Our wonderful Team
Alexandra Deliyannis
Youth Services Manager
I have been working as an ASN Development Worker since February 2021. My main duties are to enrol and support young people with additional needs by providing them with appropriate programmes to achieve their DofE Award and other wider achievements. The programmes that I plan also provide young people with the opportunity to develop their social and life skills and encourage more independence and confidence in themselves as they move on to their next steps of college or the world of work.
Our work goes far beyond DofE and we try to give our young people all the same opportunities as everyone else in a safe, caring and fun environment. By far the best part of my job is working directly with young people. I work with groups and also oversea our 1:1 high nurture programmes. As well as supporting young people and building positive relationships, I also work directly with parents, carers, social work and other local organisations . No day is the same and I learn so much from the young people I work with.
I also have the pleasure of working directly with our fantastic volunteers and supporting our Distance Learning Hub students.
I am a seasonal open water swimmer and animal lover who enjoys running adventures with my dog Toby. I am also a mum of 3 – navigating the parenting rollercoaster. I am a reader and ancient history enthusiast but also partial to a soap opera. Love a sunrise, sunset, Christmas and Autumnal trees. Recently have become a guinea pig mum to 2 rescue centre piggies.
Will Holland
Development Worker Assistant
I support the Development Workers with face-to-face activities for groups and 1:1 referrals. I also plan and lead some activities, such as navigation, archery, and fire lighting skills. I support most of our groups and the holiday programmes. I get to work with a range of young people from 8 – 25 year-olds.
Having come through the Starfish Way programme myself, I realise the importance of learning outside the classroom and developing skills through a range of activities. DofE gives young people like me the opportunity to see their potential and try new activities while making friends along the way.
I am currently working towards my Gold Award. I enjoy walking with my girlfriend and dog, Mac. I really enjoyed green woodworking during my Starfish Way programme and have been able to develop this. Now I am an employee with the Association.
Lisa O'Brien
Education and Life Skills Development Worker
I’m Lisa, the Education and Life Skills Development worker with the DofE Association. My role involves working face-to-face with young people, supporting them with their Awards and delivery of outdoor education and activities. I also support some of our Distance Learning Hub students.
I LOVE the outdoors and have done from such a young age having been involved in the cadet forces. Throughout school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do so enrolled on the outdoor adventure program at Perth College and it sparked a career in the outdoors. Since then, I have worked outdoors for over a decade in various roles.
My favourite activities are bushcraft and canoeing.
I genuinely believe that the outdoors can support individuals in a way that the classroom cannot always manage. The outdoors should be accessible to all and provides a wealth of learning opportunities!
Everyone should be able to learn at their own pace and in a manner that suits them and that’s what we are here to do, we will support your journey, no matter what stage you are at and we will have great fun doing so!
Wendy jackson
Funding and Partnership Manager
I am the Funding and Partnership Manager and have been with the Association since 2015, having worn many hats in my time here! I am responsible for raising funds for our work, building new partnerships and strengthening existing collaborations. I have been involved with Starfish Way from its launch, and delight in being part of such a talented and passionate team.
I believe in the unlimited potential in every young person given the right opportunity and support. Starfish Way provides these opportunities, and we see year after year the incredible and life changing achievements of the amazing young people we have the privilege to work alongside.
Away from work, you’ll find me with my family on or in the water, with my head in a beehive or boarding guide dog pups, when time allows!
Mell Osbaldstone
Office Finance and Administration Manager
I am the Office Finance & Administration Manager supporting our wonderful team from behind the scenes with all the administration paperwork, paying the bills and purchasing equipment. Supporting such a wonderful, caring team who inspire so many young people is amazing!
I have always loved the outdoors and have worked with young people for over 20 years. Being a born organiser, I originally started in administration, looking forward to the weekends so that I could go out exploring the beautiful countryside.
After having my two children I studied for my NVQ in childcare which then led me onto working with young people as a teaching assistant. This was such a rewarding experience.
I love animals, gardening, cycling and walking. We have 2 dogs, Archie and Panzer, a cat, Willow and 4 chickens, Peggy, Gracey, Dottie and Maisie and we have a small orchard with apples and plums, and we love to grow our own vegetables.
Kayleigh Ptak
Ambassador & Social Media
I am the Association’s first Ambassador and I will be telling other young people about the important work that we do. My passion will hopefully encourage others to get involved in the Award.
I will also be working alongside Nadja who is responsible for the Association’s website and social media content. Our aim will be to mainly gather feedback and inspirational stories from participants and staff members that show what they have gained through working with DofE, the Distance Learning Hub and The Starfish Way Project.
Nadja and I will also be working to improve our website and social media’s accessibility and through doing this we hope to make the content that we both create more engaging.
Dave Anderson
Volunteer
My name is Dave Anderson and I’m 60 something! I’ve just started with the Starfish Way and am enjoying it immensely, especially volunteering in somewhere as special as Megginch Castle. I come originally from Auchterarder, but have lived most of my life in Perth and have worked for over 30 years in Dundee in the voluntary sector. My background is social work.
I also volunteer with Riding for the Disabled, Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service driving the mini bus for the Day Centre in Perth, Giraffe and Uppertunity in Dundee .
I live in Craigie, play golf and of course support St Johnstone… well, who doesn’t!
Morag Dodds
Volunteer
I recently joined the team as a volunteer gardener at Megginch Castle.
I’m originally from the New Forest area but have lived in Scotland for over 50 years and love it here.
I enjoy spending time outdoors, hillwalking, travelling and exploring. I’m also interested in wildlife, wild land areas and environmental issues. I am a keen amateur gardener and a voracious reader.
Our Wonderful Volunteers
Our Board
Our Management Committee are, or have been, involved in some way with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They are also volunteers from a vast array of backgrounds who are interested in seeing the Association flourish and develop as a strong organisiation to meet the demands of the future for delivering a vibrant and successful Duke of Edinburgh’s Award within Perth & Kinross.
We are always seeking new members to bolster our Committe, you do not need to have been involved in the Award but, you do need to be enthused about young people and their potential. The greater array of backgrounds our Committee have, the greater the wealth of knowledge & skills there is to learn from and influence our future.
If you would like to find out more contact admin@pkfdofe.com
Robin Illsley
Chairman
Robin has 40 years experience in education and supporting young people.
For 20 years he has led Duke of Edinburgh Award initiatives in school and more recently within the Perth and Kinross Association.
Now retired, he isn’t really! Helping young people is still his passion.
In his spare time he enjoys visiting his three sons, walking his dog, hillwalking, mountain biking, gardening and multi day outdoor adventures.
David Sands
Treasurer
As well as running businesses in retail, property and construction, David spends as much time as possible in the Scottish Highlands.
He has almost completed the Munros, is a very average skiier and a passionate fisherman.
Gavin Lindsay
Vice Chair
Born and raised in Perth, Gavin was part of the first DofE Award intake at Perth High School, achieving Gold in 2003. He is an archaeologist specialising in community-based research approaches and the material legacy of recent conflict with over 10 years professional, academic and voluntary expertise in the archaeology, museums and heritage sector.
Gavin’s wartime heritage research has taken him to islands across the globe from Orkney to Palau in the Pacific and even onto National Geographic WWII documentaries. He is a strong advocate of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and continues to enjoy the outdoors as well as skills, physical activities and volunteering opportunities that he began during the scheme.
Gillian Whytock
Secretary
Gillian has been volunteering with the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Perth and Kinross since 2004 and believes it’s one of the best decisions she ever made. She loves supporting young people to learn new skills, develop confidence and achieve their potential.
Gillian’s day job keeps her desk bound, so she’s always keen to escape to the outdoors. Her favourite things are hillwalking, mountain biking, wild camping adventures and pottering about with plants.
Elaine Howie
Committee Member
Elaine has provided PR and communications support for some of the UK’s leading corporate and luxury brands, including Lloyds TSB Scotland, the Gleneagles Hotel, Johnnie Walker Championship, Blythswood Square, Magners Irish Cider, The Black Watch Museum and the Ross Development Trust.
Elaine has, over many years, developed extensive experience within the third sector. She has created and delivered fundraising campaigns and events including the David Sole Burns Supper; The Muir Maxwell Trust Galas; and ‘All About Boobs’ Ladies Lunches in aid of Breast Cancer Now. Most recently assisted with ‘Lisa’s Challenge for Maggie’s’ which helped raise £1.6M to fund the extension to Maggie’s Edinburgh.”
Prior to launching her own business, Elaine had worked for some of the country’s leading agencies and brands, such as Charles Barker PR Scotland, United Distillers UK (now Diageo) and as a Director of Carnegie Sports International.
Paul Rennie-Smith
Committee Member
Paul is an ex-Army Officer whose last role was as the Commanding Officer of 32 Signal Regiment, based in Glasgow. He left the Military in 2014, and since then has worked for a number of organisations including BT Openreach, Cap Gemini, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Fujitsu.
During this period, he has delivered digital transformation programmes for a number of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 Clients across a wide range of Sectors, including Construction, Financial Services, IT, Public, Retail and Utilities. He is currently employed by Fujitsu as a Programme Director and is leading a global roll out of a point of sale solution (principally software) for a major high street fashion retailer.
Paul has supported a number of charity and social enterprise organisations including Raleigh International, Love Milton, Street Soccer Scotland and The Phoenix Club in a voluntary capacity. He has raised a significant amount of money for charities over the past 20 years+ and was selected to be a Baton Bearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in recognition of this.
A keen sportsman, he is a member of Kinross Cycling Club and enjoys skiing and walking.
Gail Vaux
Committee Member
My name is Gail Vaux. I am a former solicitor and qualified financial adviser. I currently work part time as a library assistant and I also volunteer for Perth CAB. Orginally from Wales; I have lived in rural Perthshire since 2008.
I love walking, planning and going on long distance hiking holidays. I also enjoy yoga, reading, gardening and rowing.
I am passionate about the benefits to everyone of being in the outdoors and the opportunities provided by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I am honoured to be able to sit on the Board and assist the organisation locally in any way I can.
Dave Sherman
Committee Member
Retired DofE Association Chair, Principal Officer in the Education Department, Youth Work Services and Outdoor Education, overall responsibility for the DofE Award within the Education department.
Evelyn Menzies
Committee Member
Retired Clerical Officer for DofE, Group Leader for over 20 year and Chair of Headway charity.
Jacqueline Mason
Committee Member
Multilingual project manager, with extensive experience in business development, advocacy and negotiation.
Lynn Jack
Committee Member
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) with a postgraduate in Human Resources.
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