Meet the Team
CAOLAS is guided by a volunteer board of trustees and supported by a small, dedicated staff team. Together, we bring together expertise in conservation, marine science, education, and community building to protect our local marine environment and inspire community action.
Current Trustees
Annabel Lawrence (Chairperson)
Annabel is the Chair of CAOLAS. A Marine Archaeologist since 1995, she ran the Lochaline Dive School for over a decade, offering deep insight into the shipwrecks of the Sound of Mull. A passionate advocate for sustainable use of our seas and community-led marine management. She also lectures at NWH UHI Fort William in the School of Adventure Studies.
Alasdair Firth
Bio to follow
Andy Jackson
Andy has lived locally since the early 1980s and brings a wealth of experience from wildlife tourism, seafood, engineering, and charter boat operations. For the past 17 years, he has managed the island of Carna and promotes ethical wildlife watching and regenerative conservation. A WiSe accredited operator, Andy is a founding member of CAOLAS and mentors young people in boating, marine conservation, and engineering.
Jo MacKichan (Secretary)
Jo’s background spans HR, governance, and the arts. She has worked in the UK, New York, and Japan for firms like Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, served as a magistrate in Brighton, and was a school governor in London. She also ran a theatre company supporting new writing. Jo moved to Morvern in 2022, driven by her love for nature and community.
Peter Guthrie (Treasurer)
After careers in IT consulting and education, Peter has found himself finally following his passion for wildlife. He spent nearly a decade with Microsoft leading teams to create systems for Fortune 500 companies and then time at all levels of education while generally finding time to volunteer with his local Wildlife Trust. Always a passionate advocate for Otters, Peter spent time as a volunteer both in Devon and Somerset from the age of 15 working on protecting Otter habitats. He loves being able to contribute to nurturing his local ecosystem through Caolas and is excited about what it can achieve going forward.
Professor Rupert Ormond
Rupert Ormond is affiliated with Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom. Their research primarily focuses on environmental science, with a significant emphasis on nature and landscape conservation and ecology. Other notable subfields include global and planetary change, aquatic science, and oceanography.
Allison Jackson
(Bio coming soon)
Staff Team
Fee Zanke
Fee recently relocated to the Scottish Highlands after six years as a cold-water dive guide in Iceland. With a Master’s in Aquatic Ecology and extensive scientific diving experience, Fee now leads Highland Base Camp in Morvern. There, she creates a hub where conservation, education, and tourism meet to build awareness of Scotland’s underwater biodiversity.
Peggy Henery
Peggy joined CAOLAS as Administrator after a decade in the humanitarian sector. Her experience spans Mozambique, Iraq, and Afghanistan, responding to climate-linked crises and coordinating community data. Now based in Oban and studying Marine Science at SAMS, she is passionate about community-led conservation and sustainable marine futures.
Previous Team Members
Katy Donnelly
Katy worked as Project Support Officer for the Lochaline Native Oyster Project. A graduate in Animal and Conservation Biology, she brought strong practical ecology skills and a passion for connecting people with their environment. She supported fieldwork, outreach, and data collection across CAOLAS projects.
Dr. Texa Sim
Join the CAOLAS Team
We’re always looking for new trustees, volunteers, and local collaborators. Whether you’re a scientist, storyteller, educator, or simply passionate about the sea, we’d love to hear from you.