Meet our Trustees

Families First Board of Directors, known as Charity Trustees, is made up of a range of individuals who bring to the organisation the right mix of skills, experience and qualities which are key ingredients in maintaining an effective Board and running a charity. They are responsible for the charity’s governance and strategy, and for making sure that the charity is administered effectively. 

Lin McArthur Maclean – Chairperson

Lin is a retired Chartered Psychologist who is Chairperson of Families First. She was an officer in the Armed Forces for over 20 years, specialising in officer recruiting, selection and training and language training policy. After a career change, she became an Associate Lecturer at the Open University for modules in Child Psychology and Childhood Studies and Mental Health Science. 

Sam Robertson – Vice Chairperson

Sam is a former primary school Headteacher who has taught and led in a range of schools in the UK and abroad. He is passionate about supporting children to be happy and his career looked always to promote a strong sense of positive wellbeing in the young people he worked alongside. Following his relocation to the East Neuk, Sam is now the Director of Operations at another small charity based in St Andrew’s; the rest of his time is spent supporting his wife (also a Headteacher!) and their two young children, enjoying time together on the many beaches that make up Fife’s beautiful coast.

Andrea Gaffney

Andrea Gaffney is a mum of 5, stepmum of 1 and granny of 4 rambunctious grandsons! She went straight into work after leaving school then spent just under 10 years in the Royal Engineers Territorial Army, based at what was RAF Leuchars. Andrea’s family has been involved with Families First for around 20 years. Andrea’s younger son has recently left the service and she wanted to give back a little in appreciation, also hopefully give a parents view of how important all the services FFSA provide are and help them continue to do so. She looks forward to supporting them in any way she can. Andrea has also been a volunteer on Guardbridge Community Council for the last couple of years.  

Christina Mackenzie

Christina is currently the Head of Operations and Centre Services at Dundee Science Centre. She gained a wealth of people management and financial management experience within supermarket retail over 17 years. She then changed career two years ago and now works as part of a small team who manage Dundee Science Centre. Her role compromises of many different parts, including controlling the charities budget, heading up human resources and overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the centre. She lives in Blairgowrie with her husband and three children. 

Claire McIntyre

Claire is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development with over 25 years of people leadership experience. Having worked in HR specifically over the last few years, Claire has gained more experience in all aspects of operational HR from Talent and Acquisition to large scale Organisational Change. Claire is particularly passionate about the third sector and has held various volunteer roles throughout her career. When she isn’t working or supporting charities she is busy with her two teenage daughters, golf fanatic husband, ball and beach loving Bernedoodle and her large wider family.

David Neilson

David is a semi-retired chartered engineer and spent over 40 years in the electricity industry starting as an apprentice. He was a tradesperson, engineer, asset manager and, prior to retirement, part of the senior management team at a large utility. After retirement, David and his family moved from the west coast to Fife where they enjoy dog walking and golf. 

Jane Holmes

Jane is a retired Headteacher. Prior to retiring she worked for almost 42 years in education. Jane lives in the St Andrews area with her husband and wee dog Otis. She enjoys cycling and hillwalking and spending time with family and friends. Jane is a Befriender for Families First as well as being a Trustee. She is a member of St Andrews Baptist church and is one of the church representatives on the Board of Trustees. 

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