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As the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ) Outer Hebrides Manager my role focuses on promoting, facilitating and supporting innovative decarbonisation projects, trials and demonstrations across the Outer Hebrides. The ICNZ is a pan-Island innovation and research centre that will support communities in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland to become leaders in the energy transition. We are working with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the University of the Highlands and Islands Outer Hebrides to deliver the ICNZ local, and collaborating with partners in Orkney and Shetland to coordinate the Centre.

I’m really excited to be a part of the ICNZ and hopeful that the Centre will create opportunities for community groups and local businesses across our Islands to be leaders in decarbonising and sustainable living.

During my time at CES till now I have worked on a variety of projects across the Outer Hebrides and beyond, developing experience in sustainable transport, local energy planning, knowledge sharing events, stakeholder workshops and policy work. I’ve enjoyed the diversity of work and opportunities to learn about new technologies and local community needs. My favourite projects are those in which we work directly with a community and help them put project ideas into action.

Previous projects I’ve worked on include Western Isles Energy in Motion, Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub, RIPEET, the Uist Local Energy Plan, Network 76 in Motion and Community Power Outer Hebrides. I’ve also enjoyed contributing to CES’s work on policy and planning for internal strategy.

In my spare time I love being active and exploring the outdoors. Trudging up hills, hunkering down in bothies and getting an early morning surf in are favourite activities. I moved to the Western Isles during lockdown in 2020 so have done a lot of exploring over the last few years and enjoy learning about the history, language, music and wildlife of the Islands.

Tìoraidh an-dràsta! 

matthew.logan(at)communityenergyscotland.org.uk

Phone: 01851 707881/07717 156414

In my role as Projects Operations Manager, I am responsible for coordinating and managing the delivery of CES’ portfolio of projects – a role which allows me to be involved in a wide range of interesting and challenging projects, which is great for someone like me who values variety in their day to day working life.

I have extensive experience in project management in the public and third sector, whether supporting and advocating for communities in areas of high fuel poverty, working directly with community organisations to develop their capacity and knowledge around renewable energy, or carrying out low carbon heat feasibility assessments.

I have a BSc in Earth Science and an MSc in Hydrogeology and maintain a keen interest in the planet, its processes, and the ways in which we impact it. Community-based action and the ability to manage and control energy locally is crucial to the growth of renewable energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and I am keen to see real progress being made to meet the very challenging heat decarbonisation targets that have been set in the coming years.

victoria.mackay(at)communityenergyscotland.org.uk

Phone: 07810 855536

My responsibilities are HR, running the Board and Management Team and ensuring a well organised, coherent overall approach to delivery of all our operational projects.  

I have a great deal of experience in community renewables, supporting community groups through major political, regulatory and funding changes. An achievement I’m particularly proud of is forming a local community partnership to deliver Uist Energy in Motion.  I conceived this project to remove barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles in Uist and make electric vehicles more accessible, tackling fuel poverty related to road transport and reducing carbon emissions.  

Recently I managed Community Energy Scotland’s contract with the Energy Savings Trust to deliver community engagement for the COBEN project in Oban and Barra & Vatersay.  I led on the study of opportunities for communities from Surface Water Source Heat Pumps in the Lochmaddy Warmth from Water project, and worked with Lochboisdale Amenity Trust on their Warm Homes project looking at the potential for district heating from wind.  

I was responsible for Community Energy Scotland’s contracts with the Big Lottery and HIE, coordinating teams delivering tailored support on renewables to community groups, and managing the fund distribution for the Community Renewable Energy Support Programme. Through my contract management role, I led the design and roll-out of Interactive Coaching Sessions; telephone conferencing for remote community groups to take forward their projects in support of each other.  

Supporting 5 large wind projects in the Western Isles has played a major part in my role, helping them towards planning permission and managing contracts on their behalf with consultants.  

I led a Community Energy Scotland team working with the Open University to create an educational resource for community micro-renewables projects, and I also wrote and edited sections of the Scottish Government Community Renewable Energy Toolkit 

I’m passionate about the environment & climate change and always have been since I was a youngster. When I joined the Third Sector straight after Uni I felt a new passion for community. Working for Community Energy Scotland gives me the perfect opportunity to work for both. Originally from Glasgow, I fell in love with island life, the people and wildlife in the Western Isles. Living in a small rural community means people have to be adaptable, resilient and tackle their own problems. It’s the same working for Community Energy Scotland, although everyone has their own personal drivers, we share our devotion for community and environment. 

We have a highly skilled and diverse team, many of whom are new to community energy so with 13 years of experience in Community Energy Scotland I bring the story and past learning to our team. 

My main hobby is crofting, we keep around 20 Hebridean sheep on a boggy croft which requires regular ditching (possibly the most satisfying task in the world). My husband comes from a long line of crofters but isn’t up for carrying on the tradition so I’ve raised two children to help me round up the sheep! I’m currently Chair of Sealladh Hiort, a Charity developing a St Kilda viewing centre in North Uist. I love this project as it will create a great local resource for all ages and much needed economic development. 

Rona.Mackay(at)communityenergyscotland.org.uk

Office: 01870 603826 | Mobile: 07949 022617