Staff

The SSMEI Clyde Pilot employs a full-time project officer, John Eddie Donnelly, and a part-time project assistant, Kate Thompson. John and Kate are managed by David Ross, Senior Marine Water Framework Directive Scientist at SEPA.

John Eddie Donnelly (project officer)

John was appointed the Project Officer of the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI) Clyde Pilot in July 2007. He has an Honours Degree in Forest Management from Aberdeen University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. He has worked in rural land management, mostly in Grampian, in both the private and public sectors for the previous 9 years before moving to the marine environment.

The creation of integrated land management plans, including spatial forest plans, as well as extensive experience in stakeholder consultation, makes John well placed to deliver one of the first Local Marine Spatial Plans in Scotland.

He initiated the creation of the North East Forest Industries Group (NEFIG) and this experience will be invaluable when engaging with and bringing together all the various sectors within the Firth of Clyde to develop the Local Marine Spatial Plan. The aim of NEFIG was to improve relationships, increase integration and share in success. It achieved this through bringing together inter-related industries and organisations such as nurseries, forestry companies, wood processors, end users (including paper mills; timber frame house manufacturers and builders; joiners) and recreational businesses.

Kate Thompson (project assistant)

Kate is a graduate ecologist with a background in seabird research and conservation within both the voluntary sector and government agencies. This has enabled her to indulge her love of islands, with periods spent on Rum, the Falkland Islands, the Isle of May, St Kilda and the Orkney Islands. Mainland life has included five years in Aberdeenshire and two winters studying geese and working on a fish farm in Kintyre before settling in Glasgow some four years ago.  Before moving to the SSMEI team, Kate   worked in a support role with the Scottish Centre for Research on Social Justice. She is currently developing her growing interest in sustainability issues through a course of study at the University of Strathclyde.