Who We Are
Who We Are
The Board
CCDC is governed by a board of volunteer directors who are elected by the community of Coigach. They bring a wealth of skills and experience. Our current (2025 – 2026) board members are:
Ben Walton
Chair
Ben was brought up in Coigach where he now lives and works. Ben was for many years a self-employed fisherman creel fishing in local waters for shellfish for export and was a key member of the pier users group. He now runs his own contracting and haulage company. Ben was one of the first directors of CCDC when it started in 2010 and now leads our housing sub group. In his “spare” time, Ben keeps highland cattle on his croft, has built his own family home and is a member of the local retained firefighter team
Paula Shepherd
Vice Chair
Paula grew up in Yorkshire, lived in Inverness from 1998 to 2013 then enjoyed the opportunity to work in the USA and Italy before moving to Polbain in July 2022. Studying Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University her background is primarily in the manufacturing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. More recently however she has been Plant Manager in Pennsylvania, Florida and Italy and brings these useful management skills to the Board. Paula is looking forward to increasing her contribution to the Coigach community through supporting and driving projects with CCDC that will benefit the community.
Iain Scott
Iain is a Chartered Management Accountant, with an MBA and is a Chartered Director. Iain worked for the three largest construction companies in Scotland. He joined a nursing home business in 1998, progressing to Managing Director, looking after 5,500 older people and responsible for over 7,500 staff. Since 2004, Iain has worked as a self-employed non-executive director primarily working with small companies helping them to raise funds and grow. Iain, who has had a home in Achiltibuie for 17 years, has been a director of CCDC for 10 years. Iain is responsible for all financial matters relating to CCDC, CCDC Trading and Coigach Community CIC.
Richard Williams
Rich works for the John Muir Trust, as part of the fundraising team, with direct involvement on specific projects and community partnerships in the North-West Highlands, including the Knoydart Foundation, of which he is a Board Director. Prior to JMT Rich had a ten-year association with Tanera, for five years of which he lived on Tanera, more recently managed the sale and transfer of the business to the current owner. During this time, he also managed the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme. Rich lives at Achvraie, with Lizzie, Rosie and Xander and gets his kicks on and off the water in boats and on bikes
Sheila Green
Sheila was brought up on the family croft in Achnahaird, Coigach and after studying in Aberdeen she moved to Edinburgh to take up a post as a business studies teacher. After marrying, Sheila located to London and worked in a large comprehensive school as head of the business studies department. In 1978 Sheila and David moved north to Strathpeffer where they owned and ran a successful hotel business. The couple returned to Coigach with their young family in 1984. Sheila then taught business studies at Ullapool High School before retiring in 2016
Alison Sinclair
Alison is a professionally qualified building services engineer. She has worked with community organisations developing social enterprise initiatives and for CCDC as development officer for the former Achiltibuie Smokehouse building. She has also completed a housing options' appraisal for CCDC, as well as working as Powerdown Officer for Lochbroom, promoting and developing community renewable energy schemes. Alison is the chair of Coigach Community CIC, CCDC's Community Interest Company.
Robin Irvine
Robin’s current role is Land and Community Manager for Summer Isles Enterprises where he manages all aspects of work to do with the land, livestock and community on a large restoration project on the Isle of Tanera Mor. On the mainland he has the use of a croft where he and his wife raise their own livestock. Robin is an enthusiastic member of the Coigach Coastal Rowing team. The original Hydroponicum was the brainchild of his grandfather Robert Irvine who also ran the Summer Isles Hotel before passing it on to Robin’s aunt and uncle. Robin has a PhD in Social Anthropology, specialising in human, animal and landscape relationships.
Julie Edwards
On Wednesdays Julie runs the local library, other days she is the administrator for the Community Hall, and is a director of Achiltibuie Garden which grows and supplies fresh produce. Julie’s own business includes catering for events and functions. Julie is also a member of Coigach Community Council and undertakes local fundraising for several national charities.
Andrew Macleod
Andrew is our newest Board member, having been elected in November 2026. He is serving on the Charitable Giving, Estate Business and Programme Working Groups.
Andrew grew up in Altandhu and still lives there. He works full time as a fisherman. He is enthusiastic about Coigach and making it an easier and better place to live, especially for younger people.
If you, or someone you know would like to stand as a director please complete the form below and return to our office.
CCDC Director Nomination Form
Subsidiary Companies
CCDC has two subsidiary companies:
- Coigach Community CIC is a Community Interest Company that owns and operates our wind turbine. Annually, the company gift aids its profits to CCDC
- CCDC Trading holds the community share in Ben Mor Hydro, which entitles it to 12.5% of that company’s profits. Annually, it also gift aids its profits to CCDC.
Here are the directors of these smaller boards who you haven’t already met from the main board:
Steve Husband
Steve has over 30 years' experience of renewable energy, in that time having supported many community projects throughout the UK. With a strong community ethic, he has worked on the community owned wind turbine and the hydro electric scheme.
Iain Muir
Iain was Chair of CCDC for its first 10 years, standing down in 2021 though retaining directorships of Coigach Community CIC and CCDC Trading. After many years away working as a practicing vet and subsequently in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, where he became involved in business management and development at senior level, he returned with his family to his native Coigach and began working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise providing development advice for businesses and communities. Latterly, as an Official Veterinarian, he has been heavily involved in providing services supporting the export of fish and other products to the EU and beyond.
Fraser Mackenzie
Staff
Laura Hamlet
Chief Executive
Laura joined CCDC in April 2023 to support the Directors and staff after a successful nine years in similar roles within the North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark management body. Although her background is in Geoarchaeology (with a PhD from the University of Stirling), she has a passion for effective communication, sustainable development, and charity governance.
She is also a Director of both the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere and the North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark. Laura lives in Achiltibuie with her young family, and feels incredibly privileged to be able to work to build a thriving community here.
Julia Campbell
Development Officer
Julia joined CCDC in 2011. She started life in Achiltibuie Schoolhouse – and was delighted to have been instrumental in her old home becoming a community asset when CCDC took ownership in 2015 – developing it into community-owned flats. A Glasgow School of Art graduate, she has worked in arts development and events management in Ullapool and then the Central Belt. Pulled by the appeal of the Highland lifestyle, she returned to Achiltibuie in 2010 so her young son could attend Achiltibuie Primary School. She volunteers with Coigach Heritage, co-chairs Coigach Community Hall’s committee, as well as being on the Community Housing Trust’s board.
Ann Marie McLachlan
Development Officer
Ann Marie has been working with CCDC since 2019 and has managed several arts’ projects and a new heritage trail for the area, has set up and is running the Coigach Community Garden, along with a pilot community gym project. She is currently (2026) undertaking a feasibility study concerning improved playpark provision for the peninsula. Her background is in the arts: she studied English at Durham University and is a musician and visual artist. In 2010 she set up her own business as a textiles designer-maker and joined the Achiltibuie Artists cooperative which ran a gallery in the village. She is on the board of directors of Highland Community Broadband. She lives in Polglass and has three boys, Joe, Jack and Ali and husband, Ewen.
John Todd
John’s working background is in accounting and finance. He spent around 30 years working in Inverness as a Chartered Accountant advising Highlands based business and people. John is a father of 3 young adults and recently became a grandparent. Since 2022 he has been living on the shores of Loch Broom. He loves being outdoors whether that’s cycling, running (slowly!), or walking the family dog in amongst the amazing countryside on their doorstep. John is currently working with a number of charities and organisations looking to make positive impacts on society, including outdoor education, young people’s mental health, poverty alleviation, and community ownership.
Heather Donaldson
Heather moved to Elphin 2018, and is originally from the Black Country town of Wednesbury in the West Midlands. Her background is in local government democracy, governance and scrutiny, and she has committee, business support, project management and policy/constitutional advisory experience. As well as Finance Officer for CCDC, Heather is the Company Secretary of The Garve & District Development Company, a voluntary Director of the Elphin, Ledmore and Knockan Community Association and the Advertising Manager for the Ullapool News. She has also worked in Adult Social Care in Ullapool, and loves helping out in the local communities.
Laura Traynor
Laura joined CCDC in June 2025 as Community Energy Officer as part of the Highland Energy Community Partnership. Her background is in energy efficiency and renewables, with a Masters degree in energy economics, past work for a renewables installer, and having previously delivered the Pure Power for Lochbroom project for Ullapool Community Trust back in 2012-2014. Since then, she has worked in community project roles, including as Assistant Scheme Manager for the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership scheme, and recently as West Highlands and Skye Project Assistant for Samaritans. Laura is also on the board of directors of Ullapool Dance.
Staff Contact: info@coigachcommunity.com
We are a Living Wage accredited employer and have an active Fair Work policy