PAT ABEL
Pat Abel has been Chair of Transition Edinburgh South since 2009. She chairs the TES management group which meets several times a month.
Pat is on the board of Nourish Scotland, Scottish Communities Climate Action Network, Edible Edinburgh and she chairs the Community Growing Forum Scotland. She has more than 25 years’ experience in strategic planning issues, including published work.
LYNN JAMIESON
Professor Lynn Jamieson is Vice Chair of Transition Edinburgh South, and a member of the TES management group. Her expertise focuses on research, outcomes, and reporting to funders.
Lynn is an academic with expertise in all aspects of social science research. She is also currently Chair of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
NORRIE MACPHAIL
Norrie MacPhail is an experienced asset manager and builder within the social housing sector with expertise in sustainability leadership and renewable energy, team building, negotiating and people skills. He has supported Transition Edinburgh South since 2013 and led on the sourcing, supervision of refurbishment and installation of a portacabin on site, which has operated ever since as a temporary project hub offering a small office space, some kitchen facilities and a disabled access toilet.
Norrie stepped down as a Trustee in January 2023 due to other pressures but remains a member of TES and continues to make his expertise and time available.
TRICIA KAMINSKI
Tricia Kaminski has recently joined TES as a trustee. She was a social worker for over 30 years in the criminal justice system. She is aware of the role trauma can play in peoples’ lives and believes that we need to build systems that allow people to grow in resilience with improved mental, physical and spiritual health. She lives locally, volunteers regularly in the community garden, and is a member of the Friends of the Mansion Group. She is part of SEECAT (South East Edinburgh’s Churches Acting Together) and through that feels increased commitment to the need to protect creation, the community garden being an important part of that. She also volunteers as an ESOL tutor, visiting people to teach English and befriend.
Nuria Lopez Vazquez
Nuria Lopez Vazquez ’s tight relationship with food and food growing dates back to childhood. Nuria was born in a family of cooking chefs or “witches”, as part of the matriarchal line (at least 4 generations back in her lineage). Experiences around the table, behind the bar, growing and producing their own food and building relationships and cultivating the existing ones were always made through food.
Nuria is a feminist researcher, teacher and community organizer and grower. Nuria’s PhD project “soil care, home gardens and monocultures” examines the potential for a politics of interdependent soil care in the call for a regenerative future. Nuria is also keen on practicing yoga as a tool to engage the body and align with collective values and visions to transform societies and can be found teaching community yoga in various locations in the area. Nuria lives locally and has been a trustee with TES since 2023.
As a queer immigrant Nuria is committed to making the garden a place of retreat and joy for queer people from diverse cultures in the local area.
CHRIS MACEFIELD
Chris Macefield is Workshop Leader for Transition Edinburgh South. He delivers outdoor learning programmes for a range of groups, including adults and children with additional support needs. With a background of working in NHS Public Health, Social Work and Voluntary Sector organisations, Chris has over 20 years experience of coordinating community food growing projects in different therapeutic settings. This includes hospital growing and therapeutic greenspace projects at: Midpark in Dumfries, Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital; along with various schools and community settings. As well as his role with Transition Edinburgh South, he is currently working for The Orchard Project in different locations in Edinburgh. Having studied horticulture, he has delivered accredited training courses in growing your own fruit and veg.
Gill Walker
Gill Walker was appointed Treasurer of Transition Edinburgh South in November 2023 and is a member of the TES Management Team. Gill retired in 2023 ending a 42 year career as a Financial Services professional and brings extensive sales, governance, customer service and management experience. During the first Lockdown Gill started to research and learn about the affect our food, and the processing of it, really has on the human body and is keen that this knowledge reaches more people in Scotland through organisations like TES.
Gill enjoys spending time with her husband Colin and their two Romanian rescue dogs Mason and Roxy.
Jill Purves
Jill Purves, a resident of Gracemount for the past 15 years, has always been driven by a love for the outdoors. Recognising the benefits of outdoor play and learning for children, she’s passionate about helping the community connect with nature. Both her children have enjoyed the Gracemount Community Garden, and Jill has volunteered her time to support the garden ever since.
This dedication to her community led her to found Trees & Seas Outdoor Adventures in 2019 and, most recently, to become a trustee of Transition Edinburgh South.