Our Staff

Andy is responsible for the promotion and representation of the community woodland sector, providing support and advice to member groups across Scotland and managing the organisation.

Andy’s first experience in the third sector was as a volunteer for BTCV many years ago. It marked the start of 20 years with the organisation with volunteer, staff and committee involvement and leading conservation projects in many places around the world. Scottish Conservation Projects brought him to Scotland and he spent near 12 years working for Scottish Natural Heritage, including a secondment to the Cairngorms National Park Authority where he managed a European Funded project delivering training to land based businesses. More recently he worked for Scottish Mountain Rescue representing member rescue teams across Scotland.

Contact: andy@communitywoods.org

Piers provides in-depth community development and land management advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other CWA member organisations.

Piers has been forester at Rothiemurchus since 2010, but a varied career has seen him supporting community forestry projects from Papua New Guinea to Grantown-on-Spey, where he worked with the Anagach Woods Trust and served as a CWA director.

Contact: piers@communitywoods.org

Alice provides community development, forestry and land management advice and assistance to community woodland groups and other CWA member organisations across Central and South Scotland.

She has most recently worked as a Woodland Officer for the Small Woods Association and as a self-employed forester undertaking forest surveying, tree planting and invasive species removal. Prior to this, she worked with the Three Hares Community Woodland and developed woodland creation schemes for farmers and landowners in the Scottish Borders. Alice also holds an MSc in Geographical Information Systems (mapping) and has supported forestry companies in map production.

Contact: Alice@communitywoods.org

Sharon is CWA’s Member Support Officer and works closely with members across Scotland. Her role includes coordinating training and networking opportunities, supporting member engagement and developing initiatives that strengthen connections and shared learning across the community woodland sector.

Before joining CWA, Sharon spent more than 20 years working in Scottish education. Beginning her career as a primary teacher, she went on to hold local and national roles focused on leadership, professional learning and development. Her experience includes supporting probationer teachers through their induction, working with aspiring and serving headteachers, and designing and delivering professional learning for educators at different stages of their careers.

Alongside her role with CWA, Sharon runs her own company, Own Your Leadership, where she works as a leadership coach and facilitator. She supports managers and leaders through practical coaching and development that helps them build confidence, strengthen their leadership practice and lead people well.

Sharon loves being outdoors, particularly in woodlands, where she values the sense of connection and wellbeing that comes from spending time among trees. Within her CWA role, she particularly enjoys joining the dots between people, ideas and opportunities, and seeing the impact those connections can make.

Sharon works part-time and will respond to enquiries as soon as she can during her working hours.

Contact: sharon@communitywoods.org

Jen is responsible for the various CWA communications – monthly e-bulletin, quarterly newsletter, social media accounts and the website. She also provides other day-to-day operational support.

Jen previously worked as a community dietitian but left the NHS in 2021 in search of a new adventure! With a love of nature, being outdoors, and gardening, she immediately took up a communications role with One Seed Forward, a voluntary organisation which encourages and supports all ages to grow their own fruit and vegetables. She also worked as a project coordinator with Long Covid Scotland before taking up the post with CWA in July 2023.

Jen works part-time hours throughout the week. She might not reply immediately, but will get back to you as soon as she can!

Contact: jen@communitywoods.org