Jim worked in senior positions within the private sector for over 30 years. In 2006 he moved into the Charity Sector when he became the Finance and resources Manager for YMCA Glasgow.
In 2015 Jim became the Finance and Resources Manager for the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability where he became involved with Down’s Syndrome Scotland. Having retired in October 2018 Jim is now able to devote more time to being a Board member.Professor Andrea Nolan is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, a role she has held since 2013. She graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and after a short time in veterinary practice, embarked on an academic career which led to her the University of Glasgow where she established herself as a research leader in the field of animal pain, its recognition and management.
Her senior leadership developed in Glasgow through roles as Dean, Vice Principal and Senior Vice Principal. Andrea has served on a range of public, professional and charitable Boards, many contributing to the development of Higher Education. She has served as convenor of Universities Scotland, the professional body representing Scotland’s Higher Education institutions, and currently chairs its international committee.
Andrea holds several Board positions currently. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and was awarded an Honorary OBE in 2013 for services to Higher Education and Veterinary Science. Andrea has four children and has been a member of Down’s Syndrome Scotland for many years, valuing the organisation’s support, networks and expertise.Dr. Patricia D. Jackson OBE, FRCPCH Paediatrician Honorary Fellow University of Edinburgh Department of Child Life and Health Dr Jackson was born in Northern Ireland, and has lived mainly in Scotland since graduating from Edinburgh University Medical School.
Following her medical training she specialised in neuro-developmental paediatrics. Her previous role in NHS Lothian was the development and organisation of Learning Disability Services for children and young people.
She established, and was the Clinical Lead for, the CEN NMCN (National Care Network in Scotland for Children with Exceptional Health Care Needs) She is co-Chair of the SIGN ( Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network) National Guideline Group for the diagnosis of children and young people exposed prenatally to alcohol. She is a past Chair of (DSMIG) Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group for the UK and Republic of Ireland, and is honoured to be a current Board member of Down Syndrome Scotland and to have been involved with the World Down Syndrome Congress in Glasgow.
In her teaching and research roles she has a continuing interest in improving services for children and young people with Down’s syndrome, and Sleep issues in Children and Young People with additional support needs. As well as supporting Down Syndrome Scotland, Dr Jackson continues to work with several organisations on a voluntary basis and is Vice Convener for Children in Scotland, a Trustee for Equal Futures, and Board member of The Yard.Dr Andrea Tonner is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Strathclyde. Her academic research is focused on the different ways that consuming can impact our wellbeing.
She considers the ways people can be included and excluded from participation in consumer culture. She has explored these issues in a number of different contexts including food insecurity, new motherhood and most recently disability.
Andrea is the head of the Undergraduate Programme for Marketing at Strathclyde Business School with an interest in widening access and inclusive teaching. Andrea has also been convenor of the British Sociological Association Food Studies Group for the past 10 years and has a background in FMCG marketing with previous roles at Nestle and Procter and Gamble. Andrea is also mother and stepmother to 4 amazing children including Andrew her youngest who has Down’s syndrome.Michael is an Accountant with over 20 years charity finance experience. He joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2023, having previously worked for a number of charities around Scotland.
He is also volunteer Treasurer of Revive MS, a charity that supports people diagnosed with MS in the west of Scotland, Classrooms for Malawi and Leap Sport Scotland, which promotes active sport amongst the LGBTQI+ community. He also sits on the steering group for Valencia Communities Fund, which offers small capital grants to areas in proximity to landfill sites.
He is married with two children and spends his spare time cycling around country roads and tracks in his native Lanarkshire.
Email:michael.cunningham@dsscotland.org.ukJo joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2011 initially working in and developing our Family Support Service and now oversees all our frontline services across Scotland.
She has worked in management and leadership roles for over 30 years within hospitality and corporate banking prior to joining Down’s Syndrome Scotland.
Jo lives in East Ayrshire with her husband and two teenage boys, the eldest of which has Down’s syndrome. Jo loves living on the west coast near the beach where she regularly walks with her family and dog.
Email: jo@dsscotland.org.uk
Eddie joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland as its new Chief Executive in August 2019.
He has held several senior leadership roles across Scotland’s third sector and public sector and he is the current Chair of the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability. A member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Disabled Children and Young People, he was closely involved in shaping the Scottish Government’s Keys to Life strategy for people with a learning disability.
Eddie is married to Carolyn and they have five children, the youngest has Down’s syndrome. He lives in Cumbernauld where he enjoys lots of great walking with the family dog and, when he gets a chance, he is known to pound the streets as he tries to re-awaken distant memories of his past marathon running days.
Email: eddie@dsscotland.org.uk