Our Trustees
The Trust is governed by Royal Charter through a Board of eighteen Trustees who meet every two months to consider the business of the Trust.
Future Board Meeting dates:
2026
Thursday 25th June 2026 – Board Meeting
Thursday 27th August 2026 – Board Meeting
Thursday 29th October 2026 – Board Meeting
Thursday 10th December 2026 – Board Meeting
Andrew Croxford
Andrew became a Trustee in 2005 and was Chairman in 2022 to 2024
Andrew Croxford retired in 2024 as a Chartered Accountant and Senior Partner at Thomson Cooper Accountants, based in Dunfermline. .
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He is married to Judith and has two children, David and Hannah who are currently living in Canada and Aberdeen.
He is a member of Carnock & Oakley Parish Church, where he shares his love of music by playing guitar during services. Andrew also enjoys golf, football and spending time with friends and family.
Kirsty Watson
Kirsty joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trust as a Trustee in 2025. Kirsty has FTSE100 global and UK experience in Financial Services and was appointed as Chief Operating Officer for the Adviser business at Aberdeen plc in 2021, with over 15 years’ experience in the UK Advised Platform Market.
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Her career has been focused on Transformation, Operations, Mergers & Acquisitions and Distribution and has had direct exposure to leading nearly every aspect of one of the largest UK advised platforms, alongside experience in working with boards and regulators.
Kirsty strongly believes in the strategic importance of effective business operations and technology coupled with the role of human leadership in driving the design and development of new capabilities to help businesses transform, drive growth, and enhance the client and customer experience.
Kirsty was born and bred in Dunfermline, attending Commercial Primary School and then Dunfermline High School, followed by the University of Aberdeen – graduating in 2007 with an MA (Hons) Economics. Kirsty also lived in the Middle East from 2012-14, as Head of Operations for Standard Life International in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Kirsty has a core belief that money does not buy happiness, but it does provide choices, hence her passion for the UK Wealth and Advice market and the critical role of Financial Services in helping people to make better choices with their money, for themselves and their families.
Kirsty is very proud to be from Dunfermline and can’t wait to get started with the Trust to help achieve their ambition for the city and its residents and make a positive difference. Kirsty enjoys spending quality time and having fun with family and friends, eating out at her favourite places and attending gigs at her favourite venues, training at the gym and travelling to experience as many new places as she can.
Janet McCauslin
Janet joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2008. Janet has spent a lifetime working in education and skills, from Primary teaching through to Further and Higher Education management and finally in the field of R&D in workplace development.
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Over the years has been involved in volunteering in the community and in her church, and enjoys gardening, walking and staying active as well as spending time with family and friends.
David Walker
David joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trust as a trustee in 2000 and was chairman from 2016-2018. He currently chairs the finance committee.
David graduated from Heriot Watt University and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1982 before becoming a partner in Thomson Cooper, a local accountancy practice.
David enjoys golf and all sports and is a keen hillwalker.
Cllr Gordon Pryde
Gordon was elected to the Dunfermline North ward at the election in 2022. The ward area encompasses much of Dunfermline North, including the villages of Kingseat, Townhill and Wellwood. Amongst other positions he is also Depute Convenor of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee and Convenor of the West Fife Area Common Good sub-committee.
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Gordon is excited to be able to play his part in promoting the opportunities for the economic and cultural development of Dunfermline following its recent status as Scotland’s newest city. Prior to being elected as a Councillor he worked for Fife Council within Financial Services. Gordon, lives within Dunfermline North with his wife Pam and their 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier.
Away from Council duties Gordon has always been drawn to the outdoors. He is a mountaineer and keen hill runner. Despite slowing down he regularly still completes in hill races around Scotland. He is also a committee member and ex-convenor of Scottish Hill Runners.
George Murray - Vice Chair
George has been a trustee since 2014 and is currently the Community and Arts Convener and sits on the investment and audit committees. He has been involved in Community Education for over 20 years.
George managed a team of youth workers and young volunteers on various projects that improved the quality of life for young people in their respective communities.
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He has a particular interest in enabling young people to develop a strong voice through youth forums and to be active in the local and national decision-making process.
In his spare time George is actively involved in the Music industry, he plays in various bands, assists in the organisation of an Arts Festival and has been involved in music management looking after a local bands developing their careers.
Gillian Mann
Gillian joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2017. Gillian is a local headteacher with more than 25 years experience in education. She is passionate about leadership, learning and improving outcomes for young people. Gillian is married with a young son. Beyond work and family.
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Gillian enjoys walking, going to gym and travelling.
Ian Wilson
A BSc. Building and Construction Management graduate of Heriot-Watt University I spent my working life in the Construction Industry both on site and in the supply chain. Latterly I was the Divisional Managing Director of Turner Access Ltd, the steel system Scaffolding Manufacturer and Contractor, until my retirement in 2017.
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Currently, I am the Independent Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Employee Benefits Trust of Scott and Fyfe (Tayport) Ltd an employee-owned company.
I have been a Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trustee since 2002 and spent 11 years on the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie UK Trust.
I have been married to my wife Margaret since 1979 and we have two sons and four grandchildren. I have lived in Dunfermline since I was 11.
Greg Robertson
Greg joined the Carnegie Dunfermline & Hero Fund trust in 2025. Dunfermline born and bred, Greg Robertson is an experienced leader with a strong background in strategic planning and development, crisis management, and organisational leadership.
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He has spent over 12 years working offshore and as a control room operator, he ensures the safe and efficient operation of complex industrial processes while managing critical incidents when necessary.
Beyond his professional career, Greg has two young kids and been deeply involved in rugby for over 22 years. He currently serves as the president of Dunfermline Rugby football Club overseeing fifteen teams, 80 volunteers and 400 members. His leadership in sport has focused on community engagement, youth development, and creating sustainable structures for long-term success.
Greg holds an MBA with sustainability and energy transitions and specialises in leadership, governance, and strategic development. His expertise in navigating complex challenges and driving impactful change help Greg deliver on collective goals.
The Rev MaryAnn Rennie
MaryAnn has been a parish minister for over 20 years, and became minister of the Abbey Church of Dunfermline in 2012. Her role at the Abbey allows her the opportunity to meet not just with the congregation, but local people and visitors to the town. She has the opportunity of working with young people and families through chaplaincy to two local schools.
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MaryAnn is married with two young people, one at university and the other completing their time at school.
In her spare time she likes walking, and has decided to further her education by studying part time for a Doctorate in Ministry through Pittsburgh Seminary.
Mike Reid - Chair
Mike's career spans thirty-four years and has focused on the opportunities created by the convergence of technology, marketing and the transformative capabilities of digital.
Mike now has his own advisory business, Nine Patriots Consulting, which helps businesses grow and scale to the next level.
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Mike is a Trustee of the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trust as well as the Carnegie UK Trust. He also serves as a Justice of the Peace. He lives in Dunfermline with his wife, Louise, has two adult children and will often be found on the golf course when not doing something useful.
Rachel Doyle
Rachel joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2021. To date, Rachel has held senior roles in private industry, the public sector and in a regulatory context. She has many years’ experience of strategically leading health & safety, wellbeing, risk management, emergency response and business continuity functions to deliver operational excellence, continual improvement, and commercial advantage.
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Her most recent role was as the Head of Safety, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Strathclyde, which she left in February of 2021 to set up a care at home company. She has a desire to support elderly people in her local community to live happy, healthy, fulfilled lives independently at home for longer.
Outside work, her interests include spending time with family and friends, participating at the ParkRun event and supporting the athletic interests of her two sons.
Dr Ruth Strain
Ruth joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2021. She is a fundraising professional with over a decade of experience securing major gifts at University of Oxford colleges, the University of Edinburgh and, most recently, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
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Through years of experience as a fundraising professional and trustee, Ruth has witnessed how philanthropy can be truly transformative, and enjoys sharing her skillset to help deliver Andrew Carnegie’s vision of bringing ‘more of sweetness and light’ by promoting the welfare and happiness of people in and around Dunfermline.
Originally from southern California, Ruth has lived in Dunfermline since 2016 and loves its many historic and cultural gems, as well as its warm and welcoming community.
She has also served as a trustee for the Carnegie UK Trust since June 2024.
Cllr Brian Goodall
Cllr Brian Goodall was put forward as a Trustee by Fife Council's South and West Fife Area Committee. Brian is one of the Councillors for the Rosyth Ward, covering Rosyth, Pattiesmuir, Limekilns, Charlestown and Crombie. He was previously a Councillor for the Dunfermline South Ward for ten years from 2007.
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Brian is Fife Council's rep on Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) and has been a peace campaigner all his adult life. He's also a keen birdwatcher and wildlife gardener. He took up jogging at age 50 and describes himself as a slow runner.
Thomas Docherty
Thomas joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2021. He is Head of Public Affairs for Which?, the Consumer Association, championing the interests of all UK consumers, but particularly those from the nations and regions.
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He is a former Chairman of Dunfermline Round Table and a member of the Dunfermline Beer Festival Committee, that has raised over a third of million pounds for local charities and good causes over the past two decades.
He is on the Board of Directors of Fife Law Centre and a member of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, the body that prepares draft rules of procedure for the civil courts and advises the Lord President on the development of the civil justice system in Scotland.
He was the member of Parliament for Dunfermline & West Fife from 2010 to 2015.
Cllr James Calder
James is has been a councillor representing the Dunfermline South Ward since 2017 and more recently has been elected as the Convener of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee. He is keen to ensure that Dunfermline grasps the opportunities that it now has in becoming Scotland’s newest city.
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Before his current roles in the Council, he previously worked for a business in Dunfermline whose work was international in nature, and he has extensive experience in the delivery of projects across the world.
James was brought up in the Dunfermline area and he lives locally with his wife and young daughter.
Victoria Simpson
Victoria joined the Carnegie Dunfermline and Hero Fund Trusts as a Trustee in 2021. Victoria is a solicitor specialising in charity law and private client work. She is a director at Anderson Strathern and Head of the Charities Practise.
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She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in charity law.
She sits on the Law Society Charity Committee and the ICAS Charities Panel.
In her free time Victoria is a keen hill walker and outdoor enthusiast, completing her Munros in 2009. She is passionate about protecting wildlife and local heritage. Victoria also plays the oboe and is a member of the Really Terrible Orchestra.