The Team

Inverness Foodstuff relies on an amazing team of more than 70 volunteers. We simply could not provide the services we do without our dedicated volunteers who help with a wide range of activities including: sourcing supplies, preparing and cooking food, and managing front of house. We have a small operational team and are overseen by a Trustee Board.

Operations Team

Pam Urquhart, Operations Manager

Pam is responsible for the overall running of Inverness Foodstuff, supporting the team and all our participants. When not writing funding applications or developing our volunteer programme, Pam seeks out new partners to enhance the support and services provided for participants.

Al Edwards, Catering and Training Supervisor

Al’s domain is the kitchen, finding creative ways to make nutritious meals from supermarket surplus. Al is also responsible for managing stock levels, ensuring environmental health standards and safety requirements are maintained and training volunteer cooks.

Al Edwards

Morven Ball, Co-ordinator (Hilton)

Morven is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of operations at Hilton, recruiting and supporting volunteers and helping to bring new services to the Hilton project.

Michelle Arris, Administrator

Michelle is our part-time administrator as well as one of our dedicated volunteers.

The Trustees

The eight Trustee Board members are:

Stuart Black, Chair

Stuart attended Inverness High School and is a graduate of Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities. He has held senior positions in the public sector in the Highlands with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Highland Council. He was appointed Chief Executive of HIE in January 2022. He has served on the boards of voluntary organisations, most recently the Economic Development Association for Scotland (EDAS), and is an elder at Ness Bank Church, Inverness.

Iain McKenzie, Vice Chair

Iain has worked in both the voluntary sector (over 30 years) and statutory sector (15 years)
and has worked in the areas of homelessness, addictions, housing development and child care, working in Edinburgh, Highland and Honduras Central America.

Bob Glover, Treasurer and Gift Aid Convenor

I have been involved in finance all my working life, as a Buyer in the construction industry, Financial Advisor in Pensions and Life assurance, and Stewardship Adviser for the Diocese of Norwich.
I first became involved in fundraising when our son, Stuart, was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. I set up a Branch in Welwyn Garden City and went on to sit on their National Council.

I became Treasurer of the URC, then moved to Holt in Norfolk where I became Treasurer of the Anglican Church,
then Deanery Assessor and Synod member. We moved back to Scotland in 2004, and I joined Ness Bank Church.
I am now their Finance Team Leader, and served 7 years as Presbytery Treasurer. I have helped fundraise for Direct
Access Accommodation in Inverness centre, Crossroads, L’Arche, and now IF.

Twice in my life I have been unemployed and skint, so have some idea of how tough life can be, so can empathise with our clients.

Margaret MacDonald, Secretary

Margaret grew up in Inverness and between the years 1976 – 1991 – worked as secretary, and marketing
assistant in Aberdeen, Milan, La Spezia and Zingonia.

From 1993 – 2017 – Margaret worked for Highland Council as secretary to Director of Housing, secretary to Director of Housing and Property, secretary to Director of Care and Learning

Hilary Parkey

I believe that communities are happier, stronger and better places to live in if we recognise and value everyone
– and take part in making them work. I realised that I had time to put this into action a bit more, and got involved with Inverness Foodstuff. Having worked in housing policy for 30 years now, I’m very aware of the challenges that people face when they have nowhere settled and secure to call home. I’ve also just found out that volunteering is good for my health so that’s a bonus!

Steve Walsh

An ex-military officer, Steve is the Chief Executive of High Life Highland. His first involvement with Inverness Foodstuff was in arranging access to hot showers for members. More recently, High Life Highland and Inverness Foodstuff have joined in partnership to extend services to Hilton Community Centre on a satellite basis. Steve is passionate about supporting people in their hour of need and is particularly keen to support veterans and people with disabilities.

Dave Kemp

Aberdeen-born Dave moved to the Highlands in the mid-1980s following a period in the Civil Service in London.

Dave taught in both primary and secondary schools in Inverness for most of my working life. He also volunteered with Inverness Samaritans for almost 30 years, holding the position of Chairman on two separate occasions.

Dave began volunteering with Inverness Foodstuff in 2020, being attracted by its inclusive nature as well as the way in which it cooperates and works constructively with other local charities and agencies to help improve people’s lives. He joined the Board in 2023 and currently volunteer as a Front of House Lead.

Sally Ferguson

Sally is the Homeless Senior Nurse Practitioner for NHS Highland, Inverness. Her background is in Mental Health and she has worked in many areas including Forensics, Drug and Alcohol and Community Mental Health. Sally was born and raised in Inverness and lived in Australia for eight years before returning to Inverness.