Trustees

Ian Moir is a retired Church of Scotland minister. He served first with the Church at a black African High School in South Africa from 1962 – 74. On his return to Scotland he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Church’s Overseas Council with responsibility for links with Partner Churches in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.

From 1983 – 91 he was minister of the Old Kirk in West Pilton. Much of his work was with the many young families who were moving into the newly renovated houses.

From 1991 – 2000 he was the Church of Scotland’s Adviser for Urban Priority Areas. During this time he also served on various committees including the Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Churches Community Trust.

Since his retirement in 2000, he has been a member of Granton Church. He joined the Stepping Stones Board in 2008. Ian became Chairperson in 2017.

Roy Craig currently heads up the UK Business Transformation Programme for State Street Company.  He trained as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, qualifying in 1993.

He has worked in the Financial Services Sector in both Senior Operational & Change Program Roles for various companies throughout his career including:  Murray Johnstone, Standard Life Investments & Citigroup.

Alastair Duncan QC called to the Bar in 1999. He was a standing junior counsel to the Scottish Government from 2006 until becoming a QC in 2012. The areas in which he practises include commercial contracts and public law. He has undertaken a number of cases in which care of children (in the present day and historically) has been the key issue.

Russell Bradley trained as a solicitor in Paisley, qualified in 1988 and moved to a firm in the centre of Glasgow. He became a partner in the firm in 1998 when he moved to its Edinburgh office.  In June 2012, he became an advocate specialising in employment law.

Russell has been on the Board of Stepping Stones since 2012.

Pat worked as an under 5s development officer in Cardiff in the 1980s. From 1990 until 2006 she worked in North Edinburgh in a variety of roles including managing the Stepping Stones Young Parents Project.

She joined the City of Edinburgh Council in 2006 as Early Years Principal Officer, retired in 2013 and became Board member in 2016.

Sandra has spent her career delivering front line services in social housing and welfare rights. Currently she is working with those who find themselves homeless in West Lothian. Sandra lives locally and is aware of the issues around being a young parents and just how difficult things can be. She has volunteered and latterly supervised evening volunteers with Parentline providing telephone counselling service for parents.

She is an Elder in Granton Parish Church and convenor of the social committee there. She is also privileged to have been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh.

I have lived and worked in North Edinburgh for most of my life. I trained as a nurse in Edinburgh, Luton and Aberdeen before returning to Edinburgh to work in the area as a Health Visitor. I was involved with Stepping Stones Young Parents Project at its’ conception and have remained supportive of the work it achieves throughout my changing roles whilst working in NHS Lothian. I know look forward to supporting the project in my new capacity as a Trustee.

Pauline McPherson completed a 30 year career in fund management, laterally as Global Equities Manager at Kames Capital. Much of her focus is now on her smallholding where, using the methods of regenerative farming, she raises animals and grows food for her family and community.

Pauline is a member of Granton Parish Church. She has three children and three grandchildren and loves encouraging them and their friends to enjoy Nature and learn to grow food.

I grew up in North Edinburgh and had my eldest son at the age of 17. I attended Stepping Stones groups from 2014-2018 where I was given many opportunities to learn new skills and gain confidence in myself.

I’ve now started my own Community Interest Company, Edinburgh EquiLearn that provides Equine Assisted Learning opportunities to children and young people in North Edinburgh. I look forward to being able to return to the project and I hope that my past and present experiences will allow me to give back and provide support to a charity that once was a big part of my life.