SIFT - Key Persons


Alex Watson Crook

Job Titles:
  • Project Manager
Alex is a marine biologist and fishery management professional. She was the Project Coordinator of SIFT's Regulating Order project in the Firth of Clyde. She was previously the Senior Fisheries Officer at the Solway Shellfish Management Association and from 2009-2012 was the Local Fisheries Coordinator at the Clyde Inshore Fisheries Group.

Caitlin Turner

Job Titles:
  • Policy Officer
Caitlin is a marine biologist with several years of experience volunteering in the marine conservation sector across various roles. She was previously a Fisheries Project Officer at Seafish, primarily assisting in the development of Fisheries Management Plans for crab, lobster and whelk stocks in English waters. Currently, Caitlin is also a Trustee for Young Sea Changers Scotland and the Youth Representative on the Sea Scotland Conference steering group. From 2022-2023, she represented Scotland on the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council.

Charles Millar

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
Charles has been Executive Director of SIFT since he co-founded it in 2011. He is Deputy Chairman of Trees for Life, the Scottish charity taking a lead in re-establishing native woodlands in the Scottish Highlands. He was previously Chairman of The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, which lead the campaign to reintroduce a national Deposit Return Scheme for single use drinks containers. He formerly worked in the environmental technology investment sector.

Dr Susan Gubbay

Job Titles:
  • Environmental Consultant
Sue is an environmental consultant who specialises in Marine Protected Areas and marine spatial planning. She has undertaken projects for NGOs, public and private sector clients on marine spatial planning and Integrated Coastal Management in the UK and abroad. She has also held advisory roles including on the Welsh Marine Fisheries Advisory Group and as a Council Member of English Nature.

Jeremy Whitley - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
Jeremy is an investment manager and trustee of the Whitley Animal Protection Trust, a UK charity which supports organisations concerned with the prevention of cruelty to animals or the promotion of the welfare of animals.

Jerry Percy

Jerry is a former inshore fisherman and fishery consultant with a close interest in inshore fisheries in the South West of England and Wales. He was Director of the New Under Ten Fishermen's Association (NUTFA) the only UK organisation specifically dedicated to the support, survival and development of the Under Ten Metre Fleet until his retirement in 2022.

Michael Breslin

Michael was an Independent Councillor in Argyll & Bute and previously was the Principal of Argyll College, an academic partner of The University of the Highlands and Islands. He has a strong interest in local economic development.