Staff team
Our staff are based in Edinburgh and Glasgow but we do leave and can get on train!!
Naomi Johnson
Role: Executive Director
Naomi joined Firstport in January 2007 as its first Executive Director. Having started her career as Operations Manager in a recycling based social enterprise back in 1996 Naomi has experienced first hand issues in winning new business and delivering business growth. She moved on to the Community Recycling Network UK where she set up and ran a variety of business support programmes. In 2006 she completed an MBA at Cranfield University. Naomi still holds that her biggest lesson 10 years ago in new start enterprise was being made redundant following significant operational growth...sadly, one where future cash flow was not so high on the agenda! Naomi is Vice-Chair of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition.
Kim Craven
Role: Office Manager
Kim joined Firstport at the end of 2007. Her career to date has been varied within the private/public/voluntary sector including 6 months with a charity, 7 years within the Finance industry and as an Editorial Assistant on the 37th Edition of Gray's Anatomy to name but a few. She enjoys being involved in local community issues and is known to join Committees as they spring up.
Norman Hill
Role: Client Support
Norman joined Firstport in January 2008. Worked for IBM in London, initially covering technical projects and increasingly into business management roles across the UK. Moved to Scottish and Newcastle in Edinburgh working in change led business systems. Over the last 20 years has worked in Small Medium Enterprises, setup businesses, been part of a management buyout, bought companies and sold them. Throughout has worked with companies that add value driven by customer needs. With an enthusiasm for sports of all types and sizes sees sports clubs in Scotland as the best examples of social enterprises meeting the needs of local communities and personally keen to help this sector.
Elaine Ogg
Role: Administrator
Elaine joined us in March 2009 from a career in a variety of corporates including Standard Life, RBS and Marks and Spencer as well as spending a season in Rhodes as a holiday rep. Having worked across a number of work areas from events to HR she brings a wealth of experience to Firstport.
Eileen Inglis (Scotland UnLtd)
Role: Development Manager
Eileen has worked with Scotland UnLtd since it started and has supported many award winners over the past 6 years. While Eileen works for Scotland Unltd she is listed on this staff page as Scotland UnLtd and Firstport award staff will be working together on the joint funding programme.
Thomas McAlister (Scotland UnLtd)
Role: Development Manager
Thomas works with Scotland UnLtd on both the general awards scheme and on the Sports Relief Programme. While Thomas works for Scotland Unltd he is listed on this staff page as Scotland UnLtd and Firstport award staff will be working together on the joint funding programme.
Gina Headden (Scotland UnLtd)
Role: Development Manager
A qualified librarian Gina joined Scotland UnLtd in 2007. While Gina works for Scotland Unltd she is listed on this staff page as Scotland UnLtd and Firstport award staff will be working together on the joint awards programme.
Karen McGregor
Role: Fund Manager
Karen joined Firstport in May 2009 as Fund Manager. She is responsible for the delivery and implementation of the awards programme which includes the distribution of funds from the Scottish Government’s £1m Social Entrepreneurs Fund. Having started her career in the private sector, Karen moved to the public sector where she joined the Community Fund, now Big Lottery Fund, and built up her particular expertise in grant funding policy. Seven years at the Lottery has given Karen an extensive background in developing new funding programmes and designing and implementing customer focussed pre-application support and outreach services.
Bob Giulianotti
Role: Client Support
Bob joined Firstport in May 2009 bringing a wealth of business experience to the team. Skilled in strategic development, operational, financial, sales/marketing, human resource and project management. He started work as a Mechanical Engineer in the field of medical laser research went on to work for a laboratory supply company then completed a successful management buy out of a local company. He has been involved in buying, selling and starting businesses for many years. Since 2006 Bob has been involved in community regeneration, managing The North Edinburgh Business Incubator where the team were instrumental in starting over 550 SMEs of which Bob personally assisted 159.
Kelly Manthorp (Scotland UnLtd)
Role: Award Administrator
Kelly joined Scotland Unltd in September 2009. While Kelly works for Scotland Unltd she is listed on this staff page as Scotland UnLtd and Firstport award staff will be working together on the joint funding programme. Her previous background includes: 18 months working as a Reservations and Marketing Manager for a retreat in South Africa, running a spring summer Touch Rugby League in Edinburgh and being involved in the first year opening of Jupiter Artland, a contemporary sculpture garden on the Western fringes of Edinburgh.
Chris Clark
Role: Executive Assistant to Executive Director
Chris joined Firstport in April 2010 as Executive Assistant. She is responsible for supporting the Executive Director and managing the office on a day to day basis. She has gained experience from RBS, AEGON and The Scotsman as an Executive PA. She spent a 5 year spell as Health and Safety Adviser at AEGON and has a keen interest in ergonomics.
Ben Carpenter
Role: Product Development Assistant
Ben joined Firstport in April 2010 as a Product Development Assistant. He is responsible for developing Firstports new practical resource for new start social entrepreneurs, Office in a Box. Ben previously worked in sales for an IT training company and before that graduated from University of Glasgow with an MA in Politics.