Jody has worked in the charity sector for the last decade, running events and projects for organisations across the country.

Having recently moved to the Newhaven Community, he's excited to bring his event-planning skills to the Heart to help make sure you have everything you need, when you need it, to help make our community be the best it can be.

Mike has dedicated the last 15 years of his life to working as a taxi driver throughout the bustling city. He now joins us in the role of caretaker and is genuinely looking forward to sharing his extensive experiences with the Heart Community. Additionally, he is a fluent French speaker and eagerly anticipates the opportunity to greet everyone with a friendly "Bonjour."

A specialist in dementia and the creative arts, Jan is a bold leader in dementia and passionate about the growing Meeting Centre movement.

After a career in the arts and several years working as a Dementia Advisor, Jan understands the importance of and the benefit to members of having a safe space in the community for folk to learn new skills, discuss challenges and make social connections.

Caretaker

Judith Crabb is a Town Planner by profession, who has worked in the voluntary and community sector for over 30 years, including in the role of CEO, Business Development Manager, and Funding Officer. Judith has  experience working on projects in England, Wales and Scotland.

Judith is a volunteer with several local charities and serves on the Community Council.

Over the course of my career I’ve worked in economic development and regeneration across the UK, mostly recently at Perth & Kinross Council. I live very near the Heart and this was one of the reasons I wanted to give back some of my time and experience to my community.

And also, I can easily see if all the lights have been switched off!! 

Jo is a retired senior civil servant with a PhD in physics and an MBA who moved to Newhaven in 2020.  Her Civil Service career was mainly spent in science policy, including working on climate change in the late 1990s, which she considers her best ever job.

She is somewhat obsessed with reducing her environmental impact, from wildlife gardening to cutting out plastic and flying.  Her other interests include learning to paint and to play the guitar and reading. 

Norma Johnston is a solution-focused counsellor whose main interest is in mental health and wellbeing. Her working life started on Craighall Road, passing Victoria Primary School every day.   

Norma has now come full circle, living in the area and she believes The Heart of Newhaven will bring significant benefits towards a healthier community.

David Scott is a dedicated architect with extensive experience in the local community. Having lived in the area for more than twenty years, he established an architectural practice alongside his wife, Lesley Dell. Their collaboration reflects a deep commitment to the community, as David actively works with various community groups and housing associations.

With over thirty years of experience, David specializes in the preservation and enhancement of historic buildings, ensuring that their significance and character are maintained for future generations. His passion for architecture is complemented by his fond memories of Victoria Primary School, where he often enjoyed the galas and discos, highlighting the strong ties he has to the local community and its history.

Lynne lives locally with her dog Millie (a very lively working Cocker) so you may well have seen her out and about in the area! She is a mother to two daughters and a grandmother to 3 children who live very close by and keep her wonderfully active and stimulated!

Before retiring Lynne was Head of Planning and Performance in Edinburgh Council's Children and Families Department, arriving at that position via a career in community education and development roles spanning nearly 40 years in positions in both the statutory and voluntary sectors primarily in Scotland. Lynne is particularly interested in all aspects of child development and health and wellbeing and is delighted that the Heart has a specific focus on intergenerational work

Matthew McDonagh is Head of IT for an international group of companies where he leads global technology strategy, cybersecurity, and service delivery. With over 14 years of professional experience, Matthew has delivered major digital transformation projects and guided organisations through compliance frameworks including Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO27001. He brings strong focus on governance, operational resilience, and people-centred technology. 

Alongside his professional work, Matthew has held trustee roles with organisations across Scotland including arts societies and charities. In these roles he has lead digital transformation and marketing initiatives, as well as serving in Finance and Operations roles. 

Abi has a background in science communication and public engagement with more than a decade of experience working with schools, universities, science centres and community organisations to increase equity and access to learning.

Raised in a mining town south of Edinburgh, Abi only moved to Newhaven a couple of years ago but she immediately fell in love with the area and was soon drawn into the Heart by a cup of tea and Norma’s friendly chatter.

Today Abi leads our Tours project to bring as many people as possible into the building and share the buildings past, present and future.

Kerr has a background spanning both logistics and finance, and brings a decade of experience in operations management, business development, and client service. He has worked across air freight and wealth management, combining hands-on logistics expertise with a sharp eye for detail and process.

His career has taken him from overseeing warehouse and office operations to coordinating high-pressure, time-sensitive missions — including humanitarian aid for the 2023 Turkey/ Syria earthquake response, arranging the repatriation of pandas from Edinburgh Zoo to China, and managing private air charters for diplomats.

When not working he can be found at the football or out with the dogs.  

Linsay is a chartered surveyor, and for many years headed up the real estate team for a national retailer, leaving in 2021 to have a change in direction. Unable to quite leave all things property, she is currently working as a surveyor for a national charity.

Janice is an accountant currently working for two small local charities. Spanning almost 40 years, her experience ranges from private investments, private practice and management accountancy. She came to Edinburgh over 30 years ago, settling originally in Trinity and still lives locally.

She volunteers with Citizens Advice Edinburgh and is helping the Heart of Newhaven keep its financial records up to date. 

Outside space development co-ordinator