CCE Directors

Cowal Community Energy board members steer the strategy of the organisation, which is to ensure the retention of the maximum possible of Cowal's renewable generation profits locally. All of the elected directors are on the boards of their respective development trusts, thus ensuring a fair representation of Cowal communities' interests.

Alan Stewart

South Cowal Trust

Brought up at the head of Loch Striven and attended Glendaruel Primary and Dunoon Grammer schools, I left the area to work in aquaculture on Loch Fyne and then on the Isle of Mull. I returned in the mid 90s to join in partnership with my brother in a garage workshop in Dunoon. I was chair of Toward Primary School Parent Council for 14 years, have been a member of and am now chair of South Cowal Community Council for about 20 years. I was chair of South Cowal Community Development Company and led the campaign to try and take Castle Toward into community ownership. I love Cowal and consider it an overlooked jewel in Argyll, and am passionate about trying to get the best for the area.

Calum MacDonald

Point and Sandwick Trust

"I have been involved in community energy in the islands for 20 year and I currently chair Community Energy Scotland. I am very happy to do whatever I can to help CCE move its plans forward because I believe that the CCE model of bringing communities together to win the largest possible benefit for the whole of Cowal is the right way to go and can a model for rest of Scotland."

Dinah McDonald

Benmore & Kilmun Community Development Trust

Dinah has lived in Cowal for over 50 years and brings a wealth of experience from a wide range of roles, including hotel management, social work, supporting the homeless, and now running the local bookshops. Deeply passionate about Cowal and its people, Dinah is involved in numerous local charities and is committed to helping both the community and the area to thrive.

Graeme Murray

Sandbank Community Development Trust

"I made my home in Cowal in 1985, coming here to set up my aquaculture business. Having later sold that company, I found no reason to live anywhere else and have remained here ever since, and have been active in the community throughout that time. Moving from Innellan to Sandbank, I have served on the Community Council and then on the Development Trust, where my main roles are looking after the accounts and taking the lead on Holy Loch Nature Reserve. There is nowhere else I would choose to live and work, and I have always sought the best for Cowal, trying to find the optimum solution even when circumstances are not always easy."

Sara MacLean

Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust

Currently Chair of Colintraive & Glendaruel Development Trust, and Deputy CEO and Strategic Finance Manager at Argyll Countryside Trust, Sara has lived in Colintraive for over 25 years and has a background of Community Development at a grass-roots level. Roles have been freelance, employed and voluntary across the third sector, working regionally and locally on numerous community-led initiatives, working with funders, investors and other third sector and agency partners to deliver projects that help to improve people’s lives.

Tom Warren

Dunoon Community Development Trust

Tom is the Chair of the Dunoon Community Development Trust and also the current Vice-Convener of Dunoon Community Council.  He and his family have lived in Dunoon since 2011, where he has been active in community-led regeneration.