Meet the Team

Norma Curran

Chief Executive Officer

Norma Curran has been with VIAS since 2009 and is Chief Executive Officer. She is responsible for the operations and development of the organisation. In her free time Norma loves to do yoga and to spend time playing hide-and-seek with her grandchildren Kayson and Kal.

Joe Scott

Development Lead (West of Scotland)

I am the Development Lead in the West of Scotland focussed on increasing disability awareness within workplaces and assisting people with autism, learning disabilities and difficulties into employment and or further education. I am a devoted family man and the proud owner of a German Shepherd called Rio.

Kelly Forrest

Development Lead (Grampian)

My role as Development Lead in Grampian is to develop our Triple E service in Aberdeen and support the development in Aberdeenshire, whilst providing strategic support to the team delivering DFN Project SEARCH. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my young family, I have two boys who keep me busy, as well as running – when I have time!

Courtney Norris

Senior Lead Consultant (Triple E)

"I lead the Renfrewshire supported employment Triple E project, and as the Senior Lead Consultant I'm all about helping people with autism, learning disabilities, or learning difficulties reach their full potential to get paid work. I love encouraging clients to try new things, grow their confidence, and find the path that feels right for them. Outside of work, I'm a proud dog mum, and I show my love by cooking and trying out new recipes—baking is one of my favourite ways to chill out."

David MacDonald

Lead Consultant (Triple E)

I support customers to gain and sustain employment by supporting them to learn skills to gain a job. Once job is gained, I support the customer to learn all the tasks of the job and coaching them along the way. I love vespa scooters and drive all over Scotland on it with a local scooter club. I have 2 whippets, so I spend time racing them.

Steven Ross

Lead Consultant (Triple E)

I am a Lead Consultant within the Triple-E Renfrewshire team. My role is to support individuals with additional support needs, neurodivergent conditions and learning disabilities to reach their full potential. When not at work I can often be found reading and I have recently taken up learning how to play tennis which I try and do on a weekly basis. Additionally, I am active within my local community and use my spare time to help with causes that are important to me.

Kerry McQuillan

Lead Consultant (Triple E)

Kerry McQuillan is a lead consultant job coach for VIAS's Triple E program dedicated to helping both disabled job hunters and employers. When not working, Kerry is the proud mum of 2 children and has 2 chihuahuas. She enjoys spending time at the gym, swimming and with family.

Andrew Adam

Lead Consultant (Triple E)

I am a Lead Consultant (Job Coach) where I provide individuals with disabilities and/or autism with 1-to-1 job coaching, guidance and employability advice to break down employment barriers and reach their full potential through a person-centred approach, fully designed around each unique individual and what works for them. I am my genuine self in every situation and enjoy building friendly and positive relationships with people! In my spare time I am an avid video game collector, charity shop hunter, traveller, gym-goer, animal lover and sports fan. I have a penchant for learning and encourage everyone to embrace curiosity. I have recently started learning Japanese for my bucket list travels to Japan!

JoJo

Office Mascot

Hi, I'm JoJo the office mascot! Everybody at VIAS works really hard so my job is to make everyone who visits our head office happy. If my TikTok numbers are anything to go by, I'm pretty good at this!

Tricia McLean

Lead Consultant (Job Coaching)

I am a Job Coach in Aberdeen who supports people with learning disabilities, additional support needs and neurodivergent conditions to reach their full potential. My role encourages clients to gain the skills to identify and successfully gain employment. In my spare time I enjoy Qi Gong, walking our dog and watching TV series. I love art particularly drawing and painting for fun and enjoyment. I enjoyed a trip to Amsterdam with my husband, as my favourite artist is Van Gogh.

Joanne Small

Lead Consultant (Job Coaching)

I am a job coach who supports individuals with learning disabilities, additional support needs and neurodivergent conditions to reach their full potential. My role allows me to support clients to gain the skills required to successfully obtain employment. When not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, swimming and watching a good TV series!

Kyle Lobban

Lead Consultant (Job Coaching)

My role is as a Job Coach for VIAS, I work with people with disabilities, learning difficulties and Autism and help them get into paid employment. I find my job to be really rewarding as I get to witness the change and progression of a client first hand. It really makes my day when we get a positive outcome for a client. In my spare time I like to spend time with friends and family. I love dogs and I regularly take dogs on a walk that I am introduced to through Borrow My Doggy. I am a keen football fan, a keen golfer (when the Scottish weather permits) and I play pool for a team in a pool league.

Nathan Hughes

Lead Consultant (Job Coaching)

My role is to engage with young people with learning difficulties and Autism, I teach new skills and improve the skills they already have to get them into a career of their choice. In my spare time I am an avid philosopher and historian and specialise in Norse Scandinavian studies and I can read, write and speak old Norse. I have a small wee dog called Poppy the Duchess of Aberdeen, I enjoy exploring and always wanting to learn new things and meet new people.

Jim Saunders

Senior Lead Consultant (Project SEARCH)

Hi, I'm Jim Saunders, Senior Lead Consultant – Job Coaching with VIAS working as part of the Project SEARCH team at University of Aberdeen. The main aim of the Project is to support our interns with learning disabilities/and or autism to further develop employability skills, showcase their talents and secure employment. In my spare time I enjoy lots of walks in the beautiful countryside and along the coastal paths of Aberdeenshire.

Clare Northfield

Lead Consultant (Administration) (Project SEARCH)

I am Clare, Lead Consultant (Administration) for Project SEARCH in Aberdeen, an employability programme for those aged 16–24 with learning disabilities and/or autism. I am responsible for providing administrative/secretarial support to contribute to the smooth running of the day-to-day operations of the DFN Project SEARCH programme in Aberdeen. In my spare time I enjoy trips away to attend music concerts and I am a member of national choir, Rock Choir, taking part in weekly rehearsals and performances across the North East.

Fiona Alexander

Lead Consultant (Project SEARCH)

I am a job coach who supports individuals with learning disabilities, additional support needs and neurodivergent conditions to reach their full potential. My role allows me to encourage clients to gain the skills required to help them successfully obtain employment. I am also very lucky to work as a Job Coach for Project Search in Aberdeen City as well. When I am not working, I enjoy eating out, shopping (anything with animal print!) spending time with my family and spoiling my cavapoo dog Barney!

Debbie McGowan

Senior Facilitator (The Assembly)

My name is Debbie. I am the part-time Senior Facilitator for the Scottish Assembly. I work alongside and support the South West Lead Roxanne to help people with learning disabilities and/or autism to enable them to voice any concerns they have or encounter in their daily lives. This is done via weekly and monthly meetings online and face to face. In my spare time I enjoy hill walking and travelling to explore new places. I enjoy holidays abroad with my family and friends. I have 2 grandchildren who I adore and enjoy taking them out swimming and doing activities with.

Sonya Bewsher

Development Lead (The Assembly)

My job is to head up The Scottish Assembly, which is a growing group of people from all over Scotland who meet as a large group every week and in smaller regional groups every month. The Assembly makes politics accessible for people with learning disability and/or autism so that they can be more equally involved. We do this through games, workshops, quizzes, easy read information, hustings events and meeting with decision makers about things that members are passionate about. When I have spare time, I prefer to be outside – walking, climbing, playing sports, camping and paddling in my kayak. My favourite things are my family, my two working cocker spaniels, gardening (especially my herb garden), cooking, football and Montepulciano.

Roxanne Allan

West Lead (The Assembly)

Hi I'm Roxanne. I am the West lead for the Scottish Assembly. My job is to be able to help people with learning disabilities and autism to have their voices heard and have their say about issues that affect them. In my spare time I like to go to cinema and love watching anything Marvel or Disney and I love going out for dinner.

Ebi Eftekhar

East Lead (The Assembly)

Hi, my name is Ebi. I am the East Lead for the Scottish Assembly. My job is to encourage and support more people with lived experience of a learning disability and/or autism to have a say in politics, especially locally in the Northeast of Scotland. In my spare time I like to be creative and do things like diamond painting, paint by numbers, 3D models and Lego. I also volunteer one day a week with a charity which does multiple classes for people with disabilities and/or autism. I am an avid storyteller and have been to the fringe to tell stories twice. I am a Special Olympian — I went to Leicester in 2009, Bath in 2013 and Sheffield in 2017 for the Special Olympics Summer Games. In 2019 I was picked to go to Abu Dhabi for the Special Olympics World Games and got a bronze, a 6th place and an 8th place.

Amy Bailey

East Facilitator (The Assembly)

My name is Amy, I am the East Facilitator for the Scottish Assembly. My job is to help make politics accessible for people with a learning disability and/or autism, so that they have the confidence and tools to speak about the things that impact their lives. In my spare time I like to read – I enjoy memoirs and books about nature. I also love exploring Scotland with my family and drinking lots of coffee.

Julie Sart

Lead Consultant (Quality Improvement)

I have been in VIAS since 2022. I am part of the quality improvement team, and my focus is on evaluations, the development of new training courses and developing our links to the private sector. I am passionate about creating a more equal society and the environment. In my spare time I write and read. I also love repairing, making and learning new crafts.

Ellis Green

Consultant (Quality Improvement)

Graham Walkinshaw

Lead Consultant (The Life I Want)

My role within VIAS is as Lead Consultant on the Life I Want project. We look at topics including Health Inequalities, Relationships and Housing, all decided upon by people with lived experience. Shared discussions lead to the development of projects such as the Relationship Charter and Video, Events such as the Housing Access Conference and 7 Steps to Equal Health Care in Hospital. My own background is in coaching, training and development work in a wide variety of settings over the years. In my spare time I like to grow veggies in my garden and swim regularly. I spend the rest of the time with family and friends doing walks, visiting places, going to the cinema and getting back into reading.

John McVey

Consultant (Communication Assistant)

I host VIAS's podcast Breakthrough, in which I talk to people with lived experience of overcoming barriers—e.g. learning disabilities and/or autism—including fellow employees. The podcast is an open space where you can find out about what goes on here at VIAS and also hear from people whom the organisation has helped. I also assist the other members of the team with their respective programmes, including Triple E and The Life I Want. Outside of work, I like to travel, go the cinema and do amateur musical theatre.

William Rae

Co-Chair

I am a supporter of development work in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire; a finance committee member and a supporter of looking into feasibility of asset transfer for a permanent home for VIAS. In my free time I enjoy catching up on things I have missed on TV and watching funny videos on YouTube.

Kirsty Gilchrist

Co-Chair

Kirsty Gilchrist is founder of Soloco, an organisation that specialises in strategy development and implementation. She is delighted to have been invited to become a board member having supported VIAS since 2017, while fund manager for the Learning Disability portfolio at Inspiring Scotland. She deeply supports the ethos of VIAS, in its removing barriers to people with additional support needs in employment, housing and relationships while also driving forward a sustainable organisation with diverse income streams.

Anandan Tanabalan

Secretary

I am a coach, mentor, and advocate for all people to realize and reach their full potential and be fully self-expressed. I believe that the work of VIAS is vitally important as enabling all people to be their best, will help us all have richer and more rewarding lives. I am active on environmental issues and in my free time, I swim in the sea, cycle, run, and play backgammon.

Derek Ward

Board Member

Hi, I am Derek. As a board member I am there to make sure things are done right, to improve and make sure things are in place for all the projects, to help and support the staff. Joining the VIAS board has been the best thing I have done. I do lawn bowls and watching football and having a joke with people.

Aaron Hume

Board Member

I am a college student and Executive officer for my student association. I am someone with lived experience of a disability, my main disabilities being Cerebral palsy, Autism, moderate learning disability, Oral And Visual Cerebral Impairments. I am a keen supporter and active participant in the disability community working, volunteering and learning with groups such as The Assembly, SCLD, Get2getter and stay up late. In my spare time I like to watch box sets or have family movies nights. I also enjoy concerts and I am an avid theatre goer.

John Brown

Board Member

I am the Development Partner for Blue Triangle Housing Association, who are a specialist provider of accommodation & outreach services for young people & adults experiencing homelessness, addiction, or trauma. I am a business management graduate from UWS and hold further qualifications in project management (PRINCE2) and business sustainability management (University of Cambridge). Having worked for VIAS from 2019–2022, I have seen first-hand the amazing services we deliver to support Scotland to become more accessible across many areas. I hope I can now provide further support and guidance as board trustee.

John Oyelakin

Board Member

John Oluseun Oyelakin has a diverse career spanning more than two decades in engineering, project management, logistics, business management, governance, and management consultancy. He holds an engineering Masters degree from the University of Illinois (2010) and a Masters degree in Business Analytics and Consultancy from Heriot-Watt University (2023). He is currently performing research on circular economy businesses towards the PhD Management at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Alongside his professional pursuits, John actively volunteers to support charitable endeavours.

Pamela Stewart

Treasurer

I am the Deputy CEO at Advice Direct Scotland, working in close partnership with the Chief Executive since 2012, transforming the organisations into customer obsessed, technologically innovative and highly accredited professional entities. Our success is a combination of rigorous financial culture and talent management together with innovation and enthusiasm. We are an experienced Salesforce house, with innovative websites and portals. As an omni-channel contact centre, we engage with customers on their channel of choice, increasing engagement, sales, satisfaction and performance.

Carmel McKeogh

Board Member

Carmel is the Managing Director of CTM Consulting and a Human Resources professional who leads a management consultancy that supports organisations in creating and embedding a systematic approach to improving organisational effectiveness. Carmel specialises in leadership, diversity, and inclusion, helping businesses meet their goals by fostering an inclusive culture where employees can work to their greatest potential. She has served as a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of the Calico Group and is a Non-Executive Director for a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities or those on the autism spectrum in Scotland. Additionally, Carmel has spent eight years providing services to DFN Project SEARCH in the UK, Ireland, and Iberia.

Leeanne Clark

Board Member

I am a business founder and owner of Not Lost Anymore, which aims to meet the specialist needs of learning disabilities, lifelong conditions, the care system and those who have been through trauma and abuse. In my role, I am a Lived Experience Trainer and Consultant. Along with that, I am an RSA Fellow and author of 'My Journey Through Life - The Real Me!' Over the years, I have been a campaigner for people with lived experience and have participated in various projects and panels.

John Cassidy

Board Member

John Cassidy is a proud VIAS board member and has a rich knowledge of lived experience with a disability. He also does a lot of advocating for disabled people.

Mhairi Black

Ambassador

Mhairi is a former Member of Parliament who represented Paisley and Renfrewshire South between 2015 and 2024. She joined the VIAS board of trustees in 2025.

David Ross

Ambassador

David worked with Values into Action for 11 years. He worked within the Quality Improvement Team and was a Peer Facilitator for The Life I Want. David now has several roles – working with NHS GGC, SGL Security and Enable Scotland. As a man with learning disabilities, his insight and experience, personal and professional, make him an asset to the VIAS Board.