John Daly: The benefits of stay at home dads
John Daly spent 10 years as a sheetmetal worker in the Clyde Shipyards, followed by 10 years in academia, followed by 10 years running his own small consultancy business, which focused on culture change and development. He now works part-time for Quarriers and is a full-time father of 2 small children.
Alan Coady: Multiple intelligence
Alan Coady has worked as a peripatetic guitar instructor in East Lothian for 27 years. His blog http://edubuzz.org/blogs/alancoady furnished by East Lothian's eduBuzz network, strives to engage in reflective practice and to offer online resources to pupils, colleagues and interested visitors. Outside work, he has studied tai chi chuan with Sifu Ian Cameron for 18 years and is a senior instructor in the Five Winds School of Tai Chi Chuan. Other interests include, languages, reading, writing, science, cinema, chess.
Raymond MacDonald: Music and communication
Raymond MacDonald is a Professor of Music Psychology and Improvisation at Glasgow Caledonian University. After completing his PhD at the University of Glasgow, investigating therapeutic applications of music, he worked as Artistic Director for a music company, Sounds of Progress, specialising in working with people who have special needs. His ongoing research focuses on issues relating to improvisation, musical communication, music therapy, music education and musical identities. He is involved in running Polyphony a lottery funded music project providing access to musical activities for individuals with mental health problems and is a Patron of Drake Music Scotland. He has co-edited two texts, Musical Identities (2002) and Musical Communication (2005) and is currently Editor of the journal Psychology of Music and Associate Editor for The International Journal of Music Education, Jazz Research Journal and Research Studies in Music Education. He has published over 50 articles and 100 conference presentations. As a saxophonist and composer his recorded output can be heard on over 40 CDs and he performs internationally with some of the world’s leading improvising musicians including Evan Parker, Keith Tippett, George Lewis and Barry Guy. He co-leads The George Burt / Raymond MacDonald Quartet (Leading Scottish contemporary jazz -The Guardian) and is a founder member and key player in The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra (the premier league of the international improvisation scene - Sueddeutsche Zeitung). He has worked extensively with visual artists and has produced music for film and television.
Gerry Hassan: Scottish men
Gerry Hassan is a writer, commentator and policy analyst. He is the author and editor of over dozen books on Scottish and British politics and ideas in the last decade, the latest of which is ‘The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power’ (Edinburgh University Press forthcoming). Gerry is a senior Demos Research Associate, an Honorary Research Fellow at Glasgow Caledonian University, and led the recent Scotland 2020 and Glasgow 2020 projects with Demos which received much attention and interest across the world - from Brazil to China and Australia! He is currently leading a four year programme of futures world - A Scottish Wave of Change. He has written occasionally on men and masculinities , previously running a Glasgow men's group for five years. More details on Gerry's research and writing and contact details can be found at: www.gerryhassan.com
Sandra Carlisle: Modern culture
Sandra’s background lies in medical social anthropology and sociology applied to public health. She has experience of a wide variety of health-related research and evaluation projects in both academic and voluntary sector settings. She joined the Public Health Section of Glasgow University in February 2006 to work on a research project investigating cultural influences on mental health and wellbeing in Scotland. Long standing research interests include: sociological and anthropological approaches to understanding health, wellbeing and social inequalities; community development and partnership work; community participation in action research; and ethnographic and theory-focused methodologies applied to research and evaluation.
Rosie Ilett: Thinking differently
Rosie was appointed to the new post of Deputy Director at Glasgow Centre for Population Health in March 2009. Before then, she was Head of Planning and Partnerships at Sandyford (NHSGGC’s integrated sexual and reproductive health services) and was instrumental in establishing Sandyford in 2000 as Manager of the Centre for Women's Health, a partnership service launched in 1995. From 2005 - 2007, Rosie was on secondment to the Scottish Government as Head of Child and Maternal Health Division.
Derek Morrison:psychological and social well-being
Derek Morrison is a team leader in the Learning and Development Section of Fife Council Social Work Service. He is currently completing an Msc in Positive Psychology at the University of East London. The opinion he expresses here is his own and is not that of Fife Council Social Work Service.
Charlie Miller:three tools for flourishing
From origins that began 49 years ago in a gent’s hairdressing salon in Edinburgh, Charlie Miller’s innovative and artistic flair has led the way locally and internationally since the 1960’s. Recognised as being at the forefront of the industry and one of the UK’s leading hairdressing brands, Charlie prides himself on a business that’s synonymous with style and creativity, service, education and innovation.
Geoff Huggins:Good mental health
Geoff Huggins is the Deputy Director of Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate, and Head of Mental Health Division in the Scottish Government. Geoff has policy responsibility for mental health services, mental health improvement and mental health law. He works across the Scottish Government on the contribution that well-being and mental health improvement can make to a range of public policy outcomes and works closely with Justice colleagues on public protection issues and Education colleagues on the promotion of resilience and good mental health for young people.
Eric Summers:Achieving flow
I’m a Falkirk Bairn but have lived in Angus for many years now. Originally, and still occasionally, a History teacher. Have taught in Forfar Academy and Montrose Academy. For the last 12 years I’ve been rector at Webster’s. Seconded to the Audit Unit of the Inspectorate in the early days of development planning. Have co-authored two books with M-C McInally : Study Skills and Strategies for senior pupils and ACE Study Skills for the late primary/early secondary pupils. I believe this is a crucial time for education. We’re initiating big changes and we must get it right so that we equip our young people for the 21st century. That is why I am enthusiast for the work of Carol Dweck. A growth mindset is important for all of us – pupils, teachers, parents, communities.
Gordon Hall:System thinking
Gordon is CEO of The Deming Learning Network based in Aberdeen. He first attended one of W Edwards Deming’s famous 4 day seminars in 1990 followed by a study weekend with Deming himself at Ashridge in 1991. The Deming group has been meeting in Aberdeen since 1991 and it formed itself into a not for profit membership organisation in 2000. It works to raise an awareness of modern management thinking across the whole of Scotland.
Joe Boyd:Wakey wakey!
Joe has been Head teacher of Bathgate Academy for 6 years. He says that it’s always interesting, challenging and keeps him young(ish)! Co-author of a number of Science textbooks. He is also involved in various national developments and the school has worked well recently on Fair Trade, on gaining its first Charter Mark, on developing links with our Chinese partner school in Weifang and on exploring new ways of delivering the curriculum.
Jim Sweeney:Taking responsibility
Jim has been the Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland since February 2006. Working previously in local government at a senior level in Community Learning and Development in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. A former chair of CLD Managers Scotland and a former Associate Assessor for HMIe, Jim is also Vice Chair of Young Scot and Scotland's Learning Partnership and a board member of John Wheatley College. Jim is passionate about supporting young people through their life transitions and is dedicated to fighting for sustainable funding for the Youth Work Sector.
Patricia Boyle:Little sparks
Patricia Boyle is the Head of the Organisational Development Department in NHS Fife. She and her team provide an internal consultancy service for managers involved in improving services to the public. Prior to this post she worked as an external Organisational consultant for 20 yrs and before that, in management in the Careers Service in London. Her passion for this type of work, which is all about effecting change, grew from early conversations with her parents who were interested in social change in the widest sense. The opinion she expresses here is her own and is not that of NHS Fife.
Morag Kerr:Motivating others
Morag Kerr joined Scotland’s Colleges SFEU Centre for Learning Effectiveness as Lead Specialist Learning Process in September 2004. One of the key projects that she has led recently is the development of The Motivated College programme which was developed in co-operation with Alan McLean and based on his research into Motivation to Learn. Currently 7 colleges have adopted the programme and are implementing it with staff and students.
Caroline Farquhar:What are you going to do?
Caroline Farquhar has worked in the field of social, economic and personal regeneration for over 25 years. Before going self employed in January 2008 Caroline was Head of the Government’s suicide prevention strategy – Choose Life. Recently she became an Associate for the Centre for Confidence and Well-being, co- designing the Confidence Plus + training programme aimed at growing confidence, engagement meaning and well-being in the work place.
Malcolm Good:No easy answers
Malcolm Good is the author of 'Self-Help for the 21st Century' and is a Director of Independent Financial Adviser firm, Melville Hutchison Financial Management.
Val Munro:Making a small change
Val is a teacher, performer, and project co-ordinator whose passion is the development of physical activity and the Arts in the pursuit of well-being for all. She is also co-director of the Feel Good Factory- a Health at Work initiative. She was a participant in the Vanguard Programme which was organised by the Centre for Confidence and Well-being and continues to be associated with the Centre.
Alex Smith:Enterprise skills
Alex Smith is a management and personal development trainer with wide experience across the private, public and third (social economy and charity) sectors. He has worked as a front-line public servant, in sales and in general management. He is also a practising hypnotherapist.
Julie McElroy:Breaking down barriers
Julie McElroy was born with Cerebral Palsy which has resulted in mobility problems, walking difficulties and speech impairment along with manual dexterity problems. She is also profoundly deaf and wears two hearing aids. She shares her passion and drive for life. Julie featured on the four part series “Across the Andes: Beyond Boundaries” in 2007 where she was one of ten physically disabled teenagers who crossed the Andes. More recently, Julie completed the UK’s first wheelchair-led climb up Ben Nevis in May 2008. In this blog Julie will talk about her personal experiences of releasing her own potential and offer advice to others.
Mark Rait:Realising your potential
Mark Rait spends his time song writing, writing and supporting Scotland’s third sector to improve their financial sustainability. He is in the process of releasing his potential in one or all of these areas. In the past he was less true to his authentic self as a Royal Marines Officer and Managing Director of a UK executive recruitment business and a small concrete design and installation business.
Gregor Henderson:Making connections
Gregor Henderson works as an advisor and consultant to a number of UK and overseas Governments on mental health and well-being. Gregor is also chair of Young Scotland in Mind, a forum for improving mental health and well-being in children and young people through partnership between the voluntary and statutory sector. Gregor lives in Edinburgh with his wife Jayne and three lovely boys.
Derek Goldman:The benefits of outdoor education
Derek is an Associate Lecturer with The Open University, tutoring in social work studies and related fields. He also works with schools, education authorities and other public organisations on a range of themes including leadership development, quality improvement, skills for supporting learners and developing confidence and motivation in the workplace. Derek has also worked extensively with young people in a variety of settings including those 'at risk' and on the margins.
Alan Black:It's ok to say 'NO' to our children
Alan is a director with Live-N-Learn, a company who design and deliver innovative and inspiring training for schools throughout the UK. He formed the company in 2006 alongside Scott Goddard and Mark Hughes-Jones, in order to provide motivational workshops which veered away from the self esteem models which were saturating the school market. Live-N-Learn offer practical advice and place greater emphasis on pupils taking personal responsibility for their own success. Alan also worked for 18 years as a Maths and Guidance teacher in two Glasgow secondary schools.
Lesley Hetherington:Listening skills
Lesley Hetherington is Teaching Fellow for the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde. Born in Kilwinning, trained and worked as a BioChemical Engineer in Industrial Water Treatment, until frustration with SME mentality & ‘engineering culture’ drove her to an MBA at LBS to find the business language to express ‘common sense’ ideas. Worked in Business Development, Executive outplacement, Corporate Identity. Set up and ran own consultancy company. Returned home in 2000 to contribute to making Scotland a great place for young Scots to work. Passionate about releasing potential, people and effective processes that work.
Andy Milne:'Holistic' regeneration
Andy Milne has been Chief Executive of SURF since June 2003. The Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) is the national, independent network of regeneration practitioners and policy makers. Prior to his work with SURF, Andy spent 10 years as co-ordinator of the Wester Hailes Representative Council which was often cited as a model of community led innovation and service delivery.
Johnny Walker:Overcoming adversity
Johnny Walker is a trainer and facilitator and also a lecturer at Cumbernauld College in Business and Community Development. Focusing mainly on motivation and human potential, initially his work was aimed at improving performance and profitability within the private sector. However, in recent years he has been working primarily in the community helping people realise that they have the ability to release their untapped potential no matter their circumstances. Johnny also assists many sports people and teams in the field of motivation, allowing them to realise their true potential.
Janet McCauslin:Removing the glass ceiling
Janet McCauslin is the Assistant Principal of Carnegie College. Janet's career has been dedicated to education in Fife, the main focus upon partnering other agencies to improve the opportunities and successes for young people and unemployed adults in Fife. As her career has developed more and more of her strategic direction for the college has been to work outside of the 'traditional' college, exploring and succeeding in new ways of engaging people in learning.
Will Craigie:The phenomenon of belief
Will Craigie is a business consultant and associate of the Centre for Confidence & Well-being, having co-developed the Confidence Plus + programme. Following 30 years with AstraZeneca, Scottish & Newcastle and Diageo, Will founded the a2c (ability to capability) business consultancy. He believes everyone has ability and likes to work with people at all levels, giving them additional skills, knowledge and above all focus, to release their full capability to excel in business and in their personal lives.
Isobel MacNaughtan:Co-operative learning
Isobel MacNaughtan is an educational advisor with the Centre for Confidence and Well-being. She began her working life as an English teacher and was Head Teacher in Cumbernauld High School before moving on to develop her consultancy. Her work includes training, facilitation and research in a variety of settings and educationally she works in schools and in Higher and Further education.
John Matthews:The importance of people
Reverend John Matthews OBE is Minister of Ruchill Parish Church, in North Glasgow since 1992. He previously held senior positions within industry mostly within General Electric. He also Chairs Faith in Community Scotland, which is a broad faith group seeking to resource, facilitate and stimulate people in the poorest areas of Scotland. John has also engaged comprehensively with wider social and economic concerns in Glasgow. He was a Board Member of Glasgow Alliance and also served for two terms as a member and Deputy Chairman of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and a member of Glasgow Community Planning Executive.
Quintin Cutts:Mindset and learning
Quintin Cutts is a senior lecturer in the Department of Computing Science, and Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) for FIMS at the University of Glasgow. In 2006, he was awarded a Teaching Excellence Award by the University for his efforts to improve the quality of the learning environment, and an Inspiration Award by the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his outreach work, enlightening pupils all around Scotland about what computer science really is.
Zoe van Zwanenberg:Constructive disagreement
Zoe is an experienced executive and non-executive director, consultant and teacher in the field of leadership and organisational development. She has worked in a wide range of organisations from the NHS to the Railways and was until recently the Chief Executive of the Scottish Leadership Foundation. Zoe is the Chair of Scottish Ballet and a Director of Scottish Youth Dance.
Martin Stepek:Business values
Martin Stepek runs the Scottish Family Business Association, the Scottish Polish Chamber, and Mindfulness Scotland. He teaches leadership, is a family business advisor, and oversees operations for the Scottish Green Party. He is a meditation teacher, poet and artist.
Christine Percival:Challenge learning
Christine Percival is director of Innovative Routes to Learning. In 1999 she pioneered the ‘challenge’ approach to effective learning and teaching. She has been responsible for creating a variety of innovative intervention strategies that raise expectation and educational achievement in young people 3 – 18.
Alan Sinclair:The importance of parents
Alan is a Fellow of The Work Foundation and they produced a report by Alan entitled '0-5: How small children make a big difference'. For five years he was at a national level as the Senior Director for Skills and Learning at Scottish Enterprise.
Alex McLeish:Self-belief
Alex McLeish is a former manager of the Scottish national football team. He is currently manager of Birmingham City.
