Meet the Team CALA
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Dr Graham Watson
Board Chair
Dr Graham Watson was Head of Resources for High Life Highland, with responsibility for finance, HR, IT and capital projects. Before that he worked as the cultural manager with The Highland Council’s Education Service and had play development policy as part of his portfolio. He is interested in the role of leisure and culture in the early years, particularly in play development.
Now retired from paid employment he enjoys being a full-time historian.
Marie Mackintosh
Board member
Marie has been involved in the development of childcare services in the Highlands since the 1990s with Inverness and Nairn Enterprise and HIE and currently works as State Aid Manager for HIE. She is a director on a number of social enterprise boards with experience of financial management and governance matters. She brings business knowledge and connections to the CALA Board.
Scott Hay
Board member
Scott retired from Scottish Fire and Rescue service in 2016 after more than 30 years serving in Glasgow and the Highlands, latterly as a local senior officer. He had the responsibility for fire and rescue service delivery and wider partnership engagement with other public and third sector agencies across the Highland area. This included working in a range of initiatives aimed at children and young people from raising awareness of safety issues to cross partnership working on community projects.
Since retiring he has joined the board of trustees for Relationship Scotland – Family Mediation Highland and in 2020 took on the chair’s role.
Scott is very supportive of promoting positive life experiences for children and young people. As a father of three, he knows the importance of ensuring all can get the best start in life and become confident and successful individuals
Jane Litster
Board member
Jane moved to Scotland 16 years ago after a career in retail working for Sainsburys. Following some time at home with her young family, Jane worked for Eden Court Theatre for 10 years. In 2020, Jane moved to a new challenge as a manager at the Fortrose Medical Practice.
Jane started at Belladrum Festival 11 years ago working as the assistant to the Event Manager on a voluntary basis. This led to the role of Entertainments Manager for the last 5 years. Jane programmes and looks after all the weird & wonderful parts of the festival that are not music on a big stage. Jane is passionate about making the festival easy & fun for families with children, nurturing new talent & bringing community groups to the festival.
Jane also works as an event manager and general organiser of things on a freelance basis.
Chloe Sinclair
Board Member
On leaving the travel industry after a short career, I knew I wanted to work with people. This lead on to me taking an apprenticeship in HR & HSEQ within in the construction industry. After spending a year splitting my time between them both, I decided that I wanted to work in HR and I choose that as my path. Progressing forward, I went on to achieve my CIPD qualification and other relevant qualifications.
After reaching the peak where I was and eager to learn more, I moved to CALA where I became the HR Manager. This was a huge change in ‘working ways’ and excited me that there was so much we could achieve. Working in HR was crucial in playing a part to the overall aims at CALA ensuring we had a successful and adequate workforce to provide a childcare service that we were proud of in the Highlands.
I have always been passionate about working within charitable organisations, partaking in fundraising etc. So, upon leaving CALA to progress my career as HR Business Partner in social housing, I decided to join the board of directors as I felt I had more to give and didn’t want to loose my connection with CALA.
Out with work, I enjoy travelling with my partner and going on nice long walks with our French bulldog Ollie! I love to socialise and really enjoy experimenting cooking in the kitchen (not that I am any good!).
As a director, I hope to bring my own skills and knowledge along to ensure we are achieving to the highest standard of service we can whilst providing for the highlands.