MEET OUR TEAM
Macaulay College has an incredibly dedicated staff team, who bring many skills, talents and a wide range of interests to their role.
"The service is excellent, particularly too the fact that you can supply 1-to-1 service , which we as parents would find it hard to find suitable people."
Marie, parent of student
Here's a little bit about our wonderful staff, in their own words!
Roland Engebretsen
Director
Roland has a BA Hons in Fine Art and has been involved in supporting people with additional support needs for 30 years, in a wide variety of settings. Roland had the idea for Macaulay College in his teens and has been working towards it ever since. Always has a bit of baler twine in his pocket.
Rebecca Lindsay
Director
Rebecca has a BA Hons in Fine Art and a background in arts eduction and business. Becca can often be found baking or driving trailers of horses round the island.
Jo-Ann McConnachie
Development Worker
Jo-Ann has a background in art, teaching and community work. Since joining the team she has discovered she LOVES gardening. She truly enjoys working at Macaulay College. ‘The team; students and staff are amazing. There is such a great sense of fun, caring and creativity here’.
Sarah Emsall
Support Worker
Sarah has 18 years experience working with adults with additional needs in various settings. She excels in worrying all night if the sheep are warm and the goats happy. She strives everyday to ensure Broccoli (her dog) is living his absolute best life.
Gayle Walker
Support Worker
Gayle has a background in education, both in mainstream and additional support needs settings. She is a fluent German speaker and she loves to bake. She enjoys working with the students to create our delicious jams and chutneys.
Rachel Bibby
Support Worker
Rachel has experience in Training, Youth Work and Human Resources. She has a certificate in Astronomy and Planetary Science. She is also a professional photographer with a love of exploring the world; her ambition is to photograph a polar bear in the wild.
Brain Livingstone
Support Worker
Brian worked in the live music industry for almost 30 years falling in love with the Island and its people while working at the first Heb Celt Festival in 1996. He returned to work at the festival almost every year until relocating to Lewis in 2019 having added two years of support work in Glasgow to his CV.
Mairi Thomson
Support Worker
Mairi is a trained Primary School Teacher and yoga teacher. She loves to be out in nature and to make tasty soups. She also loves to see people smile, and to sing a song to brighten the day.
Jessie Welsh
Support Worker
Jessie spent many years working as a Paediatric nurse. She also spent several years working for Action for Children, caring for "looked after" children and working with children and young people with additional needs. She enjoys creative activities like knitting and sewing and also really loves animals and music.
Alex Macleay
Support Worker
Alex joined Macaulay College in November. Previously working in retail, she enjoys her photography and art and has a keen interest in psychology. Working with the students on the farm; Alex says, ‘she's found her fit.’
Calum Blane
Support Worker
Calum is a musician, outdoor instructor and chess enthusiast. Addicted to cheese, and dreams to someday venture to outer space.
Lorna Thomson
Support Worker
Lorna has many years experience as a support worker. She enjoys looking after people and is training to become a paramedic. Her hobbies include running, and then running some more.
Neil Macrury
Support Worker
Neil has worked in construction all his life. He has a sporting background, football and running coaching at various different age groups. Very much outdoors person, at work and play. Happiest when in the Harris hills. Also has a 50p and £2 collection that anyone is welcome to add to!
Maggie Macleod
Support Worker
Maggie started out working in childcare and now works with both adults and children in different settings. A self professed cheesy pop queen, she has a penchant for buying cool but unnecessary kitchen gadgets, which only fuels her love of cooking and baking.
Steve McConnachie
Support Worker
Steve joined the team recently. He is originally from Aberdeenshire and has a farming background. He works as an agricultural mechanic and is happiest on a tractor or working in the polycrub.