Meet the Team
Shonagh Moore
Chair
Graduated with a BA Hons degree in Visual Communications (Graphics). I have taken on various positions that have utilised my design abilities from working for a studio in Birmingham on prestigious accounts to various design and marketing projects to date.
I have taken several management positions which included Retail and buying for over 10 years before moving to Scotland and taking the position of Assistant Business Manager of Active Kids Adventure Park. In addition, for the past twenty-eight years I have been on the Board of Trustees for another registered Charity and have been one of their course organisers as well as being their newsletter and website editor.
I have always had a close connection and respect, for the environment and joined WSWG because I recognised the importance and value of what was being strived for and felt that my skills could help to present the narrative.
Shonagh lives in the Stanley and Kinclaven area.
Bob Talbot
Secretary
Bob moved to Perthshire in 2000 after a career in university, senior roles in multinationals in pharma and cosmetics, followed by business and strategic consultancy in both Wales and Scotland.
A published author, committed to local democracy, to understanding and increasing biodiversity in our rural environment, to regenerative forestry, to a better understanding of how forests and communities can work together for mutual benefit, and to land reform.
Bob lives in the Kettins area.
Elspeth Coutts
Membership Secretary
Elspeth graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc in Agriculture and has worked in the Scottish land and environmental sector for over 35 years, including agriculture, countryside development, golf environment and home energy.
She also has City & Guilds qualifications in Home Energy and Micro-renewables. She has held posts in SAC, Edinburgh Green Belt Trust, IIED, Scottish Golf Environment Group, worked for a climate challenge project and became self-employed in 2007. She has volunteered in diverse community and environmental initiatives in Lothian, Scottish Borders and Perthshire since 1990 but believes a sustainable future has to depend on green livelihoods.
Elspeth is passionate about local action at landscape scale as an urgent response to the climate and ecological emergencies we are in. She always looks for wider references and initiatives into which local efforts can connect. She is a wholehearted proponent of Doughnut Economics, Good Ancestor philosophy and transition to a Wellbeing Economy.
Elspeth lives in the Stanley and Kinclaven area.
Alan Ross
Ecologist & Treasurer
Ecological consultant for almost 20 years, with extensive expertise in woodland ecology, as well as experience as ecological clerk of works (ECoW) on forestry operations and developments including windfarms and hydro schemes.
Prior to entering the field of ecology, I spent many years working in the forestry industry in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
Experience working with environmental NGOs and volunteers.
Alan lives in the Blairgowrie area.
Betty Abbott
Trustee
Betty has been heavily involved in volunteering all her adult life, her main interest in the past having been working with young people, using drama, outdoor education, environmental projects, local history, healthy eating, art etc.
She has enjoyed living near and walking in Taymount Wood since the 1990s and, along with her husband Mike, is a founder member of WSWG.
Betty lives in the Stanley and Kinclaven area.