CIRCULAR COMMUNITIES SCOTLAND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Operations for Blythswood Care
Ian Matheson is the Head of Operations for Blythswood Care. Ian has overall management of Blythswood Care's 24 Scottish reuse shops and 2 hub depots, processing goods for reuse and recycling sale. Leading 98 staff and 100's of volunteers in this work, it provides funding towards Blythswood Care's projects in Scotland and abroad e.g. food bank centres, supported training, life-skills for ex orphanage boys, education and community programmes etc.
Effective resource management is at the core of Blythswood Trading's operations with 2100 tonnes reused or recycled each year in Scotland. Ian has led Blythswood's work with/support for over 30 like-minded community organisations in Scotland. Ian is a founding member of the Zero Waste Scotland Revolve Users Group.
Prior to joining Blythswood, Ian spent over 18 years in the IT sector, implementing and project managing IT systems for clients in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Ian is a trustee of The Elsie Normington Foundation and a trustee of the Blythswood Romania charity.
Jon Molyneux is Scottish Affairs Lead for Fareshare, which is the UK's largest charitable redistributor of surplus food. In Scotland, Fareshare works through four regional centres and supports over 750 community-based organisations to access good food. Jon is also a serving councillor on Glasgow City Council, representing the Pollokshields ward for the Scottish Green Party since 2017. Previously, Jon was Head of Communications and Engagement for Zero Waste Scotland and he has held a variety of policy and front-line roles in the environmental and social enterprise sectors. Originally from West Cumbria, and via university in Liverpool, Jon now lives in Glasgow with his wife and two boys. He is also a Trustee of Spruce Carpets, a social enterprise focused on flooring reuse.
Laura Young is an award winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer.
In October 2022 Laura began her PhD between the University of Abertay and the University of Dundee as a Hydro Nations Scholar in climate resilience work. She has a First Class honours degree in Geography and Environmental Science from the University of Dundee, and a Masters with Distinction in Environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh.
Laura regularly speaks in the media, bringing her expertise into conversations about climate, waste, sustainable fashion, and environmental justice issues. Speaking engagements, online and in-person, have been a core part of Laura's work, from her TEDx Talk to schools, conferences, and working with the private sector.
Laura has also worked for the international development charity Tearfund as the COP26 Coordinator and "Let's Change The Climate" programme manager. Seeking to bring younger voices into influential spaces, she also sits on a variety of boards and advisory committees.
Naomi Johnson has been working as an independent freelancer in Scotland since September 2016. Naomi is client focused and has over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Previous roles include leading the Scottish Charity Firstport (2007-2011) and also working for CRN UK (1999-2007). Naomi holds an MBA from the Cranfield Trust. Naomi has previously served on the Board of Social Enterprise Scotland and is currently a non-exec board member at Dumfries and Galloway College.
Sasha Taylor is the CEO at The Bike Station, working alongside a team who work tirelessly, to ensure more people have access to the benefits of cycling whilst improving our environment.
Sasha brings experience from a career across the third sector, health, equalities, environment and social justice; and brings an unwavering commitment in collaboration and the social change.
Outside of work Sasha will be found riding bikes, avoiding squirrels and collecting Netsuke.