Amy has been working for 24 years in public policy in Scotland, mostly in the third sector. She has a wide-ranging background in equalities, employability and economic development, and for the last 10 years her focus has been on health and social care policy, and in changing mindsets as well as systems.

Amy has longstanding professional interests in the role and provision of social care, and on participation and community engagement and development. She is currently Marie Curie’s Associate Director for Policy and Public Affairs in Scotland. Amy also has Director positions with the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and the Centre for Scottish Public Policy.

Rob had a long career working for the UK Government with over 20 years with HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions. He has also served as a non-executive member of the Scottish Prison Service Advisory Board.

He has experience in the charitable/not for profit sector, being a Trustee and previous Chair of Partners in Advocacy. Prior to that Rob served as a Trustee of the housing charity, Borderline, and was a board member of two housing associations.

Aidan is a financial services professional with over 13 years’ experience and is currently a Manager in the Financial Conduct Authority’s Asset Management Department. He joined the regulator in January 2012 and over the past seven plus years, Aidan has overseen the supervision of some of the UK’s largest asset management firms as well as managing several cross-firm projects.

Until recently, he has also been helping devise the FCA’s proactive supervisory strategy for the asset management sector with a particular focus on effective governance and oversight. Aidan has an MSc in Finance and Economic Development from Glasgow and an MA in Economics from Dundee.

Prior to joining the regulator, he spent over 5 years working for a US multinational investment bank. Aidan is father to two young children and his 28 year-old brother, Michael, has Down’s Syndrome.

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 25 years charity finance experience. He joined Down’s Syndrome Scotland in 2023, having previously worked and volunteered for a number of charities across Scotland.

He is currently the Treasurer for Revive MS, a Glasgow based charity that provides services and advice to people with MS in the central belt.  He is also Treasurer for Classrooms for Malawi, which does what it says on the tin.

Michael is married with a grown up family who haven’t flown the coop yet, but he’s working on that. In his spare time he enjoys cooking and cycling, but not at the same time.

Email:michael.cunningham@dsscotland.org.uk

Jo 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