My key responsibilities are membership engagement and other significant communications. I also lead on GDPR and provide project finance support.
With a strong background in customer and local community relations, I also have professional experience in finance support and human resources. Familiar with the mechanics of third sector companies and trading subsidiaries, and a former board member of the Knoydart Forest Trust and Wood Knoydart CIC, I have a sound understanding of community organisational governance and operational undertakings. Having spent 15 years living in Knoydart and working for the Knoydart Foundation, I also understand and appreciate fully life in the heart of a small, remote, working community and the benefits and challenges that brings.
A graduate in Sustainable Development with the University of the Highlands & Islands, I am passionate about community development playing a critical role in local well-being and resilience. Supporting communities to achieve zero carbon as part of their goals to thrive and prosper is key in helping to achieve this. Social equity and environmental concerns sit high on my priority list, and I am always keen to contribute to solutions that help to benefit and balance both. I also maintain the importance of culture of people and place, both at community level and the wider scale, and the natural environment that affects day to day life. I’m especially fascinated by language and dialect.
I have been fortunate to experience life living and travelling in different parts of the world. I’m a Welsh speaker – really useful in Wales and Patagonia! – and I get by pretty well in Spanish, although I’m far from fluent. I’m an enthusiastic forager and I love trees; there are precious few in Orkney, although the islands make up for it with big skies, dramatic coastline and spectacular wildlife. I love exploring beaches and coastlines, taking photos, going on long walks with my collie, and checking out live music. A fact known only by a select few – I play a mean kazoo!!!
cath.curd(at)communityenergyscotland.org.uk
Phone: 07920 182308