he focused on child-care and protection work. He developed a Disability Service for children for 10 years - making close links with adult learning disability services and being significantly engaged in policy and practice around Self-Directed Support for children. He and Ceri have two children. In April 2016, Jonathan began studying Theology at HTC in Dingwall, chairing a local organisation called Youth for Christ, doing a lot of administration for his church in Nairn and doing some work with the OU in supporting a Social Work student through her placement. Jonathan enjoys cooking, music and photography around Nairn. They both love the Western Isles and go when they can.

Roy McLennan

Roy was a founding Director of Highland Office Equipment Ltd and was there from 1974 until retiring in 2009. Roy was also involved at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and carried out various Directors duties over a 6 year period.

In his spare time he has worked on the Childrens Panel since 2010 and is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Loch Ness.

Married and living in Nairnside he is also kept busy with seven Grandchildren.

Fiona Sherret

A native of Nairn, Fiona returned 20 years ago to live in her home town after working overseas. Alongside her husband, Fiona is a co-founder and director of Nairn based GHRL, providing Interim Management and Business Support Services across Scotland. Fiona has three teenage children, their middle son have significant physical and developmental disabilities.

"Having a disabled son with complex needs, I am very aware of the services that are available locally to encourage and develop young people with challenges at each stage of their life, and in particular of the difficulty in finding a place of value at a time when they are leaving the security and structure of school and (for some) home. I feel strongly that, rather than simply being 'cared for', with the correct structure, support and teaching, our son (and those with similar challenges) can be encouraged to achieve much and may be able to attain a greater potential than perhaps even we as parents recognise. Cantraybridge College offers a very special learning and nurturing environment with opportunities to provide skills and promote sustainable lifestyle choices. I'm happy as both a business person and a Mum, to play an active role in supporting and developing Cantraybridge and its service objectives."

Stephen Watson

Stephen is a Rural Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer.  Just over two years ago Stephen and his wife Katie, with the blessing of their two grown up children moved north to Inverness from Bolton. Getting to know the new area they came across a local advert for the café at Cantraybridge and it was from then that Stephen’s association with the College started. An opportunity to join the Board followed.

With long term experience in voluntary youth and children’s work and with vulnerable adults, one to one young persons mentoring, social care and charity involvement of one sort or another - together with a recent achievement of a honours degree in Mission and Ministry - Stephen fully realises just how important the work of Cantraybridge is: and how unique its services are in providing such dedicated care and assistance to enable young people with disabilities to achieve their full potential. And long may it continue.

Irene Mackintosh

Irene has been working in the third sector for over 20 years. For the last decade, she has specialised in digital participation and community development, and is particularly focused on the ways in which digital can support organisations to help those at risk of exclusion. She has experience both in securing funding and in project management with multiple stakeholders. Irene has also worked extensively in both advocacy and family support.

Shona Munro

Shona has worked in digital participation for over eight years and with a particular focus on adult education and the training and support of individuals and organisations to build community capacity. Prior to this, Shona worked with local authorities in community learning and development departments, developing and delivering IT training to adults, as well as arts and cultural activities for young people. Shona is also a part time lecturer at North Highland College.

Willie Lean

Willie is a local to the area and attended Cawdor primary school then Nairn academy, followed by 2 years in college studying agricultural engineering. Willie is married with two children and has worked in farming since. Willie set up his business, 'Killara Chickens' in 1997 and now rear 120 thousand pullets per year. As if that was not enough Willie took over the Classroom restaurant and has grown it to be one of the top places to eat in Nairn. He also started a ground works business 3 years ago and it was the work done at Cantraybridge College that inspired Willie's interest in joining the board.