Who's Who
About
Barry is the Chief Commissioner of Scotland, leading the Scouts Scotland Volunteer Team in developing Scouting across the country.
With over 25 years of volunteer experience with Scouts, Barry has held various roles, including section, district, and national positions. For the past 15 years, Barry has focused on the Explorer Scout section, volunteering in both Edinburgh and Highland Perthshire. He strongly believes in the value of international Scouting and has attended jamborees, completed his explorer belt, and led international expeditions to Malaysia, Uganda, Nepal, and Cambodia. Barry has also served in national roles, including as a trustee on the Scouts Scotland Board, supporting the delivery of the first two Scottish youth conferences, and three years as a Scottish Depute Chief Commissioner with responsibility for Programme.
In his professional life, Barry works as a Primary School Headteacher, leading two schools in rural Highland Perthshire.
About
Patrick is responsible for leading and developing the People Strategy for Scouts Scotland, making sure that Scouts Scotland has the necessary structures, processes, and policies to support our volunteers and deliver on our strategy.
His journey with Scouting began in 2005 when he joined as a Scout and then Explorer at the 45th (Perthshire) Alyth. Upon turning 18, Patrick became a Scout and Cub Leader at Alyth and has since been helping these sections in every way he can.
Patrick previously held the role of SHQ Commissioner (Youth Involvement). In this capacity, he worked tirelessly with our other Youth Involvement Commissioners to launch the Youth Approved Award, the National Advisory Group, and many other initiatives that have significantly impacted our Scottish Scouting community.
Outside of Scouts, Patrick pursued his passion for flying and became a Pilot in 2017, flying Boeing 737s around Europe, currently out of Edinburgh Airport. He refers to this as the "best office view ever."
About
My role is to lead the development and delivery of a quality 6-25 programme across Scotland. I work in partnership with the volunteers and professional staff that make up the Scottish Programme Team to deliver the strategy of the Scottish Board ensuring that our members receive a balanced and adventurous programme.
I joined Scouting in 1993 and since being an adult member I have experienced roles across the sections, District and National environments. I have also enjoyed international experiences in Chile, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Blair Atholl.
I am passionate about the Programme aspect of Scouting and I’m looking forward to working with the teams to promote a positive Scouting experience for all members. I know that so many people put so much effort into delivering a high quality programme to their young people and I want to be able to support that from a Scottish level and assist them to achieve their own goals and innovate new ideas.
About
As the Scottish Commissioner (Cub Scouts), my role is to support the development of the Cub Scout Section. As a member of the Scottish Programme Team, I work with the other Sectional Commissioners to promote delivery of a quality balanced programme.
I have very fond memories as a child of occasionally going to Scouts with my father, who was a Scout Leader, and I remember my disappointment that I could not join the Scouts (in the 1970s). I was member of the Brownies and briefly Guides. In 2011, I responded to an advert from my local Scout Group who needed adult volunteers. I initially helped with Scouts but was soon moved to Cubs and have never looked back. When my son moved up to Cubs, I became involved with national Cub camps including ScotJam and The Howling. I have also filled in as Beaver Section Leader for a year. Through Scouting I have made many good friends and been on countless adventures, most of which have taken me out of my comfort zone.
My life outside of Scouting is focused on my family, I am self-employed and when time permits I enjoy skiing and dinghy sailing.
About
As the Scottish Commissioner (Scouts), my role is to support the development of the Scout Section. As a member of the Scottish Programme Team, I work with the other Sectional Commissioners to promote delivery of a quality balanced programme.
I began my Scouting journey as a Venture Scout and Young Leader and over the years Scouting has given me many amazing experiences, opportunities and friendships. I am passionate about the Movement and what it can offer to both young people and adults and truly believe that Scouting teaches skills and mindset that are rarely found elsewhere.
In my day job, I am an agricultural scientist working in the Scottish Government and in my spare time I am a mum to three boys!
About
Jamie has been involved with Scouts since he joined Cubs 2 years ago in Inverness. Initially volunteering as a Scout Leader, he moved into the Explorer and Network Sections when they were launched. As well as the usual weekly events locally, Jamie was involved in the rebranding of The Caledonian Rally and attended many national events including Sub Camp team at the 2007 World Jamboree. He has also been a regular on subcamp at Blair Atholl.
Jamie said "I am looking forward to the challenge of building on the excellent Explorer Scout provision across the country as we exit the pandemic, giving the young people that have missed so much over the last few years the Explorer Scout experience that they really want. With so many options for Explorer Scouts from chasing their Top Awards, mixing local, regional and national events to Young Leader Programme, there is something for everyone as we mould the people that will replace us in running our great organisation."
About
My Scouting journey started with Beavers at the 4th/85th Dunblane, where I stayed until moving to BIO Explorers in Stirling while also attending Network. I later went on to become an Explorer Scout Leader with Wallace Explorers in Stirling before supporting the previous Scotland Commissioner’s for both Explorers and Network over a five-year period. Throughout this time, I’ve been lucky enough to take part in the 21st and 23rd World Scout Jamborees, 15th World Scout Moot, visit Zambia to help support the creation of a community hall and of course attend countless Blair Atholl Jamborette’s.
As the Scottish Commissioner (Scout Network), my role is to support the development of the Scout Network Section. As a member of the Scottish Programme Team, I work with the other Sectional Commissioners to promote the delivery of a quality balanced programme.
Scout Network provides an opportunity for our young people to take on a more adventurous programme which is youth-led at its core and offers amazing opportunities such as gaining the King’s Scout Award, Scouts of the World Award or Explorer Belt . We’re fortunate in Scotland as due to our country’s size, we are easily able to bring together Networkers from across Scotland together for events and camps which helps foster amazing friendships and collaborative working. I’m looking forward to supporting our DSNC’s to ensure that Network is up and running at a local level across the country.
Outside of Scouting, I’m a Senior Project Officer for a housing association and a budding photographer!
About
Mollie is the Scottish Youth Commissioner and supports the delivery of youth shaped scouting in Scotland ensuring the 35,000+ young people play a key part in shaping their scout experience. She is responsible for young people’s voices being heard across our movement.
Mollie started as an Explorer Scout in Glasgow, before becoming a Scout leader at the group when she turned 18. Since then, Mollie has continued to grow her volunteer knowledge and experience by holding roles within her Regional Executive Committee, District Team, Active Support Unit at both Regional and National level, and Explorer Scout Section. Mollie is passionate about young people in scouting and the opportunities it can give you. She feels strongly about our Scout Network section and says it’s where her scouting journey truly began. She represented Scouts Scotland at COP26 climate summit and then attended Blair Atholl Jamborette the following year. She completed her self-led Explorer Belt in Germany in 2023 and is leading a District Network ski trip to France in 2024. As Youth Commissioner Mollie advocates for our youth members at all levels and supports adult volunteers in putting young people at the forefront of our decision-making.
Outside of Scouting she studies Environmental Geoscience at the University of Glasgow and spends most of her time in the outdoors climbing, paddling or biking.
About
I have been involved in Scouting for most of my life and formally joined the Venture Scouts at the age of 15. I have been lucky to have had many opportunities in my Scout adventure including attending 3 World Scout Jamborees and being part of Clyde's leadership team for the 2017 Explorer Belt based in Austria and the 2018 Queen's Scout expedition to Indonesia. Through my role as a member of the Scout Active Support at Lochgoilhead, I became an instructor for sailing, powerboating, kayaking and first aid. My passion, both as a Scout Leader and Teacher, is to provide young people with opportunities that they would otherwise not have had. The skills I gained in the outdoors have helped me to do that through camping, adventurous activities and the DofE Scheme. When I am not Scouting or doing my day job as a Chemistry Teacher, you will normally find me training for and taking on some crazy adventurous activity to raise money for charity.
About
As Commissioner for Community Impact, my role is to support Scouting across Scotland to continue to make a difference in our communities on issues important to our young people. Some of this will be through our ‘A Million Hands’ Campaign with our national charity partners, but equally as important are local Groups and Districts making as much of a difference with partners local to them.
My Scouting life started as a quiet 6-year-old in Coatbridge with the 2nd Coatbridge Scouts and then went onto Explorers completing my Explorer Belt in the USA.
In previous Scouting roles I was a Trustee of Scouts Scotland for 6 years and have supported 3 Blair Atholl Jamborettes. I was also a member of the first Community Impact Group that co-designed and created ‘A Million Hands’ and I project managed this for 3 years prior to the Commissioner role being created. I’ve also supported 2 World Scout Jamborees in Japan and America as part of the Operational Managers Team looking after IST Experience.
In my day job I’m a Development Officer, supporting Care Experienced People with children’s rights, independent advocacy and participation work to help ensure all of Scotland’s children grow up loved and reach their full potential.
