Having lived on the Isle of Lewis for nearly 40 years, Janet has had many roles: Wildlife Illustrator, Research Assistant, Web Designer, Theatre tour Manager, PA to the Chief Executive of a major employer in the islands and more.
She attended Lews Castle College and was part of the University of the Highlands and Islands first ever Honours graduate with BSc(Hons) Rural Development Studies.
Janet’s great love here is the wildlife: she chaired Curracag, the Outer Hebrides Natural History Society and this included leading field trips to various parts of the islands; She is an active Shorewatcher with WDC Whale and Dolphin Conservation and was a co-ordinator on the shore at the recent mass stranding of Pilot Whale. This was with BDMLR British Divers Marine Life Rescue then as a volunteer with SMASS Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme helping with the necropsies.
Janet is a Founder and Chair of Clean Coast Outer Hebrides, a registered charity that does much more than beach cleans, she campaigns and educates, informs and inspires about all sorts of marine issues including, marine litter, climate change, and currently they have a repurpose project where they are holding workshops to turn crisp packets to emergency blankets and kneeling pads etc. Clean Coast Outer Hebrides are becoming very much in demand so am looking for funding to employ a Project Leader/Administrator and a couple of Coastal Rangers so Janet and her volunteers don’t get burnt out. They have been running since 2018 and became a charity in 2019.
Janet adores the public engagement aspect, having done stand-up comedy simply giving a PowerPoint presentation seems like cheating, a bit like using an outboard when sailing. The other side of the coin is her deep loathing of the bookkeeping and they desperately need a Treaurer NOW!
Janet’s does sail and is a trustee for Falmadair the North Lewis Sailing Heritage trust, another small charity that maintains and sails traditional local wooden boats called sgoth, and she has been known to wild swim if she gets a chance.