Meet the Team

Bob Irvine

Bob is a former Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Government with wide ranging experience including strategic leadership in cultural policy, education policy, and project management and governance. He has previously served on the boards of a number of charitable organisations in the cultural sector.

John Beattie

Araib Sultan

Araib Sultan is a Senior Manager in Deloitte with over 11 years of experience in financial services. He specialises in providing Audit and Assurance services to investment management, private equity, and retail banking clients.

Kevin Carter

Kevin is an experienced senior marketing leader. For the past 20 years, he’s worked across brand, events, sponsorship, marketing production and digital. Kevin heads up Brand and Marketing Operations at Aegon.

Kirsty Tough

Kirsty has worked in marketing and communications for over 15 years. Kirsty is currently Head of Marketing at the Centre for the Moving Image, managing marketing for cinemas and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Gary Ward

Gary is a registered mental health nurse with extensive experience delivering training and education within the NHS. He is currently an operational manager and part of the senior leadership team for mental health services within the NHS.

Phyllis Logan

Phyllis Logan is an award-winning actor best known for her role as Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey. She is our Ambassador for the Elderflower Programme and passionately supports our work bringing joy and comfort to people living with dementia across Scotland.

Gavin Oattes

Gavin is an award-winning entrepreneur, international keynote speaker, and bestselling author. His work inspires happiness, kindness, empathy, and laughter—values deeply shared with Hearts & Minds.

Chris Forbes

Chris is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian (star of BBC’s Scot Squad). Chris has been a passionate champion of Hearts & Minds, performing in benefit galas and raising funds for our Clowndoctors.